Cranberry-Orange Gin Fizz with Thyme

Tart cranberry and sweet orange get fizzy with some gin and a hint of earthy thyme.

Welcome to Christmas Week, a multi-blogger event co-hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen from Juanita’s Cocina! Each day we will be celebrating the holidays with a different set of Christmas-themed treats, as well as a fabulous Christmas giveaway. We hope you enjoy this fabulous event. Tune in each day starting today, Monday, December 9th and ending Saturday, December 14th.

The holiday season is upon us–Christmas music is blaring, stockings hang from the mantle, and the oven is working overtime pumping out holiday baked goods. Today marks the first day of our epic week of Christmas baked goods.

Holiday baking calls for getting jolly in the kitchen with a fizzy holiday-inspired libation. This cranberry-orange gin fizz with thyme is the perfect holiday drink to share with friends and family while cooking up your holiday meal.

I tested this cocktail out on my friends and family (don’t feel bad for them, that’s their job) over the Thanksgiving holiday. My mom fell in love with it and has been pestering me for more ever since the bird came out of the oven.

One of my favorite things to do is shake up a good cocktail. In my past life, I truly believe I was a bartender. What you’ll need:

-Gin (I prefer Beefeater)
-Cointreau or Triple Sec
-Cranberry juice
-Cranberry Sprite or Cranberry Sierra Mist
-Oranges
-A few sprigs of thyme
-Frozen cranberries for garnish (optional)
-Cocktail shaker
-Fancy glasses
-Ice

Grab your shaker and add the gin, Cointreau or Triple Sec, and a sprig of thyme. Muddle the thyme to bruise the leaves and realese its earthy flavor. Add a handful of ice, cranberry juice, and the juice of half an orange. Give the mixture a few vigorous shakes.

Jennie’s definition of vigorous shaking: When one is vigorously shaking correctly, the butt has no choice but to jiggle with every shake. Vigorous cocktail shaking=butt jiggling. So, rock the shaker like you mean it.

Pour over ice and top with cranberry soda and garnish with frozen cranberries, an orange wedge, and sprig of thyme.

The only thing left on the list is to drink. Sink back into a comfy chair next to the glow of the Christmas tree or warm fire and let the fizzy bubbles go to your head.

Print Recipe

Cranberry-Orange Gin Fizz with Thyme

Yield: 1 serving

Total Time: 5 minutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce gin
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 ounces cranberry juice
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
• Cranberry Sprite
• Ice

Directions:

1. Add gin, triple sec, and thyme to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the thyme to release the essential oils.
2. Add cranberry juice, orange juice, and a handful of ice to the cocktail shaker. Give the mixture a few good shakes.
3. Pour over ice and top with cranberry sprite.

All images and text ©One Sweet Mess.

Whipping up one of my recipes? I wanna know about it! Snap a photo and tag your post with #onesweetmess on Twitter or Instagram. Seeing your creations come to life makes my day!