Easy Cranberry Vodka Cocktail: Sugar-free
Last updated on December 10th, 2024
Skip the wine and step into Cranberry Vodka Cocktail mode with this sugar-free party drink, which uses low-carb cream soda infused with fresh cranberries, orange juice, and rosemary.
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Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
This Cranberry Vodka Cocktail is easy to prepare and ideal for the festive period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, especially when you have fresh rosemary sprigs and cranberries left over from holiday cooking.
Make this refreshing party drink with store-bought sugar-free cream soda or create your own cream soda at home using club soda, low-carb sugar, and vanilla extract to give a bubbly finish to this cocktail.
Why you will love Sugar-free Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
- This recipe uses ingredients you may already have at home during the Winter holiday season.
- Refreshingly light, this cranberry vodka soda is free from granular sugar, helping you stay on track with your carb-counting budget.
- Make it a mocktail or toast in style by switching the low-carb cream soda for Prosecco.
- Whip it up in minutes and serve it from a punch bowl or in individual tumblers.
- Serve this cocktail during the day with lunch or at night along with dinner.
Ingredients to make Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
Fresh Cranberries
- A few muddled cranberries bring out their fresh tartness. If cranberries are not your thing, substitute them with fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or pomegranate arils.
Rosemary Sprigs
- When muddled with cranberries, rosemary sprigs enhance the holiday vibe. Set some aside for garnish.
Vodka
- I used Smirnoff for this recipe, but any good-quality vodka will work. The vodka is optional, and you can leave it out entirely for a kid-friendly mocktail. Top with extra low-carb cream soda.
Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
- You can find several quality brands in the natural health aisles at the grocery store. I prefer Lakewood Organic because it’s not made from concentrate, and it has a much lower carb content.
Orange Juice
- Freshly squeezed orange juice balances the tartness of the cranberry juice.
Low Carb Cream Soda
- Regular cream soda is sweet and has a slight vanilla ice cream flavour. You can easily make a low-carb version at home using club soda, low-carb sugar, and vanilla extract. The complete recipe is available in the recipe card. I sometimes use sugar-free cream soda by Zevia, found in most supermarkets.
Garnish
- Keep aside some rosemary sprigs, a few cranberries and slices of orange for a fun and festive garnish.
How to Make Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
To make this delicious cocktail, you’ll need a muddler and a cocktail shaker.
What is muddling?
In a bartender’s world, muddling means lightly mashing fruits and herbs with a muddler tool to release the flavours and oils from the ingredients that will give a cocktail its distinctive taste. Muddling brings depth to the flavour of a cocktail. If you don’t have a muddler tool or a cocktail shaker, don’t worry; follow my tips here on what to use instead.
Easy steps to make Sugar-free Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
- Start by making sugar-free cream soda by pouring club soda into a medium-sized glass or jug, filling it halfway. Add low-carb sugar and a splash of vanilla extract to the soda. Stir well until the sugar fully dissolves, mixing the flavour. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Next, take your cocktail shaker and add fresh cranberries, a few sprigs of rosemary leaves, and a slice of orange if you want extra flavour. Use a muddler or the back of a spoon to gently press down on the ingredients, releasing their juices and aromas.
- After muddling, pour in unsweetened cranberry juice, and if desired, a splash of fresh orange juice for extra zest. Add your choice of vodka and a handful of ice cubes to chill the mixture. Close the cocktail shaker securely and shake it vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to combine all the ingredients.
- Prepare a tumbler glass with fresh ice cubes. Carefully strain the mixture from the shaker into the tumbler, filling it just over halfway.
- To finish your drink, top it off with your homemade or store-bought sugar-free cream soda, pouring gently to keep the bubbles.
- Garnish your cocktail with a slice of orange, a few whole cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary. This adds a nice touch and enhances the scent as you sip. Enjoy your refreshing drink—CHEERS!
Carbs and Servings in Sugar-free Cranberry Vodka Cocktail?
This Cranberry Vodka cocktail has fewer carbs than a typical cranberry vodka soda drink made with regular sweetened cranberry juice and soda cream, which would tally up to about 20.6g net carbs per serving.
under 10g net carbs per serving
I use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice that is not from concentrate and sugar-free cream soda in this recipe. These two ingredients alone reduce the number of carbs significantly, allowing me to add a little bit of fresh orange juice.
