Cranberry Vodka Mistletoe Martini with Rosemary Simple Syrup

mistletoe martini with vodka and cranberry juice topped with cranberries and rosemary

5 from 3 votes

Cranberry Vodka Mistletoe Martini with Rosemary Simple Syrup

Vodka and cranberry juice, a rosemary simple syrup recipe, and festive sugared cranberries make an easy, holiday twist on a classic cocktail. This vodka cranberry cocktail bursts with a sweet rosemary flavor balanced by tart cranberry juice.

Prep Time10

Cook Time2

Total Time12

Course: beverages, cocktails

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: martinis

Author: Mary Smith

Equipment

cocktail shaker

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

Batch Cocktail: To make a larger batch (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 in the fridge for additional cocktails or a 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!

Mocktail: Follow all the recipe instructions, and just omit the vodka. This mistletoe mocktail will be a hit!

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