Shellfish Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
Warm, deeply spiced, and just tart enough to keep things interesting, this cranberry drink is the kind of thing you want simmering on the stove when the weather turns cold. Cranberry juice gets layered with cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel, and a touch of ground ginger, then gently heated until the whole kitchen smells incredible. Maple syrup brings a natural, rounded sweetness that you can dial up or down to your own taste — no refined sugar required. The key is keeping the heat low and patient, letting the spices steep slowly so every sip is rich and fragrant rather than sharp or thin. It strains clean into mugs with almost no effort, and a fresh orange slice on the rim makes it feel genuinely special. This is the kind of drink that works just as well for a quiet weeknight as it does for a holiday gathering, and every single ingredient in it is exactly what it says it is — no surprises, no hidden additives to second-guess.
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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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