Nightshade Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
Warm, deeply fragrant, and just tart enough to feel festive, this spiced cranberry drink is the kind of thing you want simmering on the stove when the weather turns cold. Avoiding nightshades can make holiday drinks tricky — many spiced blends and store-bought mixes sneak in unexpected ingredients — but this one is built entirely from whole spices, pure cranberry juice, and a touch of maple syrup, so you know exactly what's in every sip. Cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and a hint of ground ginger steep slowly into the cranberry base, creating layers of warmth that taste far more complex than the short ingredient list suggests. The orange peel strips add a bright citrus note that lifts the whole drink and makes it feel genuinely special. Keeping the heat gentle — just below a boil — is the key step here, coaxing out all that spiced depth without turning the juice bitter. Sweeten it gradually with maple syrup until it hits exactly the right balance for your taste. It's an effortless, crowd-pleasing drink that feels like a treat without any of the label-reading stress.
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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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