The Cranberry Gin Fizz is a cocktail that sparkles with holiday cheer, designed to bring a festive glow to your Christmas gatherings. This gorgeous drink, with its delicate salmon-pink hue and bright lime garnish, effortlessly blends floral and tart notes from Hendrick’s Flora Adora Gin and cranberry.
It’s elegant, refreshing, and so versatile—perfect as an aperitif, a cocktail party centerpiece, or a delightful finish to a holiday meal.
As someone who starts decorating in early November (yes, I’m *that* Christmas lover!), I dive wholeheartedly into every holiday tradition. From the twinkling lights and the scent of cinnamon in the air to Austrian classics like Advent wreaths and homemade cookies, Christmas in my home is a full-sensory celebration. And, this cocktail is the perfect addition, capturing the joy of the season in a glass and bringing a touch of festivity to each sip.
Paired with some homemade Christmas cookies, like my granny’s coconut kisses or classic cinnamon stars, this drink truly captures the essence of the season. So let’s raise a glass to Christmas magic—cheers to love, joy, and all the festive sparkle of the holidays!
So let’s make the most of this magical season. Whip up a Cranberry Gin Fizz, toast to love, joy, and holiday cheer, and savor every festive moment. Here’s to a season filled with good company, great drinks, and all the warmth that Christmas brings!
🥘 Ingredients
- Cubed ice - for the shaker
- Gin - For this cocktail, I prefer using a floral one, like the Hendricks Flora Adora Gin
- Cranberry juice
- Freshly squeezed lime juice
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Sparkling water
- Lime wheel as a garnish
See the recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, cranberry juice, freshly squeezed lime juice, and a dash of cinnamon. This little hint of spice brings out the festive spirit!
Step 2: Add ice to the shaker to chill your cocktail.
Step 3: Close the shaker tightly and give it a good shake until everything is well-mixed and icy cold.
Step 4: Fine strain the drink directly into your serving glass, then top it off with a refreshing spritz of soda water.
Step 5: Garnish with a lime wheel, and voilà! Your festive Cranberry Gin Fizz is ready to enjoy. Cheers to Christmas magic in every sip!
🍽 Equipment
- Lemon squeezer
- Sharp knife and cutting board
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger / Measuring tools
- Fine strainer
- Serving glass
- Soda maker or soda siphon
💭 Top tips
Why fine strain?
Fine straining is used to remove small ice shards and any leftover pulp from ingredients like fresh lime juice or garnishes. This step ensures a smooth, clear drink with a polished presentation, giving the Cranberry Gin Fizz an elegant finish.
Plus, it keeps the texture light and refreshing, allowing the flavors to shine without any unexpected bits in each sip.
Siphon or Soda maker?
Choosing between a siphon and a soda maker depends on how often you make sparkling drinks and the kind of control you want over carbonation:
- Soda Maker: These are convenient, easy to use, and perfect if you frequently make sparkling water or cocktails at home. With a soda maker, you can control the level of carbonation, and they’re often faster than a siphon. Most also come with larger CO₂ canisters, which means less frequent replacements.
- Siphon: A siphon, or soda siphon, offers a classic, bartender-like experience and is ideal for making small quantities of sparkling cocktails directly in the siphon. However, they generally use smaller CO₂ cartridges, which can add up if you’re making a lot of drinks. They’re great for creating a more refined, bubbly texture in cocktails but can be less efficient for heavy use.
For cocktail recipes like the Cranberry Gin Fizz, a soda maker might be easier and more practical, especially if you’re making a batch. But for smaller, individual servings with a more vintage touch, a siphon adds a bit of old-fashioned charm.
Other Christmas Recipes for You to Try
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📖 Recipe
Cranberry Gin Fizz Cocktail
Equipment
- Sharp knife and cutting board
- Serving Glass
- Soda maker or soda siphon
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin I prefer using a floral one like the Hendricks Flora Adora Gin
- 1 oz Cranberry juice
- ½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 Pinch Cinnamon
- Cubed ice for the shaker
- Sparkling water
- Lime wheel as a garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz Gin, 1 oz Cranberry juice, ½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice, and 1 Pinch Cinnamon.2 oz Gin, 1 oz Cranberry juice, ½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 Pinch Cinnamon
- Add Cubed ice to the shaker.Cubed ice
- Close the shaker and shake well until the ingredients are chilled and mixed.
- Fine strain the drink into your serving glass, and top with Sparkling water.Sparkling water
- Garnish with a Lime wheel, and your festive Cranberry Gin Fizz is ready to enjoy!Lime wheel
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
⛑️ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For further information, check Safe Food Handling - FDA.
Criss says
Just made this Cranberry Gin Fizz, and it’s perfect for the season! Loved the bright cranberry twist – it’ll definitely be on repeat for holiday gatherings!
Nora says
That is awesome! Thank you, Criss!
Elizabet says
I actually made this with non alcoholic gin and it was great! Would definitely make again.
Nora says
What a perfect idea! I love that it worked so well with nonalcoholic gin!
Katie says
Ooof, this looks incredible! Pinning for my next festive get together, everyones gonna love this one!
Katie xoxo
Nora says
Thank you, Katie! Let me know how they liked it!
Deb says
Your cocktail recipes never let me down. This one was so splendid, I couldn't wait for Christmas to make it.
Nora says
Oh, thank you so much, Deb! That is so kind of you! I am so glad that you enjoy my cocktails so much!
Tisha says
This is a great holiday cocktail! Added to my list to serve at my little holiday get together!
Nora says
Awesome, Tisha! Let me know how you and your folks liked it!