I just love seasonal drinks and holiday cocktail recipes, don’t you? They’re so festive and fun for Christmas parties and I like going above and beyond with a signature drink for my guests at a special party. This Frosted Cranberry Cocktail is the perfect Christmas party drink! Whether it’s a gathering of friends or family, something casual or dressy, this colorful holiday drink is sure to wow your guests! Keep scrolling for all the delicious details…
Frosted Cranberry Recipe
You’re in luck because this post is actually two recipes in one! You not only get the details for the cocktail, but you also get the frosted cranberries themselves, which are amazing and could be added to a cake, cupcakes, cheesecake… so many options!
All you need for the frosted cranberries is sugar, water and cranberries! Depending on local availability and seasonality, you can use packaged or fresh cranberries. The fresh cranberries will probably taste better, but if frozen is all you can get, go with those! The simple recipe is below, but all you’ll do is dissolve the sugar in water by heating it over the stove, then add your cranberries and coat them in the sugar mixture.
Next, you’ll let them dry on parchment paper and then roll them in the remaining sugar to make sure they’re nice and frosted.
Frosted Cranberry Cocktail Recipe
Now that you have your beautiful cranberries ready to go, you’ll just add a handful to your glass along with some ice. A whisky glass was used for these pictures, but I think for the holidays, one of these festive cocktail glasses would be fun too…
Next, add your vodka and cranberry juice to your glass and stir gently to mix everything together.
Finally, garnish with a few sugared cranberries and maybe a glittery cocktail pick for a little pizazz! Viola! A very festive Christmas cocktail!

Servings |
cocktail
|
- 12 oz cranberries packaged or fresh
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 handful ice
- 1/2 cup frosted or regular cranberries
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 3/4 cup cranberry juice
- 3-5 frosted cranberries for garnish (optional)
Ingredients
Frosted Cranberries
Frosted Cranberry Cocktail
|
![]() |
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
- In a shallow pan, add ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water. Heat over medium heat, until mixture simmers and sugar is heated and dissolved.
- Remove from the heat, add cranberries and stir to coat cranberries evenly.
- Use a slotted spoon to drain the excess sugar mixture off the cranberries, remove them from the pan and layer them evenly on the parchment paper. Give the cranberries an hour or so to dry.
- Once dry, in a medium sized bowl, add remaining 1 ½ cups of sugar. Add a spoonful of cranberries at a time, tossing them in the sugar so they're evenly coated.
- Use a slotted spoon to sift them from the sugar and put them onto a fresh sheet of parchment paper.
- Add ice and cranberries to your glass.
- Add vodka and cranberry juice, and give the drink a gentle stir.
- Garnish with frosted cranberries.
Be sure to Pin this post for later and check out our other cocktail recipes for your next party!
Leave a Reply