Hello Friends!
I. can. NOT. believe. it. is. almost. 2018. Yikes!
Time flies when you’re having too much fun (or too busy!) Ha! 🙂
I have been hankering for a fun and festive cocktail for this New Year’s Eve…and thought I would make a Holiday Cranberry Gin Fizz cocktail made with homemade cranberry infused simple syrup! Check it out…
The homemade cranberry simple syrup can be made ahead and is good for about 1-2 weeks in your fridge. The cranberry infused simple syrup adds a festive pink color and delicious flavor to your cocktail.
Did someone say, “Pink cocktail?”
Yes, that would be me! So fun, right?
I happen to live in the land of cranberries–so it is quite easy to find fresh cranberries this time of year! If that is not the case for you…simply sub in a lightly sweetened cranberry juice (made with sugar NOT high fructose corn syrup in place of the homemade cranberry simple syrup.)
Is it worth making your own cranberry simple syrup? I have to say, YES!!
It is easy to make –and super yum. And if you don’t drink alcohol… enjoy a splash of the homemade cranberry simple syrup in a glass of seltzer water topped with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. So…refreshing!
Fresh cranberries have not ‘officially’ been tested for FODMAP content–but given cranberry juice and dried cranberries in small amount are well tolerated and tested to be low in FODMAPs and my clients tolerate homemade cranberry relish –I think the splash of cranberries in the syrup should be a-ok for FODMAPers!
If a cranberry cocktail is not your thing…and you are looking for other festive bevies to try…check out my festive Celebration Martini recipe here…or other holiday drink inspirations here.
Ingredients
- To make cranberry simple syrup:
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups water
- Per cocktail:
- Crushed ice
- 2 ounces Gin (can sub in vodka)
- 3 ounces cranberry simple syrup (see ingredients above), can sub in same amount of lightly sweetened cranberry juice (without high fructose corn syrup)
- 4 ounces tonic water (I used Fever-Tree brand without high fructose corn syrup), can sub in club soda if preferred
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 large lime)
- Garnish: mint leaves,sprig of thyme or rosemary, and/or slice of lime, lemon or orange plus a few fresh cranberries
Instructions
- To make simple syrup, add 2 cups fresh cranberries, 2 cups water and 1/2 cup sugar into a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Heat mixture for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries start to break open.
- Turn off burner, and let mixture cool for about 20 minutes.
- Add cranberry mixture to blender with top secured tightly and blend for about 30 seconds to blend the cranberries.
- Using a wire mesh strainer, strain most (or all) of the cranberry mixture to remove most of the pulp. (Strain all of the mixture, if you don't like pulp in your drinks. I tend to strain about 90% of it the mixture and refrain from straining all of the blended mixture as I like a bit of pulp.) Refrigerate cranberry simple syrup in glass jar with top. (this keeps well for about 1-2 weeks, if it lasts!)
- For each cocktail, fill glass half full with crushed ice.
- Add in 2 ounces gin (or vodka), top with 3 ounces of cranberry simple syrup, 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, and 4 ounces tonic water (or club soda) and stir mixture lightly with a spoon.
- Garnish with a few fresh cranberries, sliced lemon, lime or orange and a sprig of mint/rosemary/thyme, if desired.
- Cheers!
Cheers to you and yours this holiday season! Remember alcohol is a GI irritant so drink responsibly!
Mary Anne
Hello! I would love to stock my freezer with low fodmap meals/snacks for the new year. Would you consider writing a post about recipes that freeze well?