Description
A refreshing and spiced cranberry juice recipe that combines fresh cranberries with warming spices and citrus zest, offering a delicious and healthy beverage perfect for any season. This drink can be served hot or cold and is naturally sweetened with agave syrup, honey, or sugar to taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 liter cold water
- 1 the zest of an orange or lemon
- 1 cinnamon stick
Optional Spices
- 3 cloves
- 3 cardamom pods
- 3 allspice berries
- 1 star anise
- 1 inch of grated ginger
Additional Ingredients
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice or lemon juice (optional)
- 3 tablespoons agave syrup, honey, or sugar (more or less, to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Wash the cranberries and any other fruits you plan to use to ensure they are clean and fresh.
- Combine Ingredients: Place cranberries, orange or lemon zest, and cold water in a medium-sized pot. Add the cinnamon stick.
- Add Spices: Tie any optional spices chosen (such as cloves, cardamom pods, allspice, star anise, grated ginger) into a small cheesecloth pouch. If you don’t have cheesecloth, simply add the spices directly to the pot.
- Boil Gently: Heat the pot until the contents reach a gentle boil. Once boiling, remove from heat after about one minute to preserve the vitamins in the ingredients.
- Cool: Allow the mixture to cool for 30 minutes to 1 hour to let the flavors meld.
- Strain Juice: Remove the spice pouch from the mixture, then pour the liquid through a tight-mesh colander into a one-liter jar. Use a wooden spoon to press and extract all the juice from the cranberries and fruit solids.
- Sweeten: Taste the juice and add agave syrup, honey, or sugar according to your preference. Stir well to combine.
- Rest to Blend Flavors: Let the sweetened juice stand overnight or for several hours to allow the flavors to fully develop and harmonize.
- Serve: Serve the spiced cranberry juice cold, at room temperature, or gently warmed in the microwave based on your preference.
Notes
- This spiced cranberry juice is rich in nutrients and vitamins, making it a great healthy beverage choice.
- It can be served hot for a comforting winter drink or chilled as a refreshing summer mocktail.
- Adjust sweetness to taste using agave syrup, honey, or sugar depending on dietary preferences or restrictions.
- If you do not have cheesecloth, adding the spices directly to the pot works well but may require more careful straining.
- Allowing the juice to rest enhances the depth and harmony of the flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 169 kcal
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
