You can buy cranberry liqueur, of course; but it’s fun to make your own and serve it in holiday drinks.

You have just enough time to make a batch and serve it on Christmas.

Homemade liqueur can be stored in the fridge or at room temperature for up to a year. Chill the bottle before making the cocktails below.

We love to garnish holiday cocktails with a rosemary sprig, which resembles the branch of a pine tree.

CRANBERRY LIQUEUR RECIPE

Ingredients

Serve cranberry cocktails for the holidays.
Photo courtesy Grey Goose.

1. Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.

2. In a food processor, process cranberries for about two minutes, until finely chopped. Combine with sugar syrup in a large bowl. Add vodka and blend thoroughly.

3. Pour the vodka mixture into a large, airtight jar (or two smaller jars). Place in a cool, dark place for at least three weeks, shaking every other day.

4. Line a sieve with cheesecloth and strain into a pitcher or a bowl with a lip. Discard solids in cheesecloth (you can wash and reuse the cheesecloth).

5. Pour liqueur into a clean bottle. You can reuse a wine bottle or the vodka bottle.
 
 
CRANBERRY LIQUEUR COCKTAILS

Cranberry Sparkler

Here’s the cranberry version of a Kir Royale, substituting cranberry liqueur for the traditional crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur). For a nonsparkling version (analogous to a regular Kir), mix the cranberry liqueur with white wine.

 
Cranberry Martini

 
Cosmo Royale