Lactose Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
Warm, deeply fragrant, and naturally free of any dairy, this spiced cranberry drink is the kind of thing you want simmering on the stove when the weather turns cold. Pure cranberry juice forms the tart, ruby-red base, while cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and strips of fresh orange peel slowly infuse the liquid with a complexity that smells absolutely incredible. Maple syrup brings a gentle, rounded sweetness that you can dial up or down to your own taste — no refined sugar, no fuss. The key is keeping the heat low and patient, letting the spices bloom without ever reaching a hard boil, which keeps the flavors bright rather than bitter. Once strained into a mug and garnished with an orange slice, it looks as good as it tastes. This is the kind of cozy, crowd-pleasing drink that works just as well for a quiet evening at home as it does for a holiday gathering — and nobody will miss the dairy one bit.
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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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