Oh, Thanksgiving! It’s my absolute favorite time of year. You know, besides the turkey and all the fixings, what really makes our holiday table feel complete is a special drink. And for years, this Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler has been that drink for us! It’s got this amazing balance – that tart, classic cranberry flavor, but then you get this surprising, subtle hint of rosemary that just smells like pure autumn. It’s not too sweet, which I love, and it’s so refreshing after a bite of something rich. I remember one year, we were scrambling to make a festive drink, and I threw this together, and everyone raved about it! It’s become a tradition, and I can’t imagine Thanksgiving without that beautiful ruby-red hue and that unique aroma. Trust me, this recipe is a winner!

Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler

Honestly, this Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler is a total game-changer for your holiday table. Here’s why you’ll be making it year after year:

Super Easy to Make: Seriously, it comes together in minutes, which is a lifesaver when you’re juggling a hundred other Thanksgiving tasks.
Festive & Beautiful: That gorgeous deep red color just screams holidays! It looks so elegant in a pretty pitcher or individual glasses.
So Refreshing: It’s not overly sweet or heavy, so it’s the perfect palate cleanser between all those rich Thanksgiving dishes.
Crowd-Pleaser: It’s non-alcoholic, so everyone can enjoy it – kids, grown-ups, anyone! Plus, the rosemary adds a sophisticated twist that adults really appreciate.

Gather Your Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler Ingredients

Okay, let’s get our goodies together for this amazing Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler! It’s pretty straightforward, but using good quality stuff really makes a difference, you know? First up, you’ll need about 4 cups of pure cranberry juice. I always go for the 100% unsweetened kind because we’re adding a little sugar ourselves, and that way, you control the sweetness. Don’t grab the cranberry cocktail unless you want it way too sweet!

Next, we need 1 cup of water to kind of mellow out the cranberry juice a bit. And for that special touch, grab about half a cup of fresh rosemary sprigs. Make sure they’re nice and green and fragrant! You’ll also need a quarter cup of granulated sugar – but you can totally tweak this later if you like it sweeter or less sweet. Oh, and don’t forget one juicy lemon, just the juice from it. Finally, for that lovely fizz when you serve it, have some chilled sparkling water or club soda ready to go. And for the prettiest garnish, grab a handful of fresh cranberries and a few extra rosemary sprigs.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler

You know, the beauty of this Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler is how forgiving it is! If you can’t find pure, unsweetened cranberry juice, you can use a cranberry juice cocktail, but definitely cut back on the added sugar. Taste it as you go! As for the rosemary, if you’re not a huge fan or just want a milder hint, start with a smaller amount, maybe just 3-4 sprigs, and see how you like the flavor after steeping. You can always add more next time!

Want it a little sweeter? Just add another tablespoon or two of sugar when you’re heating the mixture. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to make it boozy for the adults, a splash of vodka or white rum in each glass before topping with sparkling water is delicious! It really transforms it into a festive cocktail. For more ideas on festive drinks, check out our cocktail recipes.

Crafting Your Perfect Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler

Alright, let’s get down to making this delicious Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler! It’s really not complicated at all, and the results are SO worth it. First things first, grab a medium saucepan. We’re going to pour in our 4 cups of cranberry juice, that 1 cup of water, and our lovely half cup of fresh rosemary sprigs. Now, add in that quarter cup of sugar. You want to heat this mixture over medium heat, stirring gently. You’re looking for the sugar to completely dissolve. You don’t want it to boil, just get nice and warm so the sugar disappears.

Once the sugar is all gone, take the pan off the heat. This is where the magic happens! Let those rosemary sprigs hang out in the warm juice for about 15 to 20 minutes. This is called steeping, and it’s how we get that wonderful rosemary flavor infused into the drink. If you’re not sure if the sugar is dissolved, just give it a gentle stir. You shouldn’t feel any grit at the bottom. After steeping, you’ll want to strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher or a bowl. Just let the liquid drip through and discard those rosemary sprigs – they’ve done their job!

Now, stir in the juice from your lemon. This adds a nice little brightness that cuts through the sweetness. Pop the pitcher in the refrigerator and let it chill completely. This can take at least an hour, or you can do it the day before! When you’re ready to serve, fill your glasses with ice. Pour the chilled cranberry-rosemary mixture about two-thirds of the way full. Then, top it off with that chilled sparkling water or club soda for some lovely fizz. Give it a gentle stir, and then garnish with a few extra fresh cranberries and a pretty sprig of rosemary. It looks so festive!

