Spiced Cranberry Gin

Make ruby red spiced cranberry gin with orange and warming spices - a thoughtful homemade Christmas gift, with vodka variations and an alcohol free syrup option.

CHRISTMAS

10/15/20262 min read

Spiced Cranberry Gin: A Ruby-Red Gift for Grown-Ups

This is the prettiest gift you'll make all season. Tart red cranberries, a little sugar, orange peel, cinnamon and star anise sit in a jar of gin and turn it a deep, glowing ruby. It looks like you've been fussing for weeks, but all you really do is fill a jar, shake it now and then and wait.

Pour it over ice with tonic, top it with sparkling wine, or sip it neat on Christmas night. And the cranberries aren't wasted: once strained, they're delicious dipped in dark chocolate. There's also a non-alcoholic cranberry syrup at the end, so everyone gets a gift.

Suits a summer or a winter Christmas: long and icy with tonic in an Australian summer, or in a small glass beside the fire in the north.

Troubleshooting

Problem Fix

Gin is cloudy Strain again through a paper coffee filter. It takes time, so be patient

Gin is too tart Stir in a little cooled sugar syrup, a spoonful at a time

Gin is too sweet Add a splash more gin

Sugar is stuck at the bottom Keep shaking daily. It dissolves in a week

Colour is pale Give it another week. Pressing the cranberries a little harder next time also helps

Spices taste too strong Remove the cinnamon and star anise at 2 weeks next time

A Note for Adults

This gin is for adults only. Please label it clearly, store it away from children and give it only to people who'd welcome it. Alcohol laws vary from country to country and state to state: a homemade bottle is for gifting, not selling. For friends who don't drink, give them the cranberry syrup instead.

Variations

• Cranberry Vodka: use vodka instead of gin for a cleaner, sweeter flavour.

• Orange and Vanilla: add a split vanilla bean and a second strip of orange peel.

• Less Sweet: cut the sugar to 100 g (1/2 cup) and add sugar syrup to taste at the end.

• Spiced Cranberry Brandy: use brandy for a rich, warming winter drink.

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This post is part of my Edible Gifts From the Kitchen series. You will find more edible gifts and Christmas recipes here.

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With love, Kim xx

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