Friday, November 18, 2011
Cranberry Pomegranate Spritzers
It’s cocktail Friday again! So let me turn it over to the hubs… PS- I totally didn’t pay him to write any of this… he’s just that sweet - go, ahead and swoon - I give you full permission! 😉
Happy Friday, folks. I have to tell you all, my wife is amazing. She always cranks outs out incredible recipes for this blog. And when there’s a day she’s not posting, she’s still cooking up a ridiculous dish at my request (usually a repeat of one of the previous recipes). She never takes a break. Sometimes I make her and take her out to dinner or attempt to concoct a meal of my own. These meals are limited to grilling and typically involve some spin on a hamburger. Tina is truly amazing.
I, on the other hand, do need a break. Haha, what kind of bartender relaxes on the job? This one does. I had grandiose visions of autumn inspired stone fruit infused cocktails but I fell short last night. Rather than calling it quits, Tina encouraged me to repurpose the ‘leftovers”. You remember last week I brought you the greatest of all margaritas to date, the Cranberry Pomegranate Margarita. It was SO good that I made another batch of the cranberry pomegranate syrup to have on hand. So I grabbed that beautiful syrup and poured a little into a champagne flute and topped it off with a bit of the bubbly.
This little spritzer is so festive, so tasty and best of all, so easy. All it requires is setting out the syrup and uncorking the bottle. Your guests can do the rest. Plus, who wants to toast at the Thanksgiving feast with a cumbersome margarita or martini (hey, I’m not judging if you do though). You can also make little virgin versions for the underage, preggos, and non-drinking crowd using a sparking grape juice.
You’re going to be busy in the kitchen and your bartender may be feeling lazy or interested in the parade on the TV so do yourself a favor and make this drink happen this Thanksgiving Day.
CHEERS!
The Hubs
Cranberry Pomegranate Spritzers
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Easy cocktail for any holiday party!
Ingredients:
For the Cranberry Pomegranate Syrup:
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
zest of 1 orangeFor the Cranberry Pomegranate Spritzers:
Chilled Champagne (May subsitute Prosecco or Sparkling White Wine)
Cranberry Pomegranate SyrupDirections:
For the Cranberry Pomegranate Syrup:
Combine ingredients in a sauce pan that has a fitted lid over medium high heat. Bring to a simmer and stir until sugar has dissolved. Cover sauce pan with lid (stir occasionally, making sure it doesn't boil over). Once the cranberries burst, bring the heat to low and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and blend with an immersion blender (or allow to cool and carefully blend in a blender or food processor for 30 seconds). Pour syrup through a fine strainer into an air tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one weekFor the Cranberry Pomegranate Spritzers:
Fill champagne glasses about 1/4-1/3 full (depending on desired sweetness) with the Cranberry Pomegranate Syrup and top with champagne. Garnish with a few cranberries (Tip: you can use frozen ones to keep your cocktail cold).
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nicole {sweet peony} — November 18, 2011 @ 11:58 am
omigosh these are totally gorgeous!!! i love the color & i love the little cranberries floating in there 🙂 i have some leftover cranberries so guess what i’m making!!!! woo hoo!
Kristina replied: — November 19th, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
get it girl! 🙂
Jessica — November 18, 2011 @ 1:15 pm
This may be the prettiest cocktail yet!
Kristina replied: — November 19th, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
aww thanks girl!
Mom — November 18, 2011 @ 1:36 pm
I agree with Jessica… very pretty and bubbly! Photos are great! I like it! Good job to Mike too 🙂
Kristina replied: — November 19th, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
thanks mom!
Cassie — November 18, 2011 @ 2:17 pm
You guys, I’m loving these cocktail Friday things. My hubs does do some cooking but mostly he’s the bartender. I love the pomegranates in this!
Alaina — November 18, 2011 @ 5:46 pm
Oh my goodness! I CANNOT wait to make these on Thanksgiving morning while watching the parade!! Goodbye mimosas, hello cranberry-pomegranate spritzers!! Thank YOU both!!
Kristina replied: — November 19th, 2011 @ 12:56 pm
i like how you think! 🙂
Sandra — November 19, 2011 @ 6:25 am
You can repurpose anytime! Very cool idea and very pretty.
Jessalyn — November 20, 2011 @ 4:46 pm
This looks delicious! Approximately how many drinks does this recipe yield?
Kristina replied: — November 20th, 2011 @ 9:47 pm
The syrup yields about 12 ounces (8-10 spritzers)
Happy Thanksgiving! « mommysmenu — November 21, 2011 @ 10:10 pm
[…] Cranberry Pomegranate Spritzers […]
brandi — November 22, 2011 @ 1:19 pm
you two are too cute 🙂
Christine — November 30, 2011 @ 9:04 am
Kristina - this recipe looks fabulous and I am trying to make it, but having trouble with the syrup. The crenberries and juices cook down fine, but after I blend them I am unable to get the mixture through a mesh srtainer because it is so thick. Any thoughts/suggestions on what I can try to do differently? I even tried putting a double-layer piece of cheese cloth over the glass jar I am using to store the liquid, and it still won’t pass. Thanks!
Kristina replied: — November 30th, 2011 @ 9:14 am
You’re cranberries may have just had more natural pectin in them (most berries have a natural thickener similar to what it used in making jams)… I would throw it back in the pot and add equal parts pomegranate and orange juice (a tablespoon each at a time) heating it until it thins out a bit… also make sure you are straining the mixture while it’s hot - it thickens as it cools! Hope that helps… let me know!
Cheesy Basil Chicken & Orzo « mommysmenu — December 23, 2011 @ 6:13 am
[…] of Garlic Jams & Hot Pepper Jelly’s, (for gifts..recipes to come later) and this AMAZING Cranberry Pomegranate Syrup, (some for gifts and some to totally drink with champagne on Christmas morning, and in margaritas […]
Angie — December 20, 2012 @ 5:40 pm
Just had these at a Cookie Exchange Party last night… DeLish! The recipe is making the rounds. Hello Christmas Morning delight! Thank you!
Non-Alcoholic to Alcoholic: Spike Your Christmas Morning | Drinking in America — April 7, 2014 @ 10:25 am
[…] cranberry pomegranate spritzers are super refreshing and whether you’re 5 or 35, you’re going to love the bubbles. […]