Tips for a Stellar Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler

Want to make this Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler even more amazing? Here are a few little tricks! For a really intense rosemary flavor, feel free to let those sprigs steep a little longer, maybe up to 30 minutes, just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get too strong. And remember, you can totally adjust the sugar. Taste the chilled mixture *before* you add the sparkling water and add a little more sugar if you prefer it sweeter. It’s your drink, make it perfect for you! For more refreshing drink ideas, explore our mocktail recipes.

Serving Your Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler

Now that you’ve made this beautiful Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler, let’s make it look as good as it tastes! I love serving it in clear glasses – maybe some nice wine glasses or even cute mason jars – so you can really see that gorgeous ruby red color. Fill those glasses up with plenty of ice; it keeps the drink nice and cold, especially if people are sipping it slowly while they mingle.

When you pour in the chilled cranberry mixture and top it with sparkling water, give it a super gentle stir with a long spoon or a cocktail stirrer. Then, for that final touch of elegance that really screams “Thanksgiving!”, drop in a few fresh cranberries and tuck in a little sprig of fresh rosemary right on the rim or floating on top. It just makes it feel so special and festive! If you’re looking for other festive holiday drinks, consider our Thanksgiving Cranberry Moscow Mule.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler

Q1. Can I make the Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler ahead of time?
Absolutely! This Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler is fantastic for making ahead. You can prepare the base mixture (steps 1-5) up to 2 days in advance and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. Just add the ice and sparkling water right before serving to keep it bubbly!

Q2. How can I make this Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler alcoholic?
For a festive cocktail version, simply add about 1.5 to 2 ounces of vodka, white rum, or even gin to each glass before topping with the cranberry mixture and sparkling water. It’s a lovely way to give the adults a special holiday treat!

Q3. What’s the best way to store leftover Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler?
Leftover Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler base can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you want to have some more, just give it a quick stir and add fresh ice and sparkling water.

Q4. My rosemary flavor seems a bit weak. What can I do?
If you want a stronger rosemary kick in your Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler, you can let the sprigs steep for a bit longer, maybe up to 30 minutes, or even slightly bruise the sprigs before steeping to release more oils. Just be careful not to over-steep, as it can become a little too potent!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler

Got leftovers of this amazing Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler? No worries! You can store the un-sparkled base in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It’s perfect for sipping on later! Since it’s a chilled drink, you don’t really reheat it. Just give the base a good stir, fill your glass with fresh ice, pour in the chilled mixture, and top it off with fresh sparkling water or club soda for that lovely fizz. It’s like making a fresh batch all over again!

Nutritional Information for Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler

Just a heads-up, the nutritional info for this Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler is an estimate, okay? It can totally change depending on the specific brands you use and how much sugar you stir in. But generally, one serving (about 8 ounces) usually comes in around 150 calories with about 35 grams of sugar. It’s pretty low in fat and sodium, which is great! For more healthy drink options, check out our smoothie recipes.

Thanksgiving Cranberry Rosemary Cooler: 15-20 Min Simmer

Author: cocktailmixguide.com
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

A refreshing and festive drink perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings, featuring the tartness of cranberries and the aromatic essence of rosemary.

Ingredients

Scale

4 cups cranberry juice
1 cup water
1/2 cup fresh rosemary sprigs
1/4 cup granulated sugar, or to taste
1 lemon, juiced
Sparkling water or club soda, for topping
Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

In a saucepan, combine cranberry juice, water, rosemary sprigs, and sugar.
Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Do not boil.
Remove from heat and let the rosemary steep for 15-20 minutes.
Strain the mixture to remove rosemary sprigs. Discard rosemary.
Stir in the lemon juice.
Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator.
To serve, fill glasses with ice. Pour the cranberry-rosemary mixture about two-thirds full.
Top with sparkling water or club soda.
Garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs.

Notes

Adjust sugar to your preferred sweetness.
For a stronger rosemary flavor, let it steep longer.
Can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Category: Beverage
Method: Stovetop and Chilling
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 glass (about 8 oz)
Calories: 150
Sugar: 35g
Sodium: 10mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: Thanksgiving, Cranberry, Rosemary, Cooler, Drink, Festive, Holiday, Non-alcoholic