This Cranberry Smash Cocktail is an easy and festive holiday beverage made with cranberry sauce and a homemade rosemary simple syrup.

Well, the holidays have landed, haven’t they? Whether we’re ready for them or not…I mean is it just me or did December just come clear out of nowhere? Ok, bring it on, I say. The hall decking, the gift wrapping, the festive parties…and the festive party cocktails!

I love it when regular things get a Christmas makeover, like these eggnog marshmallows I made a couple of years ago. So when I spied some leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving in the fridge I was struck with the inspiration to turn it into a very merry cranberry smash cocktail!

Why you’ll love this cranberry smash cocktail

If you’ve never had a smash before they are super fun to make (and drink) because you get to muddle. Everyone loves muddling, am I right? It makes you feel like a professional mixologist.

What is a smash?

Seasonal ingredients- usually fruit and/or herbs, and often jams or preserves- are “smashed” in a cocktail shaker and combined with the spirit of your choice.

How to make a cranberry smash

In this case the cranberry sauce is combined with a homemade rosemary simple syrup and some vodka or gin. I much prefer gin because the botanical flavors go great with the rosemary simple syrup. The muddled cranberry sauce is shaken up with the alcohol and lime juice, then strained into a cocktail glass and served on the rocks. The last step is to top it off with soda water for a refreshing wintery cocktail.

For a garnish I made my sugared cranberries, and I also dipped a few rosemary sprigs in the simple syrup, then rolled them in sugar and left them on parchment paper to dry.

Variations

Feel free to simply nix the alcohol if that’s not your thing. This would make a fabulous mocktail for non-imbibing party guests!

Thanks for reading Le Petit Eats! To keep up with me in the kitchen, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. If you make this cranberry smash cocktail, please share it using the hashtag #LePetitEats!

This post was originally published on December 4, 2015 and last updated on December 24. 2019.

5 from 9 votes

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Cranberry Smash Cocktail

This Cranberry Smash Cocktail is an easy and festive holiday beverage made with cranberry sauce and a homemade rosemary simple syrup.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword christmas cocktail recipe, cranberry cocktail, thanksgiving cocktail

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 2

Calories 380 kcal

Author Denisse

Ingredients

• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
• 2 ounces gin vodka works, too
• Soda water
• Ice
• Juice of 1 lime plus extra wedges for serving

Instructions

1. Combine rosemary, sugar and water in a small saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves. Let stand until completely cool, then discard rosemary.

2. Muddle cranberry sauce in a cocktail shaker. Add gin, 1 tablespoon rosemary simple syrup and lime juice and shake to combine. Strain evenly into two cocktail glasses filled with ice.

3. Top with soda water. Serve with additional lime wedges.

Recipe Notes

Feel free to simply nix the alcohol if that’s not your thing. This would make a fabulous mocktail for non-imbibing party guests!