Rice Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
Warm, deeply spiced, and fragrant enough to fill the whole kitchen, this hot cranberry drink is the kind of thing you want waiting for you after a cold afternoon outside. Pure cranberry juice forms the tart, ruby-red base, while cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and a hint of ground ginger slowly infuse the liquid with serious holiday-spice energy. Strips of fresh orange peel add a bright citrus note that keeps everything from feeling too heavy, and maple syrup lets you dial the sweetness exactly where you want it. The technique is gentle — you're coaxing flavor out of whole spices over low heat rather than boiling anything aggressively — which means the finished drink stays smooth and balanced rather than bitter. Straining everything through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a beautifully clear, jewel-toned cup that looks as good as it tastes. Grain-free by nature, every single ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify, so there's no label-reading stress involved. Serve it in your favorite mug with an orange slice and an extra cinnamon stick for a cozy, crowd-pleasing drink that feels genuinely special.
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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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