Citric Acid Free Cranberry Orange Agua Fresca
This vibrant agua fresca is a stunning ruby-red drink that tastes like a farmers market in a glass — bright, lightly sweet, and refreshingly tart. For anyone navigating citric acid sensitivities, packaged fruit drinks and sodas are almost always off the table, since citric acid is one of the most common additives in commercial beverages. Here, the tartness comes entirely from fresh cranberries, squeezed orange juice, and a small splash of fresh lime juice — real fruit, nothing synthesized or added. Maple syrup steps in as the sweetener, keeping everything clean and free from the hidden additives that sneak into processed alternatives. The blending and straining method is simple but effective, giving you a silky-smooth drink without any of the pulpy texture you might expect. It's easy to dial the sweetness up or down to your taste, which makes it feel genuinely homemade rather than like a compromise. Serve it over ice with a few orange slices and it looks impressive enough for a dinner party but takes almost no effort to pull together.
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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.
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