Mulled Cranberry Tonic
Perfect for cold winter nights, this mocktail is inspired by the mulled wine often served at Christmas markets. It’s also great as a cocktail. We highly recommend using gin as the botanicals amp up the spices of the mulled cranberry juice, but brandy or Cointreau work well, too.
Ingredients
For the mulled cranberry juice:
- 1 cup (8 oz./250 ml) cranberry juice
- 3 Tbs. sugar
- 10 pink peppercorns, plus more for garnish
- 2 star anise, plus more for garnish
- 1 dried lime wheel
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
For a mocktail:
- 1 1/2 oz. (45 ml) mulled cranberry juice
- 6 to 8 oz. (250 ml) Elderflower Tonic Water or other tonic water
For a cocktail:
- 1 1/2 oz. (45 ml) mulled cranberry juice
- 4 oz. (125 ml) Elderflower Tonic Water or other tonic water
- 2 oz. (60 ml) gin
Candied ginger for garnish- Star anise for garnish
- Juniper berries for garnish
Directions
To make the mulled cranberry juice, bring the cranberry juice to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the sugar, peppercorns, star anise, lime wheel, cinnamon and salt and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, strain and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
To make the mocktail: In a glass filled with ice, add the mulled cranberry juice. Top with the tonic water. Garnish with candied ginger, a few peppercorns, star anise and juniper berries.
To make the cocktail: In a glass filled with ice, add the mulled cranberry juice. Top with the tonic water and gin. Garnish with candied ginger, a few peppercorns, star anise and juniper berries. Makes 1 drink.
Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen