Ina garten Cranberry Martinis are a make ahead holiday cocktail Bobby Flay first mixed on a Thanksgiving special. She simmers fresh cranberries and orange zest into a syrup, then soaks the vodka for two days. The result is a tart, festive drink for any dinner party.
The cranberry syrup needs at least two full days soaking in the vodka, so plan your batch early. Rush that step and the drink tastes flat, more like cranberry juice than a real cocktail.
Source: Make It Ahead (2014)
Ina Garten Cranberry Martinis
Course: BeverageCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes5
minutes400
kcalA vodka infusion with simmered cranberries and orange zest, strained and shaken with cranberry juice and Triple Sec for a tart, ruby red cocktail.
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
6 (1 x 3-inch) strips of orange zest, plus extra for serving
1 (750 ml) bottle good vodka, such as Grey Goose
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail, preferably tart
1/4 cup Triple Sec
Ice
Directions
- Make the cranberry infusion: Several days ahead, place the sugar, cranberries, 6 strips of orange zest, and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, until the cranberries start to pop open. Pour the vodka into a large pitcher, add the cranberry mixture, and store covered in the refrigerator for at least 2 days and up to 5 days.
- Shake and serve: When ready to serve, strain the vodka mixture, reserving the cranberries and discarding the orange zest. Stir in the cranberry juice cocktail and Triple Sec. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the drink mixture, shake for a full 30 seconds (it’s longer than you think!), and strain into martini glasses. Rub the rim of each glass with fresh orange zest, spoon a few cranberries into each glass, and serve ice cold.
FAQs
Can I use a different vodka instead of Grey Goose?
Any clean, neutral vodka works here. The cranberry and orange flavors do most of the heavy lifting, so you don’t need to spend on top-shelf. Just avoid anything with a sharp bite, because it comes through in a cold, shaken drink.
How far ahead can I make the full cocktail mixture?
The infused vodka keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days on its own. Once you add the cranberry juice and Triple Sec, it holds for another 3 days. Just shake it with ice right before serving, because it needs to be ice cold.
Do I need a cocktail shaker for these?
A shaker gives the best result because 30 seconds of hard shaking gets the drink cold enough and adds slight dilution that smooths everything out. If you don’t have one, a mason jar with a tight lid works fine.
Can I make these without alcohol?
You can swap the vodka for sparkling water or ginger ale, but the drink changes completely. The 2-day infusion is what builds the depth, so without it you get a different cranberry punch. Add a splash of fresh lemon juice to compensate for the missing bite.
What is the biggest mistake people make with these?
Not infusing long enough. One day gives you a lightly tinted vodka with almost no cranberry flavor. Two full days is the minimum for the syrup, cranberries, and zest to actually flavor the spirit. Skipping that time makes the whole drink taste thin.
