Cranberry Vodka Spritzer – A Holiday Cocktail Recipe

Name: Cranberry Vodka Spritzer - A Holiday Cocktail Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1½ cups fresh cranberries; ¼ cup water; 2 tbsp honey; 1½ oz vodka, per drink; fresh lime, cut into wedges, optional; sparkling water; ice

Beverages | Cocktails | Holiday

ByLisa December 11, 2023February 17, 2025

272 Comments

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This festive Cranberry Vodka Spritzer is lightly sweetened with a touch of honey and full of tart berry flavor from a fresh cranberry puree. It’s perfect for all of your holiday entertaining.

Creating a Festive Holiday Drink

When the holiday season gets into full swing, I’m always trying new recipes to develop a festive cocktail I can either serve or bring to a holiday party. Something with simple ingredients yet still makes a great cocktail.

It’s fun trying new recipes as you’re searching for that perfect drink that you want to share with others. And, making a signature cocktail as a main holiday party theme is a great way to build out the rest of your menu.

I thought it would be fun to switch up the time of year and bring what is normally known as a more hot weather drink into the Fall / Winter holiday party season. Cue the spritzer.

What is a Spritzer?

A spritzer is a classic cocktail that is said to have originated in Hungary in the mid-1800’s. There are some other theories out there, but we’re not here to argue over the origins of the spritzer – we just want to have one!

A traditional spritzer combines white wine with carbonated water (e.g., club soda, sparking water, even ginger ale). They are typically classified as more white wine-centric and are known to be a light, refreshing cocktail.

Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t make spritzers with other alcohol. You can continue to keep it lighter by using Prosecco or red wine. And, if you want a more alcoholic drink then you can introduce vodka, gin, or white rum.

I, myself, prefer a more fruity vodka spritzer which I think makes a great cocktail. So, how to make a classic cocktail such as the spritzer into a festive drink for the holidays? Good vodka and fresh cranberries!

The Cranberry Vodka Spritzer

Fresh cranberries are a staple around the Thanksgiving holidays and are available through the end of the year. A good vodka allows the flavors of those cranberries come through while still providing a bit more punch than a traditional spritzer. And, together they provide a lighter cocktail to counter a lot of the heavier food we tend to eat in the Fall / Winter.

This cocktail starts with fresh cranberries which are combined with a touch of honey, a little bit of water and then blended into a puree. To make the cocktail, you just stir together a couple tablespoons of the puree with vodka and sparkling water. It looks great, it’s so easy to make, and it’s such a festive cocktail!

The cranberry vodka spritzer is really fresh tasting and the color is stunning! It’s also perfect because it tastes just as great without the vodka (mocktails!). That allows those who don’t drink alcohol the opportunity to have a festive drink as well. Everybody’s happy!

Is it Easy to Make More?

If you are going to have a large holiday gathering, do not fear. This vodka cranberry spritzer recipe as written will make about 6 cocktails. However, you can easily puree a lot of fresh cranberries to make many more of these cocktails.

As long as you have enough of the other ingredients, you can be making these for your guests for your entire holiday party!

So, sit back and relax with this refreshing holiday twist on a classic cocktail.

Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

This cocktail recipe can easily be doubled (or tripled, or more). For each 1-1/2 cups of cranberries that you add, add 2 more tablespoons of honey and 1/4 cup of water.
I recommend using a quality bottle of vodka for the best flavor. My favorite vodka to use is Tito’s, but Grey Goose or Absolut are also excellent choices.
From October through the end of the year fresh cranberries are readily available in most markets. If you’re unable to find fresh cranberries, frozen whole cranberries are a great substitute.
If you don’t have any honey on hand or you would like this cocktail to be vegan, you can substitute agave nectar.
For a refreshing drink (non-alcoholic), omit the vodka.

Ingredients Needed to Make This Cranberry Vodka Spritzer

Full instructions can be found below in the printable recipe card

Fresh cranberries – Fresh cranberries are readily available around the winter holiday season.
Water
Honey – Agave nectar is a good substitution.
Vodka – Any quality bottle of vodka can be used for this cocktail.
Fresh Lime – Lime wedge used to finish this signature cocktail.
Sparkling water
Ice

How to Make a Cranberry Vodka Spritzer

Put fresh cranberries in a blender. Add honey and water.
Blend until a puree forms, adding more water if necessary. Pour into a bowl.
For each cocktail, add ice to a cocktail glass, then add vodka and cranberry puree.
Top off with sparkling water and squeeze a lime wedge into glass. Stir gently to combine.

More Festive Holiday Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy

Yield: 6