This cranberry martini is a tart-sweet spin on the classic vodka martini starring Cointreau, fresh lemon, and cranberry juice. It’s easy to shake up in just 5 minutes!
Here’s a tasty, sweet tart spin on the vodka martini that you’ve got to try: the Cranberry Martini! It’s refreshing, zingy, and balanced, shaken up with Cointreau orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice.
If you think this drink looks like the classic cocktail the Cosmopolitan, you’re right! The Cosmo is a favorite in my 300 cocktail recipes, and this cranberry martini takes cues from the bright flavor and color. I love serving this one anytime you need a signature drink, and it’s especially perfect for fall and winter holidays (though it works anytime!).
Ingredients In a Cranberry Martini
The cranberry martini is a spin on the flavored vodka martini. Though the Classic Dry Martini is made with gin and vermouth, there’s a whole family of vodka martinis that are fruity and herbal. I’ve got lots of types of vodka martini recipes, from ginger to pomegranate to cucumber.
There are a few vodka martinis that make the list of the International Bartender’s Association official cocktails, like the Lemon Drop Martini, French Martini, and the Espresso Martini. Many other vodka martinis are more free-form and the ingredients depend on the bartender. Here’s what’s in my spin on the cranberry martini:
- Vodka: Any mid-shelf bottle works; I like Tito’s.
- 100% cranberry juice: I like using unsweetened cranberry juice in my cranberry cocktails, not cranberry juice cocktail. See more below!
- Cointreau: This orange liqueur adds citrusy notes that compliment the cranberry; you can also use triple sec.
- Fresh lemon juice: Always use a fresh lemon in cocktail recipes: you can taste the difference!
- Simple syrup: Homemade simple syrup is easy to make and stores for up to 1 month in the fridge.
Unsweetened vs Sweetened Cranberry Juice
This cranberry martini recipe is optimized to use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice. It’s easy to find at your local grocery these days, but be careful when you’re picking it out from the shelf. There are several different types of cranberry juice you’ll see:
- Sweetened cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail has added sugars and sometimes high-fructose corn syrup as sweetener. It is the type used for classic cranberry cocktails of the past, like the Vodka Cranberry and others. We prefer…
- 100% cranberry juice is the preferred option. The benefits of this type? The color is brighter and you can sweeten your drink to taste.
If all you can find is sweetened cranberry juice, just use half of the simple syrup in the recipe below — or even just add it to taste!
How to Make a Cranberry Martini (Basic Steps)
Once you’ve rimmed the glass: making a cranberry martini is very simple! It’s a classic shaken cocktail, so all you have to do is shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Here’s what to do:
- Shake: Add the vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds until cold.
- Strain: Strain the drink into a glass and serve!
- Garnish: If you’d like, you can add fresh cranberries to the glass, but it doesn’t need it. A lemon wedge on the glass rim also looks fun.
How to Sugar a Martini Glass Rim
I like to serve this cranberry martini with a sugar rim to add an extra visual flair. The sugar also helps to balance out the tart flavor: but it’s not required! This type of rim is similar to the presentation of a lemon drop martini. Here are our tips to making the perfect rim:
- Use superfine sugar if possible. If you have access to it, superfine sugar sticks to a glass easier than granulated sugar. But you can use granulated if it’s all you have.
- Take a lemon wedge and cut a notch in the middle. Then slide it around the rim of the glass. This moistens the rim without having to use your fingers!
- Rim the outside edge only. Spread the sugar on a plate in an even layer. Tilt the glass into the sugar so that it sticks to the outside edge. Shake off any loose sugar into the sink.
Cranberry Martini vs Cosmopolitan: What’s the Difference?
The Cranberry Martini and Cosmo are very similar: both use vodka, cranberry juice, orange liqueur and citrus juice, and they’re shaken in a cocktail shaker.
The Cosmo usually uses lime juice and the original recipe uses cranberry juice cocktail, so it looks more pink. My cranberry cocktail uses lemon and 100% cranberry juice, so it looks redder and tastes more tart.
How to Make a Pitcher of Cranberry Martinis for a Crowd
To make this for a crowd, here’s what to do to make an 8 serving pitcher so you don’t have to shake drinks to order:
- In a pitcher, stir 1 cup vodka, 1 cup 100% cranberry juice, ½ cup Cointreau, ½ cup fresh lemon juice, and ⅓ cup simple syrup.
- Add three big handfuls of ice, stir until the pitcher is cold.
- Strain into glasses and serve.
Easy Cranberry Martini
Pin RecipeThis cranberry martini is a tart-sweet spin on the classic vodka martini starring Cointreau, fresh lemon, and cranberry juice. It’s easy to shake up in just 5 minutes!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka**
- 1 ounce 100% cranberry juice (not sweetened*)
- ½ ounce Cointreau
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup or maple syrup*
- Granulated or superfine sugar, for the rim (optional)
- For the garnish: fresh cranberries, lemon wedge
Instructions
- Cut a notch in a lemon wedge, then run the lemon around the rim of a martini glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of superfine sugar.
- Place the vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold.
- Strain the drink into a cocktail or martini glass. Garnish with cranberries and a lemon wedge and serve.
Notes
*If all you can find is sweetened cranberry juice, use half the simple syrup quantity (or add it to taste).
**How to make 8 drinks for a crowd: In a pitcher, mix together 1 cup vodka, 1 cup 100% cranberry juice, ½ cup Cointreau, ½ cup fresh lemon juice, and 5 tablespoons simple syrup. Add 3 handfuls of ice and stir until cold. Pour into glasses and serve.
More Cranberry Cocktails and Martinis To Try
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