Description
A refreshing and nutritious spiced cranberry juice made with fresh cranberries, citrus zest, warming spices, and naturally sweetened. This versatile mocktail can be served hot or cold, offering a delightful blend of tart, sweet, and aromatic flavors perfect for any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 liter cold water
- 1 orange or lemon zest
- 1 cinnamon stick
Spices (optional – choose according to preference)
- 3 cloves
- 3 cardamom pods
- 3 allspice berries
- 1 star anise
- 1 inch grated ginger
Sweeteners
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice or lemon juice (optional)
- 3 tablespoons agave syrup, honey, or sugar (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Wash Ingredients: Thoroughly rinse the cranberries and any other fresh fruit you plan to use to ensure they are clean.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium-sized pot, combine the cranberries, orange or lemon zest, and cold water.
- Prepare Spices: Tie the optional spices you want to include (cloves, cardamom, allspice, star anise, grated ginger) into a small cheesecloth pouch. If cheesecloth is unavailable, add the loose spices directly into the pot.
- Bring to Boil: Heat the pot over medium heat until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Once boiling, remove it from the heat after about one minute to preserve the vitamins and delicate flavors.
- Cool the Mixture: Allow the cranberry concoction to cool for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Strain Juice: Remove the cheesecloth pouch or strain out the loose spices using a tight-mesh colander. Press the cranberries and fruit pulp with a wooden spoon to extract as much juice as possible into a one-liter jar.
- Sweeten and Flavor: Add the optional freshly squeezed citrus juice and sweeten with agave syrup, honey, or sugar to taste. Stir well.
- Infuse Flavors: Let the juice stand for a few hours or preferably overnight in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Serve: Enjoy the spiced cranberry juice cold, at room temperature, or gently warmed in the microwave as a comforting seasonal drink.
Notes
- This spiced cranberry juice is packed with antioxidants and vitamins, making it a healthy and revitalizing beverage.
- You can adjust the sweetness and spices according to your taste preferences for a personalized drink.
- The juice can be served hot or cold, making it ideal for both warm and chilly days.
- Using fresh cranberries provides the best flavor, but frozen cranberries work well too.
- Infusion time affects flavor intensity; longer standing times yield a more pronounced spice and fruit flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 240 ml)
- Calories: 169 kcal
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
