Cranberry Gimlet
This Cranberry Gimlet with Sugared Cranberries is the perfect holiday cocktail for those of you who love everything in the sour cocktail family. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas cocktail for those who don’t love the bitterness of my Cranberry Negroni.
So read on to learn all the tips and tricks for making my favorite cranberry gimlet and gimlet variations. Or just grab your shaker, hit that Jump to Recipe button, and let’s make your new favorite Thanksgiving cocktail!
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Ingredients
A gimlet is a classic gin cocktail that was originally made with gin and sweet lime cordial. In more modern times, it has become less sweet.
The gimlet now typically follows the classic sour cocktail ratio: 2 ounces of liquor, three-quarters to one ounce of lime or lemon juice, and three-quarters to one ounce of a simple syrup or liqueur. You can see that in play in variations like my lavender gimlet, strawberry gimlet, tequila gimlet, and spicy margarita.
Please see the recipe card below for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations and substitutions
- You can use 100% cranberry juice in the quick version of this cranberry gimlet recipe, but you’ll need to sweeten your cranberry gimlet with a simple syrup like this honey simple syrup.
- Use cranberry gin! Yes, you can buy cranberry gin, but it’s so easy to infuse your own.
- Divide the cocktail into two champagne glasses and top with Prosecco or another sparkling wine.
- Sour cocktails are great for big batch punches. To make a cranberry gimlet punch for a crowd, keep the same ratio and add water to dilute in a 2 parts gin to 1 part lime juice to 1 part cranberry juice and one part ice water.
Recipe tips and tricks
There are two variations to this recipe, depending on whether you have fresh cranberries or cranberry juice. I’d recommend the former, because that way you get to make sugared cranberries, which you can then use as a garnish for your cocktail, your favorite pound cake, or a berry curd tart.
Cranberry Gimlet variation #1
A few days in advance, if possible, grab a handful of cranberries, slice them in half, put them in a clean jam jar, and let the color and flavor of the cranberries infuse with the jar in a cool, dark place.
Making infusions is so easy, and that way you don’t need to buy a bottle of flavor liquor! Among other things, I infuse tea in my green tea saketini and Lady Bridgerton Empress Gin Cocktail, and I infuse chili peppers in my spicy skinny margarita!
At least one hour before you want to enjoy your cranberry and gin gimlet, make the sugared cranberries. The best part about this is that you’re making simple syrup at the same time!
Combine equal amounts of granulated sugar and water in a small pot over low heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat and add the cranberries to soak for 15 to 30 minutes.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the cranberries to your baking rack with the smallest holes (those small cranberries like to jump through the gaps). Let the syrup-coated cranberries dry for an hour at room temperature and then toss them in a bowl of sugar to coat.
To put it all together, add your cranberry-infused gin, your cooled simple syrup, and lime juice to a shaker with ice. Shake, double strain into a coupe, and garnish with your sugared cranberries!
Tip from the wise quacker: The general teaching is that cocktails with citrus juices should be shaken, but cocktails with only alcohols should be stirred.
Cranberry Gimlet variation #2
For a quick version of this cranberry gimlet, skip all the nonsense above. Just use 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of cranberry juice cocktail, and three-quarters of an ounce of lime juice. Garnish with a lime twist.
Recipe FAQs
You can use frozen cranberries to make cranberry gin, but frozen cranberries aren’t great for making sugared cranberries.
No, this wouldn’t be a great use of dried cranberries, but you can make a cranberry sauce from dried cranberries. Or add craisins to this cranberry chicken salad, feta kale salad, or Thanksgiving turkey meatloaf.
Keep your frosted cranberries in a plastic bag with the excess sugar. They’ll be fine at room temperature for a few days.
Related cocktail recipes
Check out other gin cocktails and mixed drinks from the Ugly Duckling Bakery archives, like:
Love cocktails and want to explore more? Read all about classic cocktails and bartender basics, check out my list of essential bar tools for cocktails at home, and join this year’s 52 weeks of cocktails challenge!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-heart 💜💜💜💜💜 rating in the recipe card below. Let me know how much you loved it, or any problems you had, in the comments section further down.
Recipe
Cranberry Gimlet
Ingredients
Cranberry Gin
- ¼ cup fresh cranberries halved
- 2 ounces London dry gin e.g Tanqueray
Sugared Cranberries and Simple Syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar divided
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Cranberry Gin Gimlet
- 1 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
Instructions
Cranberry Gin
- Make the cranberry gin infusion by adding the gin and ¼ cup of halved cranberries to a clean glass jar, and leave in a cool, dark place for at least one day.¼ cup fresh cranberries, 2 ounces London dry gin
Sugared Cranberries and Simple Syrup
- Combine ¼ cup of the granulated sugar and the ¼ cup of water in a small pot over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Turn off the heat, add the cup of cranberries, and let them soak for 15 to 30 minutes.½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup water, 1 cup fresh cranberries
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the cranberries and place them on a baking rack to dry for at least one hour. Save the simple syrup in a clean jar and refrigerate until ready to use.
- When ready to use the cranberries, put them in a small bowl with the remaining sugar and toss to coat.
Cranberry Gimlet
- Add the gin, 1 ounce of simple syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and double strain into a coupe.1 ounce lime juice
- Garnish with three or more sugared cranberries on a cocktail pick. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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