Make Ahead

Santa's Cranberry Vodka

December 11, 2009
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 1 litre jar
Author Notes

The red colour of this drink is amazing and couldn't be more in tune with the Christmas colours. The pairing of the cranberries and vodka is also very nice, tart and strong. Perfect drink for Christmas, and a beautiful gift as well. Do remember that it needs 7 days of maceration so when cranberries appear on the market stalls it's time for Santa's Vodka. —Maria Teresa Jorge

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Ingredients
  • 3 cups Vodka
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3 cups cranberries
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 Orange - zest
Directions
  1. Wash the orange and zest it so you have thin strips of orange. Don't use the grater use a 5 whole head zester.
  2. In a large pot over medium heat bring the water, orange juice, ugar and cranberries to a boil. Add the orange zest, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.
  3. In a 1 litre jar ,with a tight fitting lid, pour the cranberry sauce. Add the vodka, mix and close the jar hermetically.
  4. Macerate in the fridge for 7 days. Serve as an aperitif with or without an ice cube. Can be kept in the freezer as the vodka doesn't freeze.
  5. For gift, bottle in transparent bottles and divide the fruit and zest between the bottles.
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2 Reviews

Maria T. January 12, 2012
Hi Jennifer, I use very very light brown sugar, not the dark type, that's why it's so light in colour. I simmer the cranberries until they split, that's important, even if that means more then 10 minutes. Last, regarding the quantity, add the pan contents and vodka in a container. Mix and then fill the jar. You might have more then 1 litre so fill the 1 litre container, and the remaining in another container. After 7 days you might want to strain or not, it's up to you.
Jennifer R. January 8, 2012
I made this per the recipe and it turned out very dark. . . not as festive and pretty as the photo. My guess is due to the brown sugar rather than cane sugar. In addition, the ingredients combined make well over a litre, so my proportions were off when I realized the remaining vodka was not going to make it in the jar. Also, did you simmer the cranberries and remove from the heat before they began splitting? Or did it make a difference? I would appreciate your directions.