Cranberry Shrub
This Cranberry Shrub is a tangy shrub syrup made with fresh cranberries, sugar and apple cider vinegar. Its sweet-tart cranberry flavor makes it a refreshing mixer for cocktails, mocktails or even spooned over ice cream.
Ideal for the holiday season or New Year gatherings, this shrub cocktail recipe is a fun way to elevate any party. Once you have it made, it's easy to turn into a cozy drink with bourbon, maple syrup and bitters.
We host a lot over the holidays, so having a unique cocktail menu is essential. Here are some of our favorites to make: Grinch Cocktail and Eggnog Espresso Martini.
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Why You Will Love This Cranberry Shrub Cocktail
- Bold Flavor Profile: Sweet-tart cranberries paired with apple cider vinegar.
- Versatile Use: Stir into cocktails, mix with ginger ale or soda water or drizzle over desserts.
- Seasonal Treat: Fresh cranberries bring festive color and flavor during the holidays.
- Make-Ahead: Stored in an airtight container, the shrub lasts weeks in the fridge.
- Simple Process: Just simmer, strain mixture, and you have a flavorful shrub syrup ready to go.
Ingredients
This cranberry shrub recipe comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Fresh Cranberries: A bag of cranberries creates tartness and vibrant color.
- Allspice Berries: Whole spices that add warmth to the shrub's profile.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: High-quality vinegar adds tang and depth.
- Bourbon: A warming base spirit that pairs well with cranberries.
- Angostura Bitters: Adds complexity to the cranberry cocktail.
For this shrub recipe, you'll want to have on hand a medium sauce pan, measuring cups and spoons, strainers, cocktail shaker, shot glass and an airtight container.
Variations
- Different Spices: Swap allspice berries for cinnamon sticks, cloves or black peppercorn for extra depth in your shrub.
- Mocktail: Mix shrub with ginger ale, soda water or cranberry juice for a non-alcoholic cranberry cocktail.
- Sweetener Swap: Try honey or brown sugar instead of granulated sugar for a richer flavor.
- Citrus Twist: Add fresh orange juice or garnish with fresh rosemary for a holiday-ready drink.
- Alternative Spirits: Replace bourbon with gin, rum or vodka for a new flavor profile next time.
How to Make Cranberry Shrub
Look at how simple it was to make this shrub and cocktail.
Make your cranberry shrub by adding cranberries, water, sugar and all-spice berries into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
Reduce to keep a low simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Lightly squish some of the cranberries as it cooks down.
Strain once or twice into a measuring cup or airtight container then pour in apple cider vinegar. Store in the fridge.
Make your cranberry shrub cocktail by adding ice to a cocktail shaker and pour in bourbon, cranberry shrub, maple syrup and a dash of orange bitters.
Shake until chilled and strain into a coup glass or a lowball glass with ice.
Hint: Cooked cranberries should pop without boiling too hard.
Recipe Tips
- Shaken/Stirred: Shake with ice, then strain with a fine mesh strainer for a smooth drink.
- Glass: A rocks glass for a classic look, or a coupe for a more elegant presentation.
- Garnishes: Fresh rosemary, an orange slice or a few cranberries.
- Shrub Storage: Stored in an airtight container, it keeps for 3-4 weeks in the fridge.
- Flavor Balance: Taste and adjust the amount of sugar to match your preference.
- Rest Time: Let the shrub sit overnight in the fridge for the best flavor.
Around the holidays, we also love making a batch of Spiked Eggnog with Rum.
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Serving Suggestions
- Savory Sides: Roasted sweet potatoes, sautéed green beans with shallots and stuffing.
- Sweet Treats: Pumpkin pie, frosted holiday brownies and Costco pecan pie.
Recipe FAQs
Apple cider vinegar gives the best flavor, but you can use red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar if that's what you have on hand.
Yes, though you'll miss some of the bold flavor from cooked cranberries. Shrub syrup made with juice will be lighter.
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Cranberry Shrub
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Strainers
- Cocktail Shaker
- Shot Glass
- Airtight Container with Lid
Ingredients
SHRUB:
- 1 ½ cup frozen cranberries
- ½ cup water
- 100 grams granulated sugar about ½ cup
- 1 tablespoon allspice berries
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar high quality
CRANBERRY SHRUB COCKTAIL:
- 3- ounce bourbon
- 1- ounce cranberry shrub
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup
- 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
Instructions
- Make your cranberry shrub by adding cranberries, water, sugar and all-spice berries into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Reduce to keep a low simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Lightly squish some of the cranberries as it cooks down.
- Strain once or twice into a measuring cup or airtight container then pour in apple cider vinegar. Store in the fridge.
- Make your cranberry shrub cocktail by adding ice to a cocktail shaker and pour in bourbon, cranberry shrub, maple syrup and a dash of orange bitters.
- Shake until chilled and strain into a coup glass or a lowball glass with ice.
Notes
- Cooked cranberries should pop without boiling too hard.
- Use a fine mesh strainer for a smooth syrup.
- Taste and adjust the amount of sugar to match your preference.
- Let the shrub sit overnight in the fridge for the best flavor profile.
- Nutritional information does not include the cocktail itself, it is for the shrub.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
This is going on my must make list! Sounds so amazing!
I hope you enjoy it. We certain do, for cocktails and mocktails a like!
This cranberry shrub was so refreshing and tangy! It had the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and I loved mixing it with sparkling water. Such a fun way to use cranberries during the holidays.
Right?! It is so good, and such a nice balance. Thanks for the review.
I love making shrubs with summer berries and stone fruits but have never thought to use cranberries before! Loved this cranberry version and am looking forward to making holiday mocktails with it.
So happy to hear you enjoyed it. It is a nice start to mocktails for sure!
If you love bourbon and drinks that are not overly sweet, this is the perfect cocktail. It is so well balanced as is, but can be sweeter if needed too!