This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Have yourself a merry mistletoe martini! Vodka and cranberry juice, a rosemary simple syrup recipe, and festive sugared cranberries make an easy and delicious festive cocktail. This vodka cranberry cocktail bursts with a sweet rosemary flavor balanced by tart cranberry juice. Cranberry mocktail instructions included!
What Makes This Mistletoe Martini Recipe Great
Imagine the perfect holiday cocktail. Are you thinking rosemary-flavored simple syrup, flavors of cranberry, fresh lime, and vodka, all shaken together, topped with club soda, and garnished with sugared cranberries and a sprig of rosemary? Because I am! Enter, my delicious cranberry mistletoe martini with rosemary simple syrup. It has all the Christmas vibes and tastes amazing! Perfect for your next holiday party.
With easy ingredients and a beautiful presentation, this is the perfect cranberry vodka cocktail for any holiday occasion. Make two for date night, or a batch for your holiday parties. You can even omit the vodka for a merry mistletoe mocktail! This is one of my favorite holiday drinks!
Ingredient Notes
Please see the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients.
Vodka: I use Tito's for typical martinis – it is a certified gluten-free vodka that is budget friendly and tastes great. You can also use a dry gin.
Cranberry Juice: You can use 100% cranberry juice which has rich cranberry flavor and no added sugar, or cranberry juice cocktail which is lighter in color and has added sugar. Keep in mind that 100% cranberry juice is much more tart. The kind of cranberry juice you use is totally up to you!
Lime Juice: I recommend using freshly squeezed lime juice, however, a bottle will work in a pinch.
Infused Simple Syrup: I've included instructions on how to make my super easy rosemary simple syrup. It's just 3 ingredients and adds so much flavor to this mistletoe martini.
Sugared Cranberries: See my recipe below for easy sugared cranberries. A pretty, festive way to garnish this cranberry vodka cocktail.
Club Soda: I top my martini off with club soda to give them a sparkling finish. If you don't like the bubbles, feel free to top them off with a bit more cranberry juice.
Fresh Rosemary Sprigs: You will use these to make the simple syrup and use them for garnish.
Recipe Step by Step
Rosemary Simple Syrup
- Add the water, granulated sugar, and rosemary into a small saucepan and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then remove it from the heat and let it cool. You can also use half cup maple syrup instead of granulated sugar, if preferred.
Sugared Cranberries
- Add the ½ cup cranberries to the pot with the warm simple syrup. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cranberries and transfer them to a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet to dry for a few minutes.
- Add the cranberries into a bowl.
- Toss to coat them completely.
- Lay them back out on the cooling rack or a foil-lined baking sheet to dry.
Mistletoe Martini
- Combine the Tito’s, lime juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Pour into 2 martini glasses or coupe glasses over ice (or sans ice for straight up) filling about ¾ of the way to the top. Fill the glasses up the rest of the way with club soda if desired.
- Garnish with sugared cranberries and a fresh rosemary sprig in each glass. Time to get in the Christmas spirit. Cheers!
Mary's Tips & Tricks
Batch Cocktail: To make a large pitcher (this recipe makes 2 martinis), click "print" on the recipe card below and increase the servings to the number of martinis you need to make. The ingredients will adjust accordingly.
Leftover Syrup: Save your extra simple syrup in a jar or glass bottle in the fridge for additional cocktails or another mistletoe martini throughout the season.
Glasses: Use your favorite cocktail glass, martini glass, or coupe to serve this cranberry vodka cocktail. I've even seen them served in mason jars which are so cute!
Cranberry Mocktail: Follow all the recipe instructions, and just omit the vodka. This cranberry mocktail will be a hit!
Variations: If you want to add in some different flavors, try adding in a bit of elderflower liquor, pineapple juice, triple sec, or cherry brandy! All are delicious cocktail additions and will taste great with this mistletoe martini.
Recipe FAQs
It already is relatively skinny with 163 calories and 8 net carbs. However, you can cut the simple syrup in half if you’d like for it to be skinnier. Also, make sure you use 100% cranberry juice which has no added sugar. You can also monkfruit sweetener instead of sugar!
Yes! You can make it a classic martini by shaking all ingredients (except the club soda) with ice in a cocktail shaker. Then, strain over a martini glass, top with club soda (or omit for a stronger cocktail), garnish, and serve!
I usually stick with vodka made from corn or potatoes (like Tito’s), or gin, tequila, and rum since they are naturally gluten free. However, pure, distilled whiskey (or bourbon) is considered gluten-free. Most hard liquors are safe for people with celiac disease because of the distillation process. However, make sure to look for hidden gluten in liquor that add flavorings or other additives after distillation.
Try These Festive Cocktail Recipes
Cranberry Vodka Mistletoe Martini with Rosemary Simple Syrup
Equipment
Ingredients
Rosemary Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 sprig rosemary
Sugared Cranberries
- ½ cup fresh cranberries
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Martini
- 4 oz Tito's vodka
- 1 oz lime juice
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 2 oz rosemary simple syrup
- club soda for topping off
- 2 sprigs rosemary, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup. Add the water, sugar, and rosemary into a small sauce pan and stir over medium heat until bubbling and the sugar is dissolved. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then remove from heat and let it cool.
- Make the sugared cranberries: Add the ½ cup cranberries to the pot with the cooled simple syrup. Stir for a moment, then use a slotted spoon to remove the cranberries transfer them to a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet to dry for 15 minutes.
- Add the cranberries to a bowl with the ½ cup sugar and toss to coat. Lay them back out on the cooling rack or a foil-lined baking sheet to dry.
- Combine the Tito's, lime juice, cranberry juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Pour into 2 glasses over ice (or martini glasses with no ice), filling about ¾ of the way to the top. Fill the glasses up the rest of the way with club soda if desired.
- Garnish with sugared cranberries and a sprig of rosemary in each glass.
Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition facts are an estimate and automatically calculated. While I fact check them using My Fitness Pal, please note that they may not always be 100% accurate and depend on ingredients used. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.
You may also like
Bone Broth Hot Cocoa
Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots (No Juicer Needed!)
This post was originally published on December 8, 2022 and updated with new copy on November 13, 2023.
You blocked my ability to print unless I gave you my email address. Zero stars
Can I substitute the rosemary for real mistletoe?
Can I make this in a large pitcher instead of individual ones?
Wow this was such a hit that my husband spilled his all over my carpet. But thankfully, acter calling the Chem-Dry in Westminster, MD it got cleaned up, and I won’t hesitate to make this again. Thanks for sharing!
Oh no haha glad you enjoyed it though!