This Wilderness Our Home

Light, bright, and easy to make, this cranberry orange winter spritz is festive without being sweet-heavy. It pairs well with rich winter meals and feels special enough for an evening at home without extra effort.

Cranberry Orange Winter Spritz

Serves: 1

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 oz Sparkling water or lemon-lime soda
• 2 1/2 oz Cranberry juice (unsweetened or lightly sweetened)
• 1 oz Fresh orange juice
• Cranberry–orange ice cubes (optional)

Optional garnish

Orange peel or slice Fresh cranberries

Sour sugar or citric sugar for a light glass rim

Directions

• Fill a glass with cranberry–orange ice cubes or regular ice.
• Add a splash of cranberry juice and a smaller splash of orange juice.
• Top with sparkling water or lemon-lime soda.
• Stir gently and garnish if desired.

Why This Works

Cranberry keeps the drink crisp and refreshing, while orange adds warmth without extra sweetness. The carbonation lightens the palate, making this a natural pairing for rich winter meals like soups and slow-cooked dishes.

Variations

Sweeter:

Use lemon-lime soda instead of sparkling water.

Simpler:

Skip the bubbles and serve cranberry with a splash of orange juice for a classic sunrise-style drink.

Related Posts

French Onion Soup with Garlic & Thyme

A Simple Valentine’s Dinner at Home

Author’s Note

This is a version of something we make often — usually just a splash of orange juice added to cranberry, poured so the colors settle like a sunrise. For winter dinners, we keep the same idea but add bubbles and frozen juice ice to make it feel a little more intentional at the table.