YUM, YUM, YUM.
As I mentioned here a while ago, Peter and I have been making our infamous Sour Cherry Vodka for years. It's one of those things that always gets me super excited for Christmas to arrive.
However, the other day I came across this recipe that made me think of our Vodka infusing holiday tradition and missing a batch of the sweet nectar is produces. So I'm giving this a try....in November.
It's close enough to Christmas to indulge, and besides, who says you need a holiday to enjoy it?
Cranberry Lime Vodka
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| Cranberries + Limes. |
1) First you take the cranberries and poke a hole in each one with a pin or sharp knife. It sounds labour intensive but its really not so bad. I watched the hockey game while I poked holes in two bags worth of cranberries. Start to put the finished cranberries into your jar, but only fill up a third of the way.
2) Next, using a knife, peel off the lime rind and place them into your jar with your cranberries. Fill the jar up to the the top with cranberries.
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| Layering the cranberries and lime rinds, make it look so pretty. |
3) Next, you need to add a little bit of sugar to cancel out the bitterness of the cranberries. You don't want to make the vodka sweet so add less than 2 tbsp of sugar to begin with {less if you have a a small jar}. Now you can pour the vodka on top of the cranberry/lime/sugar mixture, seal the jar, and give it a good shake.
4) Give the jar a good shaking every day or two to make sure the sugar mixes throughout. You can let your infused vodka sit for anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. FYI: The longer you leave it the sweeter it'll be.
Note: To give away as gifts, pour the vodka into pretty jars like I did above, and tie a ribbon or a gift tag on it {like I'll be doing for one lucky soul}. I also think it's cute to add a cocktail-drink recipe tag to it.
It makes amazing crantinis {recipe here} and also tastes great mixed with some club soda.
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| Scrumptious! |
Oh wow! This is so neat! And looks yummy!
ReplyDeleteWow this is so cool! And pretty! Love it.
ReplyDelete--Kylee Noelle
Love this idea! Where did you buy those jars?
ReplyDeleteI actually found them at Homesense.....but check out places like Home Outfitters and Bed, Bath and Beyond because they usually have pretty jars :)
ReplyDeleteTHIS is a great idea, and soooo pretty and festive!
ReplyDeleteIkea used to have jars like that, but that was a while ago.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if they do anymore, I am in Canada and don't get to Ikea very often.
ReplyDeleteI just bought them at Ikea on Friday!!! I think they were $2.99 each?!?
ReplyDeleteI infuse my own vodka often, but never thought about Christmas theme for gifts. I'm so doing this this year. Love how it looks, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI so hope it turns out for all of you! I can't wait to dip into mine.......
ReplyDeleteDo you need to sanitize your jars before adding the vodka in them? This is a great idea for a Christmas gift.
ReplyDeleteI always give my jars a good washing with soap and water, and I've never had an issue with mine. Been doing it for a couple years now, and it's always tasty. Make sure your jars can seal tightly though....
ReplyDeleteHope that helps.
x
ET
This is awesome, I can't wait to try it! Thank you for posting :)
ReplyDeletewhat kinda of vodka do you use??
ReplyDeleteHockey, vodka and cranberries? So glad I ran across a pin of the product on pinterest!
ReplyDeleteChristmas gifts this year!!!!! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteAs for what vodka I use, go with some pretty cheap vodka.....you really can't taste the vodka after it soaks with the cranberries after a while (trust me you can sip this stuff it's so good!), so don't spend too much because it wouldn't be worth it. If you are only going to let it sit for a couple weeks, I would use a more expensive vodka as it will be a little stronger tasting than if you let it sit for a month or two.
ReplyDeleteAnd Christine....You made me laugh out loud :)
xo
ET
Great idea! I know what I am doing for all my girlfriends this year. Thanks!
ReplyDeletewhat other types of fruit would you suggest beside cranberries and lime?
ReplyDeleteAt the same time as doing this batch, I did a blackberry vodka, as well as a raspberry vodka. I haven't yet tried the raspberry one, but the blackberry was utterly delicious! And obviously the sour cherry vodka (see link in this post) is a total favorite!
ReplyDeletexo
ET
When you make a drink with the cranberries, do you have to add more vodka? Kinda confused about that part.
ReplyDeleteThese are great! Thank you so much for the idea. Can you tell me what size bottles you used shown in the picture above?
ReplyDeleteOka I am making this tonight. Do I need to keep it in the fridge or is the kitchen counter okay. And how long will the blackberry vodka need to infuse? My local market just happens to have them onsale this week so I am going to try that too! I can not wait.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any recommendations for a drink to make with this vodka? Thought it would be cute to attach a tag with a cocktail on it to use the vodka in!
ReplyDeleteSome answers friends:
ReplyDeleteKonnie: I haven't used the cranberries in a drink before, just the alcohol from it after it has been sitting in the cranberries for a while. So no, I don't add any more vodka to it. You could however, use the cranberries in a recipe I'm sure.....hmm.... that would be an idea to google...
Anonymous: I'm pretty sure they where 1 litre bottles.
Musiclvr: No you don't need to keep it in the fridge....actually in the sun is the best place, but make sure the bottles are sealed shut tightly. The hotter the location, the quicker the vodka will infuse. The Blackberry vodka will infuse much quicker than the cranberries because the outside if soft.....I would actually only leave it up to a month. And it is blackberry season, so load up! I think I might do the same. I hope it turns out :)
Anonymous: I absolutely love it for crantini's, or google anything with cranberry juice, and substitute this for it. AND I love your tag idea!
xoET
I am so going to do this! But I'm wondering, do you pour the vodka into a different container after it's infused or do you leave it with the fruit?
ReplyDeleteHow many cranberries and how much vodka do you need?
