Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail (and Punch)

Kristen Massad — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:41:23 +0000

Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail is a festive twist on the classic Paloma Cocktail. Ruby red in color, blending tart cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, the earthy flavor of tequila and a hint of spiced simple syrup. This perfect cocktail is garnished with sugared cranberries that sparkle and a fresh and fragrant sprig of rosemary making this the ultimate Christmas cocktail!

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.

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!

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

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!

Make It For a Crowd

Spiced Cranberry Paloma Punch is a large batch version of our very favorite Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail. Ruby red in color, poured into a large pitcher with cranberry juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, tequila and spiced simple syrup and serve to a crowd! This is the ultimate festive Christmas Cocktail!

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