Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole star anise
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 cups sparkling water or ginger ale, chilled
- Fresh cranberries for garnish
- Orange slices for garnish
- Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir the mixture gently until the honey dissolves. Bring the liquid to a light simmer—do not let it reach a rolling boil. Simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes to allow the spices to infuse their flavors into the juice base. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
- Once the spiced juice base has cooled to room temperature, pour it through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass pitcher to remove the whole spices. Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes. Keeping the base cold ensures your ice won’t melt too quickly when you serve the drink.
- Fill four glasses with ice cubes. Fill each glass about halfway with the chilled spiced juice base. Top off each glass with sparkling water or ginger ale for a festive fizz. Use a spoon to stir gently. Garnish each glass with a few fresh cranberries, a slice of orange, and a sprig of rosemary to add a beautiful festive touch and a hint of herbal aroma.
- Cook Time: 20 minutes