Citric Acid Free Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Spritzer
This vibrant, jewel-toned spritzer is the kind of drink that looks like it came from a fancy cocktail bar but comes together with just a handful of real, whole ingredients. Fresh cranberries are simmered down with maple syrup and sliced ginger until they burst into a gorgeous, deep-red syrup that smells absolutely incredible. Avoiding citric acid as an additive can be tricky with store-bought juices, sodas, and flavored sparkling waters, since it hides in so many bottled drinks under both obvious and sneaky names. Here, the only tartness comes from a small splash of fresh lime juice and the natural acidity of the cranberries themselves — nothing processed, nothing hidden. The ginger adds a gentle warmth that makes every sip feel a little more interesting than your average fizzy drink. Topped with chilled sparkling water and served over ice, it's refreshing, festive, and genuinely satisfying whether you're serving it at a holiday gathering or just treating yourself on a regular Tuesday.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the cranberry ginger syrup
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
For the spritzer
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
For serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh cranberries or lime slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cranberries, water, maple syrup, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the liquid turns deep red, about 8–10 minutes.
- 2
Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl or measuring cup, pressing the solids firmly with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
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