Nitrate & Nitrite Free Cranberry Ginger Cooler
This vibrant drink is a refreshing blend of tart cranberry, zesty lime, and warming fresh ginger that feels fancy enough for a dinner party but easy enough for a Tuesday afternoon. Every ingredient here is whole and straightforward — no cured meats, no processed additives, no hidden preservatives — so you can sip without a second thought. The homemade ginger syrup is the real star: simmering fresh ginger slices with maple syrup coaxes out a deep, spicy-sweet flavor that store-bought syrups simply can't match. Unsweetened cranberry juice keeps things bold and bright, while fresh lime juice adds a citrusy punch that ties everything together beautifully. Topped off with sparkling water and poured over ice, the result is effervescent, lightly sweet, and incredibly satisfying. A sprig of mint and a thin lime slice make it look like something you'd pay twelve dollars for at a rooftop bar.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the ginger syrup
- 1 cup 100% cranberry juice (unsweetened)
- ½ cup water
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
For the cooler
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 2 cups sparkling water
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 sprigs fresh mint (optional)
- 4 thin lime slices (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, maple syrup, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the maple syrup dissolves. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until the syrup is fragrant and the ginger flavor is pronounced.
- 2
Remove from the heat and let the ginger syrup steep for 15 minutes, until cooled to room temperature. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the ginger slices to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids.
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