Barley Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
Warm, deeply spiced, and fragrant with cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel, this mulled cranberry drink is the kind of thing that makes a cold evening feel genuinely cozy. Pure cranberry juice forms the base, sweetened gently with maple syrup so you can dial the sweetness exactly to your liking — no guesswork, no mystery ingredients. Whole allspice berries and a touch of ground ginger give it a complexity that goes way beyond your average hot drink, and the slow simmer lets every layer of flavor bloom beautifully. Grain-based additives and malt-derived sweeteners can sneak into a surprising number of packaged beverages, but every ingredient here is naturally free of that concern — just fruit, spice, and a drizzle of maple. The whole process is low-effort and forgiving: stir, simmer, strain, and serve. Garnish with a fresh orange slice and a cinnamon stick for a presentation that looks like you put in way more effort than you actually did. It's equally at home at a holiday gathering or a quiet Tuesday night on the couch.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 4 cups cranberry juice (100% juice, no added sweeteners)
- 1 cup water
- 3 tbsp maple syrup, plus more to taste
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 whole allspice berries
- 3 strips orange peel (about 3 inches each, pith removed)
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For serving
- orange slices, for serving (optional)
- cinnamon sticks, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cranberry juice, water, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel strips, and ground ginger in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- 2
Heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture just begins to steam and small bubbles form around the edges, about 8–10 minutes. Do not bring to a full boil.
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