Warm Cranberry Herb Beverage (Printable)
A comforting, aromatic drink with tart cranberries, fresh herbs, and warming spices. Vegan and gluten-free.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Fruits & Juices
01 - 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
02 - 4 cups water
03 - 1/2 cup orange juice
→ Sweetener
04 - 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup, to taste
→ Herbs & Spices
05 - 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
06 - 2 sprigs fresh thyme
07 - 2 cinnamon sticks
08 - 4 whole cloves
09 - 1 star anise, optional
→ Garnish
10 - Orange slices, optional
11 - Fresh cranberries, optional
12 - Fresh rosemary sprigs, optional
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
02 - Reduce heat and add orange juice, honey or maple syrup, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.
03 - Simmer gently for 10 to 12 minutes until cranberries burst and flavors meld together.
04 - Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof pitcher or teapot, pressing on solids to extract maximum flavor.
05 - Serve hot, garnished with orange slices, fresh cranberries, and rosemary sprigs if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The balance of tart cranberries with gentle herbal notes creates this magical moment when your entire home smells like a holiday without using a single candle.
- Its so adaptable you can make it for your kids on movie night or add a splash of bourbon when friends drop by unexpectedly.
02 -
- Dont boil this drink too aggressively after adding the herbs or youll extract bitter compounds instead of the delicate aromatics youre after.
- The strained fruit solids still have flavor, so I save them to stir into my morning oatmeal the next day, creating zero waste.
03 -
- If using frozen cranberries, theres no need to defrost them first, just add a minute or two to the cooking time and youll get equally vibrant results.
- The strained liquid can be frozen in ice cube trays to add a flavor boost to sparkling water or even white wine sangria in warmer months.