Since moving to Seattle two years ago, we’ve spent the last two Thanksgivings locally with new friends instead of flying across the country to be home with family. Not wanting to expose my lack of cooking skills to my new Seattle friends, we’ve typically contributed wine, a salad or store bought dessert to the big meal.
Before you get too excited, no I haven’t spent the last year learning how bake (baste?) a turkey, but I have learned some fun festival holiday cocktails that will be more impressive than bringing another bottle of wine.
Regardless of the type of beverages your guests prefer, this recipe can accommodate! Three different festive drinks can be made from this one simple syrup concoction. All you need is about 15 minutes and a couple standard ingredients.
SIMPLE SYRUP
- 2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen (8 ounces))
- 1 cup regular sugar
- 1 cup water
Bring cranberries, sugar and water to a simmer over medium heat in a saucepan. Then reduce heat to low and cook until cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. You can’t really mess this up, but you don’t want the cranberries to burst. If that happens, just remove the saucepan from the heat. It’s done!
Let cool for 5 minutes and then pour through a strainer separating the cranberries from the liquid (which is your simple syrup). Keep both. Store in the fridge until ready for use.
COCKTAIL #1
- 4 tablespoons Simple Syrup
- 1 shot of vodka
- 1/2 cup seltzer water
Stir together all ingredients and add ice & a couple of the extra cranberries for garnish.
COCKTAIL #2
- 2 tablespoons Simple Syrup
- 1 glass dry white wine
Mix simple syrup in to wine glass with wine. Add a couple of the extra cranberries for garnish.
COCKTAIL #3
- 2 tablespoons Simple Syrup
- 1 glass champagne
- 1 lime wedge
Mix simple syrup in to wine glass with wine. Add a couple of the extra cranberries & lime wedge for garnish.
These Thanksgiving cocktails will be the best “dish” of the holidays without having to cook a thing!
Pinned. And planned…!
Yummmm! These look divine!
Hi! Stopping by from Mom Bloggers Club. Great blog!
Have a nice day!
Pinned and plan to try! Thank you.
This is awesome. Found you at the link party. Pinning this!!!
lovely drink ideas! I need to use cranberries more – they look so festive!
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Speaking from someone who also contributes nothing more than cocktails and wine when invited to a party (I don’t have much prowess in the kitchen either), these are absolutely perfect, Lindsay! The champagne one sounds perfect for Christmas or New Years Eve.
Thanks so much for sharing this on #SHINEbloghop. It’s so great for you to join us this week!
Have a lovely weekend!
I think yours is the simplest simple syrup recipe that I’ve seen. And loving the drink ideas too 🙂 Stopped by from Small Victories.
My family always rejects cranberry sauce, but maybe they will like this.
Um, these look delicious and so easy! I can’t wait to try them out! Thanks for linking up with #smallvictoriessunday 🙂
These all sound lovely, especially the champagne one, I like the addition of the lime! #Allaboutyou
Debbie
This looks so pretty and sounds delicious!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J. Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh my goodness I didn’t realize you live in Seattle that’s where I am from before I came to the UK. Say hello to my home city for me. lol This drink sounds tasty I will have to give it a go for the festive season. I have been baking and getting things ready to set a perfect Thanksgiving table. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me. I hope to see you again tomorrow for another great round. #sharewithme
OMG what a small world! I love that! I just moved to Seattle two years ago!
These would also be perfect for Christmas – PInned by Pin worthy Wednesday
These look yummy 🙂
Thanks for sharing #CreativeMondays
I love cranberries and these sound delicious and perfect for the whole ‘silly season’. Thanks for linking up at Shabbilicious Friday. I’m delighted to be featuring these at tomorrow’s party.
Oh, yea. We can make these all weekend! Thanks for linking up with us at Funtastic Friday.
Yum! These look and sound delicious. I’ll have to try them for the Christmas holidays since I just found you as I’m reading through posts on Tuesday Talk. Thanks for sharing these delights with us this week.
I absolutely LOVE cranberries so these are definitely something I should try. A belated Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
Never made a cocktail before, but I do love the sound of that syrup! Thanks so much for sharing these with us at Savoring Saturdays, Lindsay! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope to see you back at the party this weekend!
I’m so happy to feature your post at Monday’s Cooking and Crafting with J & J. I’m looking forward to seeing you again this week. Thanks.
Julie
I’ll take one now please!! Yum! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you again tomorrow!! Pinned!
I’ll definitely have to try these cocktails Thursday… and Friday 🙂 Thanks for featuring my Cranberry Orange Scones! See you next week and Happy Thanksgiving