High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
Warm, deeply spiced, and just tart enough to feel festive, this hot cranberry drink is the kind of thing you want simmering on the stove when the weather turns cold. Most store-bought spiced cider mixes and bottled cranberry cocktails are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, which makes finding a clean version harder than it should be. Here, 100% cranberry juice and maple syrup do all the sweetening work, so you know exactly what's going into your mug. Whole cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and strips of fresh orange peel steep gently in the liquid, building a layered, aromatic flavor that no powder packet can replicate. The low-and-slow simmer — no full boil — keeps the flavors bright rather than bitter, and the final strain leaves you with a beautifully clear, ruby-red drink. You can dial the sweetness up or down with extra maple syrup, making it easy to tailor to your crowd. Serve it with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick and it looks as good as it tastes.
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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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