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The Best Cosmopolitan

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The Best Cosmopolitan – Sure you can have this amazing cranberry cocktail all year long, but it is just so pretty around the holidays, making it one of my favorite Christmas cocktails! With fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, Cointreau, and vodka (I used my cranberry infused vodka!) it’s simple, but delicious!

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Red cocktail in front of a Christmas tree with text reading Christmas cosmopolitan

 

Cranberry Cocktails

I love to drink cranberry cocktails all year long, but around the holiday season, they are just so pretty in front of a Christmas tree, aren’t they?

When looking for cranberry cocktails, one that everyone is familiar with is the Cosmopolitan.  Especially if, like me, you faithfully watched every single episode of Sex and the City.

Cranberry cosmopolitan in a cocktail glass in front of Christmas tree

The Best Cosmopolitan Cocktail

What makes this The Best Cosmopolitan Cocktail recipe?  In place of vodka, I’ve used my homemade cranberry liqueur!   It gives you double cranberry flavor!  Now, don’t worry, you can still make this cocktail with regular vodka, but this is the perfect reason to get a bottle of homemade cranberry liqueur started!

Since the homemade cranberry liqueur is sweetened, if you are afraid the drink will be too sweet, you can use unsweetened cranberry juice.  I’ve made it both with unsweetened and sweetened and loved them both!

Tips for Making a Cosmopolitan Cocktail

A few tips for making a Cosmopolitan:  since it has so few ingredients, you want to make sure you use high quality liquor.  I recommend Cointreau and a good quality vodka (if you aren’t using my cranberry liqueur.)

Serve this in a chilled cocktail glass, so put your glass in the freezer for about 3 to 4 hours.  You can do a quick chill by filling the glass with ice and swirling it around.  Let it sit while you make the cocktail and then pour it out, when you are ready to pour the cocktail into the glass.  You can dry the glass with a paper towel if you’d like, I usually don’t bother.

Making a Cosmopolitan is easy:  fill a cocktail shaker (this black set is amazing!) with ice, add the fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, cointreau, and vodka (or cranberry liqueur.)  Shake for about 30 seconds, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.   Garnish with a lime wheel.

If you’re  in the mood for more cranberry cocktails, you’ll love this Cranberry Negroni or how about this Cranberry Manhattan and if you want your cranberries in a cookie form, this biscotti is so festive!

 

 

Cranberry Cosmopolitan
5 from 5 votes
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Using homemade cranberry liqueur gives this an extra dose of cranberry flavor, though you can use just vodka too! 

Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 158 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 oz cranberry juice
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau
  • 1 1/2 oz homemade cranberry liqueur or vodka
  • lime slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. 

  2. Add lime juice, cranberry juice, Cointreau, and homemade cranberry liqueur (or vodka) to the cocktail shaker. 

  3. Shake for 30 seconds. 

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 

Recipe Notes

If you don't have Homemade Cranberry Liqueur, then use your favorite good vodka.  

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 158
% Daily Value*
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Sugars 8g
Vitamin C 8.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Update Notes: This was originally published in 2011 and has been updated for 2018.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  13. Hi Pam! Whoo hoo, me do love a cosmo! Wanted to thank you for linking up to our new Foodie Follow me home Friday! Hope others do the same to get high quality new food friends! Have a great weeekend! Alex

    Reply

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