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Home > Recipes > Beverages

Published: Apr 26, 2022 · Modified: Nov 24, 2022 by Meredith · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

Cranberry Cosmo Cocktail

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This quick and easy cranberry cosmo recipe makes a vibrant, pink drink that is light, fruity, and fun! This spin on a classic cosmopolitan cocktail recipe amps up the cranberry.

Cranberry cosmos are an easy cocktail recipe that may be my new go-to this summer (don’t tell bourbon!). It’s light, fun, and just darn tasty.

Because cranberries are in-season in the fall and popular for Thanksgiving and Christmas, this would also be a great option for the holidays!

This cute cranberry vodka cocktail would also be perfect for girls night, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, or for a night out on the patio.

If you love this Cranberry Cosmo recipe, you may also enjoy this Rosé Sangria, Cherry Frosé, and of course a Cranberry Mimosa!

Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed
  • Recipe Variations and Substitutions
  • Step-By-Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Helpful Equipment
  • Love This Recipe? You May Also Enjoy
  • 📖 Cranberry Cosmo Cocktail
  • More Drink Recipes with Cranberry Juice

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy to Make. This delicious cranberry cosmo can be mixed up in less than 5 minutes. It’s as easy as measure, shake, and enjoy!

Cranberry forward. Unlike a typical cosmopolitan, cranberry is the main player in this vodka and cranberry cocktail recipe.

Ingredients Needed

ingredients needed to make a cranberry cosmo cocktail.

Optional garnish ideas include: fresh cranberries, a lemon or lime slice, a citrus twist (lemon, lime, or orange).

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

  • Use 100% cranberry juice. If you’d prefer to use 100% cranberry juice, I recommend also adding a splash of simple syrup or agave syrup to this recipe to help sweeten your drink. Start with ½-1 teaspoon of sweetener and adjust to taste.
  • Use lime juice. Fresh-squeezed lime juice is another great option in this cocktail. You can replace the lemon juice one-for-one with lime juice if desired.
  • Use store bought lemon (or lime) juice. If you are someone who always has a container of Real Lemon, or one of those cute lemon-shaped squeeze bottles of lemon juice you can get in your grocery store’s produce area, this can be used in a pinch.

Step-By-Step Instructions

process shot for a cranberry cosmopolitan cocktail, showing ice being add to a copper cocktail shaker.

Step 1: Fill cocktail shaker half full with ice.

process shot for a cranberry cosmopolitan cocktail, showing an ingredient being poured into a copper cocktail shaker.

Step 2: Add cranberry juice to the cocktail shaker.

process shot for a cranberry cosmopolitan cocktail, showing an ingredient being poured into a copper cocktail shaker.

Step 3: Add vodka to the cocktail shaker.

process shot for a cranberry cosmopolitan cocktail, showing an ingredient being poured into a copper cocktail shaker.

Step 4: Add orange liqueur to the cocktail shaker.

process shot for a cranberry cosmopolitan cocktail, showing an ingredient being poured into a copper cocktail shaker.

Step 5: Add lemon juice to the cocktail shaker. Cap and shake vigorously until chilled (about 15-20 seconds).

process shot for a cranberry cosmopolitan cocktail, showing a shaken cocktail being poured into a martini glass.

Step 6: Pour into a martini glass, garnish, and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

Can I use 100% cranberry juice instead of cranberry juice cocktail?

Yes! If choosing 100% cranberry juice, I recommend adding a splash of simple syrup or agave syrup to this recipe to help sweeten your drink. Start with ½-1 teaspoon of sweetener and adjust to taste.

Can I use a flavored vodka in this recipe?

A citrus flavored vodka, or citron vodka, would work well in this cranberry cosmo recipe. If you choose to use this, you may omit the lemon juice in the recipe.

Is a cosmopolitan a woman’s drink?