ReplyDeleteWhere do you find sour cherries to make the sour cherry vodka? I have never seen it fresh in this country but I have heard they have them in Michigan?
ReplyDeleteCan I just pour the vodka out of the pretty bottle it came in (special edition) and then pour it back in?
ReplyDeleteI have got to try this! Yum!!! What a great idea, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLisa Hitzeman: You can leave the vodka in with the fruit, but make sure you have a closed jar when not in use. That's what I do. Although we tend to drink it so fast, there's not much time to worry about what to store it in ;)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Depend on your jar. I used about 1/2 bag of cranberries (medium sized bag) and about 1/2 a 26 ounce bottle of vodka.
Shahtsar: My husbands grandfather has a couple cherry trees in his backyard, so we're spoiled when it comes to that. However, check you local farmers markets, or grocery when they are in season (around fall). That would be your best bet.
Gretchen: Abso-fricking-lutely!! That is a wonderful idea! I have seen a couple gorgeous vodka holiday bottles that just came out, and I would totally do that :) Great idea!!
I made this tonight! Can't wait to try it! :)
ReplyDeleteI found your blog on Pinterest and made these tonight for my two best friends for Christmas. I can't wait to try! I ran out of Cranberries though so I will have to make my batch tomorrow. **NOTE. I found some awesome bottles at The Container Store, they have several different sizes and are fairly inexpensive.
ReplyDeleteI found my bottles at Crate and Barrel, and they were fairly inexpensive.
ReplyDeleteAs for other flavors, I have done an orange cranberry Vodka and all my friends said it was super yummy, I gave it as xmas gifts a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeletehow many limes did you peel for each bottle? Just one?
ReplyDeleteGreat bottles, even better prices than Ikea! Just ordered some in anticipation of making this yummy beverage!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.specialtybottle.com/
Is it really difficult to reuse the bottles?
ReplyDeleteDo you think this could work with Rum? I'm thinking Bacardi Silver.
ReplyDeletethis is just SO pretty :) And look too yummy :) Thank you for the idea! i`m making it today, for christmas!
ReplyDeleteWondering if instead of an alcohol I could use anything non-alcoholic for the liquid or is that not feasible? It looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMade these yesterday and girlfriend loves the look of the cranberries and lime in the bottles. She has commented at least 6 times about them. :P Quick question though. Overnight, the cranberries no longer fill the bottle as theres about a half inch of space at the bottom now as well as the vodka level is down some. Is that normal / should I add more vodka? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI just made a couple of bottles of this cranberry -lime vodka and it looks so pretty. I used frozen cranberries that i just bought bulk from the grocery store- will forzen cranberries still work for this vodka recipe? The colour of the vodka is already turing a bit pink- it looks so nice
ReplyDeleteHope it works
Do you have a recipe for the crantini's?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteI have the exact same question as JeepCrew!! I made mine a couple of days ago and the level of the liquid has already gone down so much... I'd love to see a photo of what yours looks like after a couple of days.
ReplyDelete:) made 4 batches tonite with one 1 liter bottle of vodka and 2 bags of cranberries ... I found oil/vinegar bottles at world market that were only $2.99 and bought $1.99 airtight stoppers that double as pourers when opened. AWESOME! I used about half a lime for each bottle, and put the rind on the bottom so the cranberries sit on top ... this looks great too. Thank you thank you thank you for this recipe! :)
ReplyDeleteHi All!!
ReplyDeleteOkay to answer a few of your questions:
1} First of all Orange Cranberry sound AMAZING! I am sooo making that one next time :)
2} I used 1 full lime peel in each bottle.
3} I think Rum would totally work, but I would do a warmer flavor such as the Orange Cranberry. I think it would go better than the lime. Just substitute an orange peel for the lime peel and that should do it :)
4} I've never tried non-alcoholic liquid, but you could try a juice of some sort, but make sure to keep that in the fridge or it will spoil. And I would only steep it for a week or so. Let me know if you try it and how it works out :)
5} Don't worry about the liquid going down a little. It's totally normal and actually a GOOD thing....means the alcohol is seeping into the cranberries and flavoring up nicely :) I just added a little extra vodka to my bottles the next day and then sealed it up again. Make sure it's airtight and then give it a good shake to mix it all up. That should do it!
6} Yes, I do have a recipe for crantini's and because of the excellent response to this post, I'll go find it and post it next week. Stay tuned......
Thanks everyone. Much love!!
xoET
As my bottles sit I am noticing it turns to a pink color because of the cranberries ... (which is lovely), but now I am worrying it will make the limes look brownish by the time I give these as gifts. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteWhen you say the bottles should be air tight, would bottles with cork stoppers work?
ReplyDeleteBottle idea - i reused some fancy juice bottles that had the same type of top - just drank the juice and washed off the labels!!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! Just made a couple bottles for Christmas gifts and one for me. :) They look beautiful and I can't wait to try it!!
ReplyDeleteJust used mason jars for my infusion and they turned out super cute! I'm giving them to everyone for Xmas this year! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteLastly, one more dumb question: How do you all drink/plan on drinking it? I'm thinking with soda water?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting! Made a couple bottles and the vodka was amazing after just two weeks. My husband does not even like cranberries, but was going nuts over it. Mixed it with Fresca and it was absolute perfection. I think I will try other flavored infusions soon. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteYou're so very welcome! I'm happy that it turned out :)
DeletexoET
Thank you for sharing this! Made as gifts & got a great response. My friend mixed it with Sprite & said that the cranberries were great to eat too!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to hear that! I was hoping that everyone liked it as much as I did!
DeletexoET
What a great idea! I would love to make some of these and experiment with the flavors. Thanks for sharing this with us.
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