Last update: 05-11-2021 Home & Garden

Cranberry Liqueur - 4 Quick and Easy Cranberry Drink Recipes

Cranberries are known for their health-beneficial properties across the world. Adding them to your diet improves the organism's condition, which one can notice on regular consumption. Apart from the most popular dried form cranberries typically take, you can also make preserves and drinks out of them. Cranberry liqueur is a perfect example - you can make it at home. Are you wondering how? Check it out.

Cranberries - what do they look like, and what are their features?

Cranberry is quite popular across the world. It has a distinct feature - its fruits are edible. They are small, round, red and exceptionally sour. As it turns out, cranberries have health-beneficial properties - just like quince or aronia berry.

Cranberries contribute to a healthy bladder. The fruits and cranberry juice are diuretic and antibacterial. Regular consumption protects your urinary system from various unpleasant infections.

It’s worth noting that cranberries have many precious ingredients which improve the general functioning of the organism. The following list contains the most important ones:

• B, C and E vitamins,
• carotene,
• calcium,
• magnesium,
• polyphenols,
• tannins.

Furthermore, many use cranberry fruit or cranberry juice to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Thanks to this, one can improve the whole cardiovascular system and heart.

In some cases, cranberries are not recommended, despite many valuable properties. Nephrology patients shouldn’t consume them. The fruits are also not good for patients with osteoporosis.

When to harvest cranberries?

Cranberries should be picked manually to avoid their damage. The large-fruit variety is far more popular, and it’s easier to harvest. But farmers also grow the other type - bog cranberry.

Fruits from both types of bushes are harvested from September until the end of November. Many wait until the very end, when frosts start. Why? Because low temperature and frost make cranberries less sour.

Interestingly enough, in addition to the traditional manual harvest, there is also another method used by professionals. It’s quite unusual, involving flooding the shrubs with water. It causes the fruit to detach from the shrubs and float on the surface. Then, special harvesting machines gather and pack the cranberries.

Cranberry liqueur - why is it good to drink it from time to time?

Cranberry liqueur, just like the fruit, has many benefits. Apart from the already mentioned ones, when consumed from time to time, it also regulates digestive processes and helps to relax. But remember that enough is as good as a feast. So, just like you shouldn’t eat cranberries every day, but rather occasionally add it to your menu - the same rule applies to a cranberry cordial. A single glass once a week - for health - is just enough.

Cranberry liqueur - make it yourself!

The market offers plenty of mass-produced cranberry liqueurs from at least several brands. But is it a good idea to buy a ready-made product? It surely doesn’t have as many valuable properties as a homemade cranberry liqueur. It’s better to spend some time to make a drink that will truly improve your health and well-being.

Cranberry liqueur with honey - an easy and delicious recipe

The cranberry cordial with honey is a perfect option for those who don’t like sour flavours. The addition of honey makes it sweeter, and after it “sits,” it is a true heaven in your mouth.

Cranberry liqueur with honey - ingredients:

• 0.5 kg cranberries,
• 250 ml spirit,
• 150 ml vodka,
• 100 ml honey.

Cranberry liqueur with honey - how to make

Before you start preparing everything, rinse the fruits with cold or lukewarm water. Then, transfer them onto a cutting board and chop into pieces.

• Put the chopped fruit in a large jar.
• Pour the vodka over it and leave the mixture for 14-15 days.

After the initial maturing, strain the liquid to a separate jar and add the spirit and honey. Mix everything thoroughly - you can do it by shaking the jar. The cordial needs another 15 days so that everything mixes well. Afterwards, pour the cranberry drink into small bottles and leave them for 2 months, then it’s ready to consume.

Cranberry liqueur recipe - cordial made of dried fruits

Dried cranberry liqueur is a perfect solution if it’s long after the harvest, and you have just remembered that you’re out of your favourite beverage. In fact, you can purchase dried cranberries all year round - not just in health food stores. These fruits can be found in supermarkets as well - and they’re cheap.

Cranberry cordial ingredients:

• 0.5 kg dried cranberries,
• 150-200 g brown sugar,
• 1 l vodka.

If you like original flavours, you can also add a cinnamon stick or a vanilla pod to your cranberry drink.

How to make cranberry liqueur with dried fruits

Regardless whether you use dried fruits, the first step is washing them - just like with fresh ones. Then:

• Put the fruits in a large jar.
• Pour the sugar over the cranberries and add vanilla or cinnamon (optional) - mix everything thoroughly.
• Pour the vodka into the jar and leave it for 2-3 weeks.

After the beverage matures, strain the liquid using a fine mesh strainer. Divide it across small bottles and leave in a dark spot for at least 4 months. After this time, the cranberry liqueur gains a pronounced taste and is perfect.

Cranberry liqueur from frozen cranberries - a trusty recipe

Have you harvested your cranberries but have no time to process them right away? Freezing is always a good option - this way, you don’t waste them and can use them in the future. A cranberry liqueur made of frozen fruits is a good solution. As an additional plus, it doesn’t need too much work.

Cranberry liqueur with frozen fruits - ingredients:

• 0.5 kg frozen cranberries,
• 100 ml water,
• 250 ml vodka,
• 250 ml spirit,
• 200 g brown sugar.

How to make cranberry cordial from frozen cranberries? Instructions

Before you start making your cranberry liqueur, take the fruits out of the freezer and wait until they thaw. If a lot of water appears - pour it out. Then, follow the next steps:

• Put the cranberries in a jar and blend them with a blender.
• Pour the spirit over the fruits and leave the jar for about 14 days to mature.

When the given time passes, pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or a clean cloth to separate the blended fruits. Pour it to a large jar. Heat up the water, mix in sugar and leave it to cool off.

Add the vodka and the sugar water to the liquid. Close the jar, mix all the ingredients well and leave it for at least a month. Then, pour the cranberry cordial into small bottles, put them in a dark spot and leave it to mature for 3-4 months before consuming.

Cranberry liqueur with moonshine - a recipe for brave ones

A moonshine cranberry liqueur is a drink for true connoisseurs who are not afraid of original flavours. Although many claim that such a cranberry drink is not to their taste, after trying it they find out it’s a very interesting idea. Keep in mind, though, that it’s an option for patient people, as the best taste and aroma is achieved after even 12 months of maturing.

Moonshine cranberry cordial - ingredients:

• 1 kg cranberries - preferably fresh,
• 350 ml moonshine,
• 125 ml water,
• 150 g sugar.

How to make cranberry liqueur with moonshine

Start the process of moonshine cranberry liqueur preparation from washing the fruits and pour them into a large jar. Then, pour the water and moonshine over them, close the jar and leave it in a dark place for at least 2 months.

After the initial maturing period, open the jar and add the sugar to it. Shake the container every few days so that the sugar slowly dissolves. The process should last for about 3 weeks.

When the suggested time passes, strain the liquid into smaller bottles and keep them in a dark and cold place. Store the liqueur like this for 7 to 9 months until it fully matures. After this time, it’s ready for consumption.