Honey Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
Warm, tart, and deeply spiced, this cranberry drink is the kind of thing that makes a cold evening feel genuinely cozy. Whole cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and strips of fresh orange peel steep slowly in the simmering liquid, building layers of flavor that no store-bought mix can touch. Maple syrup steps in as the sweetener here, bringing a gentle, earthy sweetness that plays beautifully against the tartness of 100% cranberry juice — and you can dial it up or down to your exact taste. Many hot spiced drinks rely on honey for that sticky-sweet depth, but maple syrup does the job just as well while keeping things completely bee-product free. The technique is simple: low and slow is the move, letting the spices bloom without boiling off their fragrance. Strain everything into a pitcher or straight into your favorite mug, add an orange slice if you're feeling festive, and you've got a drink that looks and tastes like it took way more effort than it did.
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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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