Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (2024)

Published: · Updated: by Katy McAvoy

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Cranberry and orange are a perfect match, especially at the holidays. Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup is fantastic and festive to make during the busy holiday season because it can easily be used for delicious co*cktails or mocktails.

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (1)
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  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup
  • How long does Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup last?
  • What to Make with Cranberry Orange Syrup
  • FAQs and Substitutions
  • Looking for more Festive Cranberry Recipes?
  • More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love
  • Print the Recipe Card
  • Cranberry and Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails

Cranberry is a quintessential holiday flavor and my go-to drink flavor throughout the holiday season.

I always add orange zest to my cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, which got me thinking about what a perfect pairing cranberry and orange are.

So let's take that idea and turn it into a rich and delicious simple syrup that can be used for all kind of delicious drinks.

Mix Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup with club soda and/or ginger beer for an easy mocktail. Create a tasty co*cktail by combining it with gin and ginger beer, or stir it up with bourbon for a delicious cranberry old fashioned.

This simple syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator so you're always prepared for any unexpected holiday guests, an impromptu homemade happy hour, or well deserved night cap.

Ingredients

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (2)
  • Cranberries - Use fresh or frozen cranberries here. Dried cranberries won't work in this recipe.
  • Sugar - Choose white sugar (either beet sugar or cane sugar) for this recipe.
  • Fresh orange - You need the peel as well as the juice from the orange for this syrup, so only a fresh orange will work here.

How to Make Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (3)

Using a vegetable peeler, remove the skin from the outside of the orange. Try to get as little of the white part (the pith) as possible.

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (4)

Place cranberries, sugar, water, orange juice, and orange peels into a small pot over medium heat.

Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes.

You'll know it's done when the mixture starts to foam and rise up in the pot.

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (5)

Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes.

Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the mixture through the sieve.

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (6)

Discard the cranberries or remove the peels and use the remaining mixture on waffles or as compote for a charcuterie board.

Chill syrup completely before using. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (7)

How long does Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup last?

Store your simple syrup in a glass, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If it starts looking cloudy or changes color or texture in any way, discard it immediately.

What to Make with Cranberry Orange Syrup

Cranberry orange simple syrup is delicious in all kinds of drinks! I love it in this simple, fizzy cranberry orange mocktail or with bourbon in a Cranberry Old Fashioned.

FAQs and Substitutions

Can I use bottled orange juice?

Yes, but since you need the peel from the orange, use the rest of the fruit and juice it. Fresh juice really does make a difference.

What kind of oranges should I use?

I like to use a navel orange in this recipe, but juice oranges and cara cara oranges work great as well. Blood oranges are also delicious. If you decide to use blood oranges in this recipe you may need to up the sugar by a tablespoon or two since blood oranges are often a bit tart.

Do I need fresh or frozen cranberries?

Either one! Add frozen berries directly from the freezer or use fresh. Frozen berries will cause the syrup to take a few extra minutes to come to a boil, but that’s the only difference.

What other kind of sugar can I use?

If you don’t want to use refined white sugar, swap it out for honey or agave.Stay away from maple syrup or brown sugar, which will change the flavor too much.

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (10)

Looking for more Festive Cranberry Recipes?

Love cranberries as much as I do? Enjoy them in my slice-and-bake cranberry shortbread cookies! Or sip them in my cranberry gin co*cktail with fresh rosemary or cranberry mimosas.

More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love

  • Orange Ginger Gin co*cktail (Video)
  • Cranberry Gin co*cktail (Video)
  • DIY co*cktail Syrups
  • Light and Refreshing Honey Orange Gin co*cktail
  • Easy and Delicious Mocktail Recipes for Non-Alcoholic co*cktails

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Cranberry and Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails

Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (13)

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Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup recipe is fantastic and festive to make during the busy holiday season because it can be used for delicious signature co*cktails or mocktails.

  • Author: Katy McAvoy
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 15 min
  • Yield: 12 oz 1x
  • Category: Mocktails
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • ½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • Juice from 1 medium orange
  • Peel from 1 medium orange

Instructions

Using a vegetable peeler, remove the skin from the outside of the orange. Try to get as little of the white part (the pith) as possible.

Place cranberries, sugar, water, orange juice, and orange peels into a small pot over medium heat.

Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes. Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl and strain the mixture through the sieve.

Discard the cranberries or remove the peels and use the remaining mixture as compote for charcuterie.

Chill syrup completely before using. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 oz
  • Calories: 179
  • Sugar: 44.1 g
  • Sodium: 2.8 mg
  • Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 46.6 g
  • Fiber: 1.1 g
  • Protein: 0.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About Katy McAvoy

Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com. Since 2017, she's been crafting easy-to-make co*cktails and delicious meals, along with sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup Recipe for co*cktails and Mocktails (2024)

FAQs

Can you mix cranberry juice and orange juice together? ›

Drinking orange juice may also increase good HDL cholesterol and decrease "bad" LDL cholesterol that could lead to chronic disease. Livestrong suggests combining orange juice with cranberry juice to create a refreshing, blended drink.

