Cranberry Ginger Spritzer
November 22, 2017 by Nicole Collins
Give thanks.
Why is that something that we only focus on this time of year? Isn’t it strange how holiday season seems to make us really reflect?
For most people, tomorrow is the official kick off of holiday season. We think a lot about family, and food, and giving, and all the things that are supposed to make us feel warm and fuzzy inside.
But, so many of us stress ourselves out during this joyful time. We ask ourselves questions like “What if he/she asks me about (insert your personal uncomfortable topic here)?” “How am I going to afford this?” “What if I gain weight?” “How will I get through this season without my lost loved ones?”
Why do we do that to ourselves? We take all of the fun out of the holiday season when we think about things like that. And the worst part is is that they’re all totally real and justified questions. But, do we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves?
Then, on the other hand, it’s also the time we start asking ourselves some pretty deep questions.
What am I thankful for this year?
Do I really understand the meaning of Christmas?
What will I do in the next year to better myself?
The irony of this is that we should be thinking about these questions all year! Instead, we make ourselves crazy by giving ourselves a month and a half to answer life’s biggest questions.
But, I guess better late than never, right?
This holiday season, I vote we take some of the pressure off of ourselves and just enjoy the season. Enjoy the time spent with family and friends. Enjoy stuffing our faces with no consequence. Enjoy getting to spoil your loved ones that are still with us. Enjoy the thought that, at minimum, we get to be thankful for waking up every day. Enjoy knowing the great potential the new year can hold.
And when all else fails…Enjoy a little booze to get you through the day!
I know, I was getting a little heavy there for a sec. But, now I’m ready for the fun stuff!
Today, we’re having a quick and easy cocktail that couldn’t be more perfect for the season. Cranberry Ginger Spritzers!
Items in the plus column for this drink: 3 ingredients. Not crazy sweet. Takes zero effort. Can easily be made as a single drink or as a pitcher for a crowd. Pretty. Seasonal.
Items in the minus column for this drink:
Sounds like a winner to me!
For this drink, we follow a simple formula of 1 part white wine, 1 part ginger ale, and 1 ½ parts cranberry juice. This is how we measure to differentiate between 1 drink and a whole pitcher. And, we thought we’d never need those basic math skills we learned in school!
For the wine, I went with a Pinot Grigio. I am 100% a sweet wine drinker, and even pinot can be a little dry for me. But, the goal of this cocktail is to keep it light. So, we don’t want it to be crazy sweet. I don’t know about you, but sweet drinks give me headaches. And, ain’t nobody got time for that during holiday festivities. But, if you’d prefer a sweeter drink, definitely feel free to sub out with a Riesling or Moscato.
The other fun part about this drink is the garnishes. Now, garnishes are totally optional. But, I TOTALLY recommend them! Just some fresh cranberries and a cinnamon stick. That’s it! The cinnamon adds just a little sweet spice when you use it like a swizzle stick which really makes this drink special. See my recipe notes for a tip about cinnamon sticks!
Ok, now that I’ve gotten your wheels spinning and armed you with a delicious holiday cocktail, it’s time for me to tell you how THANKFUL I am for all of you readers out there that are supporting this little world I’ve created for us. I love you guys!
So, have a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And, let’s eat, drink, and be merry!
Cranberry Ginger Spritzer
Serves: 1 Print
Ingredients:
¾ cup cranberry juice cocktail
½ cup pinot grigio (or white wine of your choice)
½ cup ginger ale
Cinnamon stick and fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)
Directions:
Add cranberry juice, wine, and ginger ale to a glass. Top with a couple fresh cranberries and a cinnamon stick for garnish. Enjoy!
Recipe notes:
*This recipe uses the equation 1 ½ parts cranberry juice, 1 part wine, and 1 part ginger ale. If you wanted to make a larger batch of this, here are some options: 6 cups cranberry juice, 4 cups wine, and 4 cups ginger ale would make a nice big pitcher that would serve 12-14 people. 3 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups wine, and 2 cups ginger ale would make a smaller pitcher that would serve 6-8 people. Make sense?
*The cinnamon stick is a must in my opinion. But, I realize they can be a little pricey to have one per drink, especially if you’re making a big batch. I like to buy my cinnamon sticks from the Hispanic section at the grocery store as opposed to the spice aisle. The sticks are A LOT cheaper. And, they’re actually a little softer, so the flavor isn’t as aggressive. Those cinnamon sticks are perfect for this drink. The brand I like is Badia.
*There’s cranberry juice, and there’s cranberry juice cocktail. I used cranberry juice cocktail. The brands I found that were listed as just cranberry juice all had a bunch of other fruits in the mix when I read the ingredient label. I wanted to stick with the basic cranberry flavor. But, I’m sure any cranberry mix would be equally as delicious.
*In order to keep this drink nice and light, I’d recommend not using a super sweet wine. But, if sweet is what you’re going for with the cocktail, by all means. Go for it!
