Carrageenan Free Cranberry Orange Agua Fresca
Tart cranberries, bright citrus, and a touch of maple syrup come together in this refreshing agua fresca that tastes like something you'd pay way too much for at a fancy café. It's the kind of drink that looks stunning in a pitcher — especially with a few orange slices or floating cranberries on top — but takes almost no effort to pull off. Many store-bought juices and flavored drinks sneak in thickeners and stabilizers that can be hard to avoid, so blending this one yourself from whole fruit and fresh-squeezed orange juice means you know exactly what's going in the glass. The straining step is key: it gives you a beautifully smooth, jewel-toned drink without any pulp or grit. Maple syrup adds a gentle, rounded sweetness that plays perfectly against the tartness of the cranberries and the little hit of lime. Make a big batch, chill it down, and it's ready to pour over ice whenever you need something vibrant and genuinely thirst-quenching.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (from about 2 medium oranges)
- 3 cups cold water, divided
- 4 tbsp maple syrup, or more to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- ¼ tsp fine salt
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- orange slices or fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cranberries, orange juice, maple syrup, lime juice, salt, and 1 cup of the cold water in a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 45 seconds.
- 2
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer, pressing on the solids with the back of a spoon until only dry pulp remains. Discard the solids.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!