Cranberry Spritz
Recipe from Kia Damon
Two things can be true: Canned cranberry sauce can be unappealing and fresh cranberries can be a delight. It didn’t feel right to completely erase cranberry from the Friendsgiving agenda, so I found a better home for her among the beverage options. I’m a nonalcoholic girly, hence the club soda and sparkling grape juice. If you’re feeling boozy, opt for prosecco or Champagne. Enjoy all fall and winter.
5 mins
10 mins
4 to 6
What You'll Need
Ingredients
- 2 oranges
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 whole star anise
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- Ice
- 1 liter club soda
- 1 bottle sparkling white grape juice
Directions
Step 1
With a vegetable peeler, pull off a strip of orange zest 2 inches long. Cut the rest of the orange into slices to use as a garnish and set aside.
Step 2
In a large pot, combine the orange zest, cranberries, sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise, thyme, and 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the cranberries burst and the liquid reduces by half, about 8 minutes. Strain the syrup, discarding the solids, and let it cool completely.
Step 3
To assemble a drink, fill a short glass or coupe with ice, drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the syrup, and top with club soda or sparkling grape juice. Finish the rim with an orange slice rubbed along it for fun.
Kia Damon
Kia Damon is a Florida-born chef, writer, host, and recipe developer. Her work has taken her from founding The Supper Club from Nowhere to being Cherry Bombe’s first Culinary Director to her own cookbook Cooking with Florida Water. Her work is a love letter to her roots and an attempt to bring cultures together. The best part? You can taste it.