The 1990s sitcom ‘Sex and the City’ popularized the cosmopolitan for women. However, the cosmopolitan was originally served as martini that was primarily enjoyed by men at the “three martini lunch”. So, while the cosmo may be considered “girly” these days, it’s really a drink of anyone.

Is a cosmo a martini?

No. Although cosmos are often served in martini glasses, they do not contain the ingredients required to be considered a martini. A martini is made with gin and vermouth. Some try to swap the gin with vodka to make a “vodka martini”, but there is some debate if that qualifies as a true martini.

Is a cosmopolitan sweet?

A cosmopolitan has a great balance of sweet and sour. The orange liqueur brings a nice hint of sweet, and the citrus adds some tang. This cranberry cosmo recipe adds a little more tang with the amped up cranberry.

splash shot of a cranberry cosmo in a stemless martini glass sitting on two gray and wood coasters. the cosmopolitan sits in front of a copper cocktail shaker and jigger.

Helpful Equipment

  • Jigger
  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Martini Glasses

Love This Recipe? You May Also Enjoy

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cranberry cosmo in a stemless martini glass sitting on two gray and wood coasters. the cosmopolitan sits in front of bottles of ingredients used for the recipe.

📖 Cranberry Cosmo Cocktail

Meredith
This cranberry cosmo recipe is a vibrant, pink drink that is easy to make! Light, fruity, and fun, this spin on a classic cosmopolitan cocktail recipe amps up the cranberry.
5 from 8 votes
Prevent your screen from going dark
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 3 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 Cocktail
Calories 202 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 oz cranberry juice cocktail*
  • 1 oz vodka
  • 1 oz Grand Marnier (or orange liqueur of choice)
  • ½ oz lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Add cranberry juice, vodka, orange liquor, and lemon juice to the cocktail shaker. Cap and shake vigorously until chilled (about 15-20 seconds).
  • Pour into a martini glass, garnish, and enjoy!

Notes

Recipe Substitutions and Variations:
*You can use 100% cranberry juice instead of cranberry juice cocktail if desired. I recommend adding a splash of simple syrup or agave syrup if doing this to help sweeten your drink. Start with ½-1 teaspoon of sweetener and adjust to taste.
*If preferred, a citrus flavored vodka, or citron vodka, can be used in this recipe. If you choose to use this, omit the lemon juice in the recipe.
*Use lime juice instead of lemon juice.
 
Other orange liqueur options includes: Triple Sec or Cointreau.

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 35mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 41mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Drink Recipes with Cranberry Juice

I love mocktails and cocktails with cranberry juice! Some of my favorite cranberry cocktails and n/a drinks include:

  • Close-up shot of a Cranberry Mimosa cocktail in a champagne flute with cranberries floating in the glass.
    Cranberry Mimosas
  • Two glasses of Cranberry Ginger Sparkler mocktails with skewers of cranberries and sprigs of rosemary in each glass.
    Cranberry Ginger Sparkler Mocktail
  • Close-up shot of a Cranberry Pomegranate mocktail with a bowl of pomegranate seeds and cranberries scattered on the table around the glass.
    Cranberry Pomegranate Mocktail
  • Close-up shot of a Cranberry Shandy cocktail with a skewer of cranberries.
    Cranberry Shandy

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Reader Interactions

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    How many stars would you give this recipe?




  1. Dolores Garza says

    November 24, 2022 at 1:28 pm

    5 stars
    Having the Christmas Cranberry Cosmo cocktails for Thanksgiving and wow wow wow, they are DELICIOUS, we are totally enjoying them, thank you so much for this wonderful recipe, we will definitely be making these for Christmas as well.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      November 24, 2022 at 8:46 pm

      oh yay, I’m so happy to hear you all enjoyed these Dolores! Cheers!

      Reply

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I am a Midwest-based foodie and mom working full time by day and sharing my passion for all things food by night. Follow along for great recipes to share with your family and friends. I've got you covered for breakfast, dinner, snack-time, parties, desserts, drinks, and more!

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