How to use cranberry syrup? ›

Drizzle this divine and thick syrup over pancakes, waffles, cookies, or toasts to give them a burst of delicious savor, and to take your Sunday brunch to the next level! Use as a topping for ice cream, pancakes, or any desserts, or sweeten your smoothies and milkshakes.

Is grenadine cranberry syrup? ›

Grenadine is just pomegranate syrup. So what you are asking is can you make pomegranate syrup with cranberries and no pomegranate. Well, obviously, no. But you can make cranberry syrup.

What is spiced cranberry syrup? ›

This flavorful syrup is made with plum, cranberry, and mulling spices, and is the perfect addition to any hot or cold drink. The inspiration for this flavor came from wanting something that reminded us of crisp fall mornings and the approach of the holiday season.

What not to mix with cranberry? ›

Possible Interactions
  • Warfarin (Coumadin): Cranberry may raise the risk of bleeding, especially if you already take medications to thin the blood such as warfarin. ...
  • Aspirin: Like aspirin, cranberries contain salicylic acid. ...
  • Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

What alcohol goes best with cranberry juice? ›

14 Best Liquors To Mix With Cranberry Juice
  1. Classic vodka. New Africa/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Orange Vodka. 5PH/Shutterstock. ...
  3. Tequila. Burke/triolo Productions/Getty Images. ...
  4. Mezcal. Edgar Xolot/Shutterstock. ...
  5. Gin. Love_life/Getty Images. ...
  6. Rhubarb gin. Melaniemaya/Getty Images. ...
  7. Coconut rum. David Silverman/Getty Images. ...
  8. Spiced rum.
Dec 20, 2023

How long can you store cranberry simple syrup? ›

Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on cranberries to extract their liquid. Let cool and refrigerate until ready to use. Syrup can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

How long does simple syrup last? ›

The good news is that unopened simple syrup can last for up to 12 months when stored properly in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. An opened bottle of simple syrup should be refrigerated and used within 6 months for optimal freshness.

How do you make cranberry co*cktail taste better? ›

The orange enhances the cranberry flavor in the best possible way! Other great mixers for cranberry juice are grapefruit juice and pineapple juice. Cranberry juice also goes well with alcohols such as vodka, rum, gin, champagne, or red wine.

What is a Shirley Temple made of? ›

The Shirley Temple is probably the most famous mocktail ever. This classic mix of ginger ale and grenadine with a squeeze of lemon or lime topped with maraschino cherries is believed to be the world's first mocktail. And it's still alive and well today.

What's the difference between grenadine and simple syrup? ›

Simple syrup is typically an ingredient in grenadine, but grenadine is not simple syrup. Grenadine is essentially simple syrup with pomegranate juice added.

Can you use cranberry instead of grenadine? ›

Classic Grenadine is pomegranate syrup. If you find that you are allergic or don't prefer the flavor of pomegranates I would recommend finding unsweetened cranberry juice in a health food store. Be sure that it is unsweetened and not from concentrate.

Is Sprite cranberry the same as spiced cranberry? ›

This year original sprite cranberry will not be returning for the holiday season. Although it has been replaced by a "winter spiced" edition it just isn't the same and the original must be brought back.

What's the difference between cranberry juice and cranberry co*cktail? ›

Cranberry juice is usually labeled "100% juice." Other fruits are sometimes added to balance the tart cranberry taste, but that label indicates that the product is made with 100% fruit juices. Cranberry juice co*cktail, meanwhile, has added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup for extra sweetness.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Top with dried or fresh fruits

Sure, you can go all meta with some dried cranberries or sliced fresh raw cranberries, but I also like to think about complementary flavors — dried cherries, dried mulberries, golden raisins, chopped apricots. All work great with cranberry sauce.

Which juices should not be mixed? ›

3. Avoid mixing acidic fruits with sweet fruits. Acidic and sub-acidic fruits such as grapefruits, strawberries, apples, pomegranates, and peaches, should never be combined with sweet fruits such as bananas and raisins. This is because it often leads to digestive problems, nausea, acidosis, and headaches.

Can you mix cranberry juice with other juices? ›

You can mix it with a little apple juice, strawberry juice, grape juice, etc…you can also add some sugar free Sprite or sparkling, flavored water.

Can you mix vitamin C and cranberry juice? ›

No interactions were found between cranberry and Vitamin C.

What two juices go together? ›

Stay hydrated with these easy, refreshing, & nutrient-dense fresh juice combinations:
  • Watermelon+ Raspberries.
  • Apple + Blueberries.
  • Pineapple + Ginger.
  • Orange + Carrot.
  • Pear + Cucumber.
  • Papaya + Nectarine.
  • Cantaloupe + Kiwi.
  • Grapefruit + Mandarin Orange.

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