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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails + Smoothies Recipes » Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail

    Published: Dec 21, 2020 · Modified: Dec 6, 2021 by Kristen Massad · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    one glass of a christmas cocktail with rosemary, cinnamon and dried grapefruit
    three glasses of a christmas cocktail with rosemary, cinnamon and dried grapefruit
    three glasses of a christmas cocktail with rosemary, cinnamon and dried grapefruit

    Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail is ruby red in color and shaken up with cranberry juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice and tequila and a touch of spiced simple syrup, this is the ultimate festive Christmas cocktail!  

    three glasses of a christmas cocktail with rosemary, cinnamon and dried grapefruit

    What a year!  We are four days a way from Christmas and cocktails are top of mind, if that tells you anything 🙂  As we prepare our menu, whether big or small and get our table set the next best thing is creating the perfect cocktail to be enjoyed during the festivities.  As we started quarantine in march, our go to cocktail was The Perfect Paloma.  It was summery, refreshing and just so perfect for hot days, so why not end the year with a Spiced Cranberry Paloma.

    What is A Spiced Paloma?

    Just like a Classic Paloma Cocktail, the Spiced Cranberry Paloma has many similar ingredients but adding in cranberry juice and spiced simple syrup.  Made with cranberry juice for the most beautiful ruby red color and tart flavor, grapefruit juice, lime juice and tequila.  Adding a spiced simple syrup makes this cocktail super festive and cozy for all the winter vibes.  Spiced simple syrup, made with sugar, water, whole cinnamon, cloves, anise and vanilla bean and is easy to make and adds the perfect flavor punch that this cocktail really needs.

    three glasses of a christmas cocktail with rosemary, cinnamon and dried grapefruit

    Ingredients

    Cranberry Juice-100% cranberry juice is going to be the best options for this cocktail. With all the other added flavors, you don't want to mix any other ingredients!
    Grapefruit Juice-I love fresh squeezed grapefruit juice to a clean flavor
    Lime Juice- Fresh squeezed lime juice will add a perfect tart and citrus flavor with all the cinnamon spice
    Spiced Simple Syrup-Granulated sugar and water mixed with whole spices will add a festive and spiced flavor
    Tequila- Choose your favorite tequila for this cocktail!

    three glasses of a christmas cocktail with rosemary, cinnamon and dried grapefruit

    Directions

    • Using a cocktail shaker, combine the cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup and tequila and shake
    • Pour the cranberry cocktail into a glass, fill the glass with ice and top off the remainder of the glass with sparkling water 
    • Garnish with a sprig of rosemary, sugared cranberries and dried grapefruit slices (optional)

    Prepare the Spiced Simple Syrup

    • In a small saucepan combine the granulated sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, anise and vanilla bean
    • Bring the simple syrup to a boil and continue boiling until the sugar is dissolved 
    • Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the syrup from the stove but keep the spices in the syrup to allow them infuse for 10 minutes while the syrup is cooling
    • Remove the spices from the syrup and pour the syrup in a jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to use         
    three glasses of a christmas cocktail with rosemary, cinnamon and dried grapefruit

    Make It Festive

    Garnishing your cocktail can be equally as fun as making the cocktail.  For a festive Christmas cocktail, sugared cranberries, a fresh rosemary sprig and dried grapefruit slices are the perfect topper for this Spiced Cranberry Paloma!

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    three glasses of a christmas cocktail with rosemary, cinnamon and dried grapefruit

    Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail

    Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail is ruby red in color and shaken up with cranberry juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice and tequila and a touch of spiced simple syrup, this is the ultimate festive Christmas cocktail!  
     
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: sips
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 581kcal
    Author: Kristen Massad

    Ingredients

    Spiced Simple Syrup

    • ½ cup granulated Sugar
    • ½ Cup Water
    • 2 cinnamon sticks whole
    • 2 whole cloves whole
    • 2 star anise whole
    • 1 vanilla bean split open

    Spiced Cranberry Paloma

    • 2 ounces Cranberry Juice
    • 1 ounce Fresh Grapefruit Juice
    • 1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
    • 1 ½ ounce Spiced Simple Syrup
    • 2 ounces Tequila
    • Sparkling Water
    • Ice

    Garnish (optional)

    • A Sprig of Rosemary
    • Sugared Cranberries
    • Dried Grapefruit Slice

    Instructions

    Prepare the Spiced Simple Syrup

    • In a small saucepan combine the granulated sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, anise and vanilla bean
    • Bring the simple syrup to a boil and continue boiling until the sugar is dissolved
    • Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the syrup from the stove but keep the spices in the syrup to allow them infuse for 10 minutes while the syrup is cooling
    • Remove the spices from the syrup and pour the syrup in a jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to use

    Prepare the Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail

    • Using a cocktail shaker, combine the cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup and tequila and shake
    • Pour the cranberry cocktail into a glass, fill the glass with ice and top off the remainder of the glass with sparkling water
    • Garnish with a sprig of rosemary, sugared cranberries and dried grapefruit slices (optional)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 581kcal | Carbohydrates: 115g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 107g | Vitamin A: 53IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @JoyandOliver or tag #JoyandOliver!
    « Sugared Cranberries
    Christmas Cookie Round Up »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah says

      December 24, 2021 at 12:09 am

      Hi I’m curious what you use to rim the glass.

      Reply
      • Kristen Massad says

        December 24, 2021 at 1:16 am

        Hi Sarah! I added cinnamon sugar to the rim of the glass. 1 tablespoon sugar + 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon!

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Raya says

      December 21, 2021 at 5:12 pm

      Hi There,

      If you don’t have vanilla beans, can you use vanilla extract? If so how much?

      Reply
      • Kristen Massad says

        December 21, 2021 at 5:20 pm

        Hi! Vanilla extract will work just fine (1 teaspoon) but will not give as strong of a vanilla flavor. This is ok though because the spices are the main focus in this syrup! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Kathy says

      December 13, 2021 at 7:12 pm

      5 stars
      This cocktail is as delicious as it is festive. I never would have thought the flavors would go together so well! Five stars!!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Massad says

        December 13, 2021 at 11:14 pm

        So glad you loved it!! So festive and fun! Happy Holidays!

        Reply
    4. Christie says

      December 09, 2021 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious! Heading to a small ornament exchange and this will be the perfect addition to our evening.

      Reply
      • Kristen Massad says

        December 09, 2021 at 10:46 pm

        So glad you are loving it! Happy Holidays!!!

        Reply

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