Make Cranberry Vodka Punch for a Party
Turning this recipe into a punch is a breeze and great for when you have a bigger gathering for the holidays.
8 servings
- 1 cup vodka
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 4 cups low carb Cream Soda
- Cranberries, orange slices and rosemary sprigs
- ½ cup cranberries
- 4 rosemary sprigs
- 1/2 orange cut into quarters, then thinly sliced
- Cranberries, orange slices and rosemary sprigs for garnish
- 1-2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 cup Sweetener (Monk Fruit)
- Gently muddle the cranberries, rosemary and orange slices in a large-bottomed container such as a mixing bowl or large jug. Add cranberry juice, orange juice and vodka. Stir in the vanilla extract and sweetener if you are using club soda instead of cream soda. Cover and let it sit in the fridge until you’re ready to make the punch.
- Before guests arrive, strain the cranberry vodka into a punch bowl filled with an ice ring or ice. Top it up with the cream soda (or club soda) and add the garnish. Serve into tumblers.
What can I use instead of a Muddler?
- Back of a wooden spoon
- Pestle from a pestle and mortar
- A large spatula
- Coffee tamper
- Meat pounder
- French Rolling pin
.
What can I use instead of a Cocktail Shaker?
- Travel mug
- Mason jar
- Kitchenaid blender for large batches
- Coffee flask
- Cookie jar
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @platedfocus on Instagram and hashtag it #platedfocus
Cranberry Vodka Cocktail (Low Carb) Recipe Card
Skip the wine and step into Cranberry Vodka Cocktail mode with this sugar-free party drink, which uses low-carb cream soda infused with fresh cranberries, orange juice, and rosemary.Low-Carb, Sugar-Free8g net carbs/serving
INGREDIENTS
- 5 Fresh Cranberries
- 1 tbsp Fresh Rosemary leaves - leaves from one sprig of rosemary
- 1 Orange - cut into quarters then thinly sliced
- ¼ cup Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
- 2 oz Vodka
- 2 tbsp Fresh Orange Juice - optional
- Low Carb Cream Soda - for topping up your cocktail
Homemade sugar-free Cream Soda (makes 1 cup)
- 1 cup Club Soda
- 2 tbsp Low carb sugar (Monk fruit, Erythritol)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make sugar-free cream soda by pouring club soda into a medium-sized glass or jug, filling it halfway. Add low-carb sugar and a splash of vanilla extract to the soda. Stir well until the sugar fully dissolves, mixing the flavour. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Next, take your cocktail shaker and add fresh cranberries, a few sprigs of rosemary leaves, and a slice of orange if you want extra flavour. Use a muddler or the back of a spoon to gently press down on the ingredients, releasing their juices and aromas.
- After muddling, pour in unsweetened cranberry juice, and if desired, a splash of fresh orange juice for extra zest. Add your choice of vodka and a handful of ice cubes to chill the mixture. Close the cocktail shaker securely and shake it vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to combine all the ingredients.
- Prepare a tumbler glass with fresh ice cubes. Carefully strain the mixture from the shaker into the tumbler, filling it just over halfway.
- To finish your drink, top it off with your homemade or store-bought sugar-free cream soda, pouring gently to keep the bubbles.
- Garnish your cocktail with a slice of orange, a few whole cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary. This adds a nice touch and enhances the scent as you sip. Enjoy your refreshing drink—CHEERS!
RECIPE NOTES
Cranberry Vodka Punch
8 servings-
- 1 cup vodka
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 4 cups Cream Soda or Club Soda (remember to add vanilla extract and sweetener if using club soda
- Cranberries, orange slices and rosemary sprigs
- ½ cup cranberries
- 4 rosemary sprigs
- 1 orange cut into quarters, then thinly sliced
- 1-2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 cup Sweetener (Monk Fruit)
What can I use instead of a Muddler?
-
- Back of a wooden spoon
- Pestle from a pestle and mortar
- A large spatula
- Coffee tamper
- Meat pounder
- French Rolling pin
What can I use instead of a Cocktail Shaker?
-
- Travel mug
- Mason jar
- Kitchenaid blender for large batches
- Coffee flask
- Cookie jar