Turkey Free Hot Spiced Cranberry Drink
When the holiday table is loaded with bird-centric dishes and you just want something warming and festive in your hands, this spiced cranberry drink delivers all the seasonal coziness without a single compromise. Tart cranberry juice gets gently coaxed with cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and bright strips of orange peel into something that smells absolutely incredible as it heats on the stove. Maple syrup sweetens the whole thing naturally, and because you're adding it to taste, you can dial the sweetness up or down to suit the crowd. The key is keeping the heat low and patient — just enough to coax out the spice without boiling away the complexity — and the result is a deeply colored, aromatic drink that looks stunning in a mug. It's the kind of thing guests will ask about before they even take a sip. Serve it with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick for a little extra flair, and don't be surprised when the pot empties faster than you expected.
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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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