Black Pepper Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
Tart cranberry juice meets warming whole spices in this deeply fragrant hot drink that feels like the holidays in a mug. Cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and a hint of ground ginger do all the heavy lifting here, building layers of cozy, aromatic flavor without a single grain of black pepper in sight. That matters more than you might think — plenty of spiced cider and mulled drink blends sneak peppercorns in for heat, so making your own is the only way to be truly sure. Maple syrup sweetens everything naturally, and the orange peel strips steep right into the liquid, adding a bright citrus note that balances the tartness beautifully. The technique is gentle — you're coaxing flavor out of the spices over low heat rather than boiling them — and the result is a smooth, richly colored drink that looks stunning in a clear mug. Strain it into a pitcher and you've got something elegant enough to serve guests, or just pour yourself a mug and let it do its thing on a cold evening.
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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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