Dairy Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink

Total time25 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time20 min

5.0

(10)

Warm, deeply spiced, and vibrantly ruby-red, this hot cranberry drink is the kind of thing that makes a cold evening feel instantly cozier. Pure cranberry juice forms the tart, fruity base, while cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and a hint of ground ginger slowly infuse the liquid with layers of warming spice. Orange peel adds a bright citrus note that lifts the whole drink and keeps it from feeling too heavy or sweet. Maple syrup does the sweetening here — no refined sugar, no dairy, nothing to second-guess — and you can dial it up or down to match your taste. The gentle simmer (never a rolling boil) is the key step that coaxes out maximum flavor without turning the spices bitter. Strained smooth and poured into a mug with a fresh orange slice, it looks as impressive as something you'd order at a holiday market. It's naturally free of any dairy concerns, so everyone at the table can wrap their hands around a warm mug and dig in.

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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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