My Cranberry Champagne Cocktail makes a wonderful welcome at holiday celebrations. Prepare it ahead; all that’s required is to add chilled Champagne as your guests arrive. Create a tart infusion by soaking frozen cranberries in vodka and orange liqueur, then use the “drunken” cranberries as a garnish.
Cranberry Liqeuer Ingredients:
- 1 c. frozen cranberries
- Peel of 1 orange
- 1/4 c. sugar
- 1 c. vodka
- 1 c. orange liqueur
Cocktail Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Homemade Cranberry Liqueur
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- 4 oz. Champagne, chilled
Directions:
Place frozen cranberries, orange peel, and sugar in a sterilized 1-quart Mason jar and macerate for 1/2 hour to release juices and dissolve sugar. Cover the mixture with vodka and orange liqueur, and seal tightly. Place the mason jar in the top rack of your dishwasher (seriously!) and run it on a normal cycle. Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until ready to use.
To make the cocktail, pour the liqueur into the flute, add the bitters, and top with the Champagne. Garnish with a cocktail pick loaded with drunken cranberries.
