Description
Spiced Cranberry Juice is a comforting and flavorful drink combining tart unsweetened cranberry juice with cozy spices, fresh citrus, and natural sweetness. Perfect for chilly days or festive gatherings, it offers a refreshing yet nourishing taste with vibrant color and a warm aroma.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 4 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 star anise pods
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (natural)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon natural gelling agent (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Spices and Juice: Gather cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise. Pour the unsweetened cranberry juice into a medium saucepan and add the spices to begin infusing the juice with warm aromatic flavors.
- Infuse With Citrus and Sweetness: Add fresh orange slices and maple syrup (natural) to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to balance the sweetness and tartness as flavors meld.
- Add Apple Cider Vinegar and Natural Gelling Agent: Stir in apple cider vinegar and the natural gelling agent if you prefer a slightly thicker texture. Let the mixture simmer for a few more minutes while stirring carefully.
- Cool and Strain: Remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool slightly. Strain the liquid to remove whole spices and orange slices, resulting in a smooth and clean spiced cranberry juice.
- Serve Warm or Chill: Enjoy warm for a cozy drink or chill and serve over ice for a refreshing variation. Garnish as desired for a festive presentation.
Notes
- Use whole spices rather than ground for stronger flavor and aroma.
- Simmer gently over low heat to avoid burning and to extract optimal spice essence.
- Add sweetener gradually and taste to achieve your preferred sweetness.
- Use natural gelling agent sparingly to maintain a pleasant texture without making the juice too thick.
- Store in airtight glass containers refrigerated for up to 5 days to keep freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: spiced cranberry juice, cranberry drink, cozy beverage, festive drink, non-alcoholic, warm beverage
