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Getting into the Thanksgiving spirit with these Spiced Cranberry Rosé Spritzers. Homemade spiced cranberry jam, woodsy rosemary, fruity rosé, sweet elderflower liquor, fresh citrus, and spicy ginger beer. Mix everything together to create a festive pitcher style cocktail that’s easy to create, refreshing, and delicious. Bonus…this drink can be made ahead of time for easy holiday entertaining, and the festive red color doubles as a gorgeous decor piece on any table!
And just like that I’m in full on holiday mode. Can’t help it, this time of year makes me so happy! And with Thanksgiving less than two weeks away it’s hard not to be excited. Anyone else feeling the same?
We’ve been having the coziest weather up here in the mountains. It’s inspired me to create recipes that will to warm us up from the inside out. That’s honestly one of the cheesiest things I’ll say, but it’s the truth. I know it’s hard to imagine a drink warming you up, especially one that’s served over ice, but the spices in this wine spritzer do just that.
{rosè being poured into punch bowl}
The key to this fun drink is the cranberry jam/syrup. It’s actually kind of a mix between a jam and syrup. It uses fresh fruit like a jam would, but it’s consistency is much more syrup like. SO, it’s kind of a cross between the two. Whatever you’d like to call it, it’s a delicious mix of sweet honey, fresh tart cranberries, rosemary, and warming cardamon. The honey balances out the tart cranberries, while the rosemary and cardamon add coziness and warmth. Perfect for a Thanksgiving spritzer.
To make the jam, just add all ingredients to a pot. Bring to a boil, boil a minute or two, and done, so simple.
Once the jam has cooled, add it to a pitcher, along with a bottle of your favorite rosé, elderflower liquor (this is my favorite right now), cranberry or pomegranate juice, and a few dashes of orange bitters. Chill the mix, and then just before serving, add fresh citrus slices. I used blood oranges, but regular oranges or grapefruit would be great too. Top it all off with fizzy, spicy, ginger beer (another one of my favorites).
This cocktail is both refreshing and warming, perfect for a chilly November night, or a snow filled Thanksgiving Day…
Complete with cozy blankets, a roaring fire and candles galore. ENJOY!
If you make this cranberry rosé spritzer please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Spiced Cranberry Rosé Spritzers
Servings: 10
Calories Per Serving: 694 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon cardamon pods or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 bottle (750 ml) rosé wine
- 4 ounces elderflower liquor
- 1/3 cup cranberry or pomegranate juice
- 2-3 dashes orange bitter
- 2 blood oranges or regular oranges, sliced
- 4-6 (12 ounce) ginger beers, to your taste
Instructions
- 1. To make the cranberry syrup: In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, cranberries, rosemary, and cardamon to a boil over high heat. Boil 5 minutes or until the cranberries begin to burst, then remove from the heat. Let cool. Remove the rosemary and cardamon pods. If desired, strain out the cranberries. 2. In a large pitcher, combine the cranberry syrup, rosé, elderflower liquor, cranberry juice, and orange bitters. Chill until ready to serve, up to 2 days.3. Add the orange slices and ginger beer just before serving. Garnish each drink with a candied rosemary (recipe below), if desired.
Candied Rosemary
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently run rosemary sprigs under a little water to dampen and place on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the rosemary with granulated sugar on all sides, making sure the rosemary is thoroughly coated in sugar. Allow to dry on the baking sheet for 1 hour. The rosemary can be made 1 day in advance and stored at room temperature.
Looking forward to making these! Where would I find “orange” bitters? Is that the same as Angostura bitters?
Hi Judy! Yes, it’s the same as Angostura bitters. You can find them at the liquor store. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! xTieghan
hi Tieghan! do you think it would work well if i omitted the elderberry liquor and added whiskey or bourbon? i am NOT a bartender but wanted to make this drink something the men at our Friendsgiving will want to drink too!
