Classic Cranberry Martini

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5 minutes

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This cranberry martini is fun holiday version of the vodka martini classic cocktail. With a pretty red color and boozy cranberry taste, it’s an easy and delicious drink that you’ll want to make all season long!

Cranberry Martini with Triple Sec bottle

I love a good martini, especially for the Christmas. This Peppermint White Chocolate Martini is a hit at any holiday party but if you’re looking for a drink with all the classic holiday flavors, you can never go wrong with a delicious Cranberry Martini!

The sweet tart flavor pairs perfectly with all kinds of desserts and cocktail recipes this time of year. This festive cocktail starts with cranberry juice and vodka, then triple sec adds sweetness and a hint of orange flavor.

It’s also incredibly simple to make, so there’s no need to wait for a special occasion or a cocktail party to enjoy one. Skip the pricey bars this holiday season and make this delicious cranberry martini recipe for a happy hour or an after-dinner drink any time you want.

Why We Love This Recipe

It’s Easy – With just a few simple ingredients and very little prep time, making this cranberry cocktail is just as easy as pouring a glass of wine!

Perfect for the Holidays – The addition of festive cranberry flavor is a great way to turn a basic martini into the perfect holiday cocktail.

Great for Parties – With its beautiful red color and a delicious sweet and tart flavor, this easy drink is always a crowd-pleaser. It’s a great choice for your next party.

Ingredients

Cranberry Martini Ingredients
  • Vodka
  • Triple sec (or another orange liqueur)
  • Cranberry juice
  • Ice
  • Sugar for the rim
  • Corn syrup for the rim
  • Sugared cranberries for garnish
  • Orange slices or fresh orange zest for garnish (optional)

How to Make Cranberry Martinis

Step 1: Add ice cubes and vodka to your cocktail shaker.

Pouring cranberry juice into cocktail shaker

Step 2: Add cranberry juice and triple sec. Shake well.

Adding vodka to cocktail shakre

Step 3: Pour a layer of sugar into a shallow saucer, then add a shallow layer of corn syrup to a second saucer. Dip the rim of the martini glasses into the corn syrup, then into the sugar.

Sugar for glass rim

Step 4: Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass and garnish with sugared cranberries. Optional – add an orange slice or additional fresh cranberries.

Cranberry martini with alcohol bottles in background

Tips & Tricks

  • There are a variety of cranberry juice mixes (such as cranberry apple) that you can use in place of the plain cranberry juice. Or if you don’t have cranberry, pomegranate would also be delicious and is perfect for the holidays.
  • If you don’t have corn syrup, you can rim the glass by running a lime wedge around the rim of each glass before dipping it in the sugar.
  • You can buy a cranberry juice that has been sweetened with sugar or with other fruit juices like apple or pear. Just don’t use unsweetened cranberry juice in this recipe, as it will be too tart.
Cranberry martini from above

What Kind of Vodka Should I Use?

I used Pinnacle brand, but you can choose any mid-priced band of vodka that you prefer. A vanilla or cranberry vodka would also work in this recipe.

Can I Make these in Advance?

For best results, your cocktails should be mixed well and chilled. I recommend serving them right out of the shaker, rather than trying to make them in advance.

Cranberry Martini with floating cranberries

More Holiday Drinks

Cranberry martini for recipe card
5 from 1 vote

Cranberry Martini


Course Beverage, Cocktail
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
This cranberry martini, with it's pretty red color and boozy cranberry flavor, is the perfect easy cocktail for all your holiday parties!

Ingredients
 

Instructions

  • Add ice cubes and vodka to your cocktail shaker.
    2 oz. vodka, 1 cup Ice
  • Pour cranberry juice and triple sec over the ice, then shake well.
    2 oz. cranberry juice, ½ oz. triple sec
  • Pour a layer of sugar into a shallow saucer, then add a shallow layer of corn syrup to a second saucer. Dip the rim of the martini glasses into the corn syrup, then into the sugar.
    Sugar for the rim, Corn syrup for the rim
  • Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass and garnish with sugared cranberries. Optional – add an orange slice or additional fresh cranberries.
    Sugared cranberries for garnish

Notes

  • Don’t have corn syrup? You can also rim the glass by running a lime wedge around the rim before dipping it in the sugar.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 0.04g | Fat: 0.04g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 19IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.2mg
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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