You still have time…plenty of time to make this cranberry and pomegranate cordial for gift giving. Ten days and you will be ready to bottle the best gift ever for all your amateur or professional bartender friends. This one can be drunk as is or used to shake-up some very special seasonal cocktails. A sip or two will also make you feel more “cordial”during the often stressful days of December.
One cup of pomegranate seeds (arils) and 12 ounces of fresh or frozen cranberries…..
…one liter or good vodka, a simple syrup and the peel of one orange are all you will need.
For 10 days this jar stayed in my pantry with a shake once a day and it was ready to decant and gift. Very yummy, very easy, very pretty.
Clear seasonal color to sip!
I really like to “bottle” as you might have realized from previous blogs. I also like to make libations to bottle. Here are some previous posts that will give you information on how to make Limoncello, Blood-Orangecello, Buddhacello (using the exotic citrus Buddha Hand), or my Pear Infused Vodka among others.
Cranberry-Pomegranate Cordial
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups sugar mixed with 1 1/2 cups water
- 12 ounces of fresh or frozen(thawed) whole cranberries
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- Orange rind strips from one orange
- 1 liter of good vodka
Directions:
- To make the simple syrup bring the sugar & water to a low boil over medium high heat. Stir & turn to low to simmer for about 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove simple syrup from heat to cool completely.
- Put cranberries in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped.
- Mix together in a large glass jar with a tight-fitting lid the cooled simple syrup, 1 liter of vodka, chopped cranberries, pomegranate seeds & orange rind strips. Store in a cool, dark closet or cabinet, shaking daily, for about 10 days.
- Strain liquid mixture through a fine sieve & pour cordial into small bottles to give as gifts. Close bottles tightly with metal caps or corks.
To enjoy: Drink chilled or at room temp as an aperitif….or pour into a glass of ice and top with seltzer or Cava for a refreshing cocktail garnished with a slice or orange.
(This recipe is adapted from a Cranberry Cordial recipe by Melissa Clark published in the New York Times.)
Teresa Blackburn http://www.teresablackburnfoodstyling.com www.foodonfifth.com
Happy Holidays Teresa! Lovely gift idea. Cheryl
Thanks so much Cheryl. Just so you know I left an ingredient out of the recipe, now corrected! A liter of vodka is needed as well as the other ingredients. Thanks for stopping by.
Ah ok noted thank you! Happy Holidays to you! Cheryl
Dear Teresa, I have been a very good girl this year😃😍😃!!!
Johanne, due to a query by Rivertree Kitchen I checked out this recipe and realized in my haste I left out the liter of vodka needed as an ingredients for this recipe just in case you make it. I wish we were neighbors and I would run a bottle by your house right now! Happy, Happy.
This is lovely! Does it ferment into alcohol?
Hi there, well with the liter of vodka it starts out alcoholic and only gets better. The sugar and fruit thicken the liquid to a liqueur-like consistency. Really yummy. Thanks for stopping by . Happy Holidays.
Oh silly me…I just went back and looked at the printable recipe and figured out I had neglected to list the liter of vodka needed for this recipe. So very sorry my friend. Just corrected it.
What a great and beautiful gift idea. I like to give homemade “foodie” gifts. I’ll have to ponder whether I want to make this. I rarely drink hard liquor, but when I do I go for vodka. But it’s the color that makes this so festive and perfect for the holidays!
Truly wonderful gift idea Teresa….love it 😊
*S* Must have the vodka! I have made a cranberry cordial before but the pomegranate and lemon sound like fantastic additions. I imagine I would feel a bit more cordial after a wee tot!
You would indeed feel a bit or a lot more cordial after a tot or two!
Love the vibrant colour. So Christmassy!
Absolutely beautiful Teresa, and yes please with the vodka :). What an unusual gift this would be, I love, love, love the idea. The color is so striking and festive. Merry, Merry!
Loretta, you are just the best and I hope you give this a try. If you do, let me know how your version turns out. Happy Happy Holidays to you and your family.
So pretty, Teresa. Your libations are always amazing.
Thanks so much Candace. Perhaps Santa will leave one on your doorstep! Miss you.
Yum! This looks great and beautiful! My brother made a cocktail with similar flavors for Thanksgiving and it was very good 🙂
I can’t wait to have some of that with some bubbly over the holidays, salut!
This looks delicious. So festive. I want to give this a try!
I’m sure everyone that receives a bottle of your cordial is thrilled.
we will have to toast the new year with a splash of this cordial!