Hi!! Yum! I think bourbon will be so good. Great idea!! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! xTieghan
Good morning.. Hope you catch this…as it is year late. 🙂
What can I sub for Elderberry Liquor ?
Thank you so much
Hi Leslie! You can just omit that liquor. Not a huge deal at all. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I have made this last week for a dinner party it was a huge hit!!! doing it again tomorrow night and im going to serve it with dry ice this time 🙂
I am so glad everyone loved this Ali! I hope it goes just as well tonight! Thank you so much!
I usually make one new cocktail recipe every year for Thanksgiving. It’s our family tradition! This recipe was the one I chose for Thanksgiving 2018 and it was a sensational hit! The rosemary really married well with the cranberries and the ginger beer balances the flavors quite nicely. Everyone loved it so much they even requested I craft this same cocktail again next year! That’s saying something. I’ll happily make this drink our new family tradition. Thank you for this delicious cocktail!
Hi Courtney! That is so amazing! I am so glad everyone loved this cocktail and I hope they love it just as much this year! Thank you!
Hi Tieghan!
I made the rosé spritzer for my Holiday Party this December. It was a huge hit and everyone loved it! Not to mention your directions were great! Thank you so much for sharing! This was first of many recipes I intend to try of yours 🙂 Thanks for everything you do! Have a wonderful Holiday with your family.
I am so glad you all loved this spritzer, Quincey! Thank you so much! Happy Holidays!
Hi I was wondering if you could replace fresh with frozen cranberry’s and if the ginger beer was alcoholic or non-alcoholic?
Hi Lara! Yes, frozen should work great with this. Also, I used non alcoholic ginger beer. I hope you love this recipe!
I made this for a party recently. It was a hit! I made a second batch of syrup and added the ginger beer and topped it off with a some sparkling water for the non drinkers in the crowd. Your Spiced Cranberry Spritzer recipe was loved by all……the candied rosemary was the perfect garnish. Your a genius!
Thank you so much Beth! I am so glad you loved this recipe and it turned out amazing for you party!
Made this on a whim after craving it all week / seeing it on your instagram story. Oh. My. Gosh….Best decision of my life. I can’t wait to make it again for everyone I know !
I am so glad you loved this! Thank you so much Cory!
Hey! Can you tell me where you got your punch bowl and glasses? – Meagan
Hey Meagan, punch bowl is from Crate and Barrel from a couple years ago. The glasses are Anthropologie, also from a couple years ago.
I made this for our Thanksgiving feast. It was a hit. I actually had Elderflower syrup (but not Elderflower liqueur) on hand. Rose wine proved a little hard to find (but I managed it). I think nearly pink wine would suffice. However, I had to go to he most expensive liquor store in town to find he ginger beer. It was worth it!. The ginger beer and the Rosemary (ours was growing in the garden) absolutely makes this drink.
I am so glad you gave this a try and it turned out perfectly for you William! Thank you so much!
Thank you for this delicious drink! It was a big hit at our thanksgiving celebration!! I made a large batch and everyone loved it. I am a bartender and it was a busy day. The ease of your recipe and the fact I could pre-make it was a blessing. Hope you enjoyed your holiday. I look forward to more of your fab concoctions!
Thank you so much Justine! I am so glad you loved this recipe!
Do you normally use alcoholic or non-alcoholic ginger beer? Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth! I usually use non alcoholic ginger beer. I hope you love this!
I plan on making this for Thanksgiving but I need a large quantity (enough for 7 people) When doubling the recipe; should I make double the amount of cranberry syrup ingredients too?
Hey Colleen! Yes, I would also double the syrup. You will have some leftover, but it keeps for 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Please let me know if you have other questions. I really hope you love this recipe! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
I am writing an article on my blog featuring some of the recipes I’d love to make during the holidays and these cocktails look absolutely deliciiiiiious! Could I feature the first photo on my site (with a link to this recipe of course)?
Thank you so much!
Hi Murielle! Yes, you may use the photo with credit to HBH, but please do not copy the recipe, just link back to my site for it! Thank you!