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Cranberry + apple + bourbon is basically Christmas in a glass, and this cocktail leans all the way into that. You get cozy spiced bourbon, tart-sweet cranberry, and fizzy hard cider all in one simple drink that feels way more “craft cocktail” than effort.
I love this one for holiday parties or appetizer nights because it’s fast to shake together, easy to batch in a pitcher, and pretty enough for the good glassware. The jellied cranberry sauce gives you that gorgeous blush color and just the right amount of sweetness, while a dry hard cider keeps things light, bubbly, and sippable.
Cranberry, apple, and bourbon are basically Christmas in a glass, and if you love festive sips like my Apple Pie Moonshine, big-batch Christmas Cocktail, sparkling Christmas Sangria, or a tart Cranberry Margarita, you’re going to have so much fun adding this Cranberry Apple Bourbon Cocktail to your holiday lineup. It’s that same cozy, merry flavor profile—just in a fizzy, bourbon-forward package that feels a little bit special but is still so easy to make.
It’s quick to shake together, simple to batch for a crowd, and pretty enough for your favorite glasses—the kind of clink-your-glass, linger-by-the-kitchen cocktail that makes even an ordinary December night feel like a celebration.
✨ Before You Begin
✨ Use jellied cranberry sauce, not whole-berry. Jellied cranberry melts into the bourbon and gives you a silky, bar-style cocktail instead of one with chunky fruit bits floating around.
✨ Reach for a dry or off-dry hard cider. The cranberry sauce already brings sweetness, so a drier cider keeps the drink bright and balanced instead of cloying.
✨ Chill everything first. Cold bourbon and cold cider mean your drink stays bubbly and refreshing and doesn’t get watered down as quickly.
✨ Shake, don’t stir. Shaking the cranberry sauce with the bourbon helps it dissolve so the drink pours smooth, with no stubborn jelly sitting at the bottom of the glass.
✨ Pick the right glass. An 8–12 ounce rocks glass, stemless wine glass, or small highball works perfectly once you add ice and 4–6 ounces of cider.
Cranberry Apple Bourbon Cocktail Ingredients + Key Notes
This is just a quick glance at what you’ll need. For exact measurements and the full ingredient list, head down to the recipe card below.
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Jellied cranberry sauce: Use canned jellied cranberry sauce (not whole-berry) so it fully blends into the bourbon and gives the cocktail a smooth, velvety texture. Whole-berry will work in a pinch but will leave little fruit bits in the glass.
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Spiced bourbon: Any good-quality bourbon with warm spice notes is lovely here—either a true “spiced” bourbon or your favorite bourbon paired with a dash of warm spice bitters. The bourbon is the backbone of the drink, so use one you enjoy sipping.
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Dry hard apple cider: Look for a dry or off-dry hard cider rather than a super-sweet one. It keeps the cocktail crisp and refreshing and balances the sweetness from the cranberry sauce.
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Ice: Fresh ice is key for proper chilling and just the right amount of dilution as you shake and then top with cider.
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Fresh apple + cranberries (garnish): A few slices or small chunks of fresh apple and a handful of fresh cranberries make the drink look extra festive and signal all the flavors in the glass.
How To Make Spiced Bourbon from Scratch
If you don’t have spiced bourbon on hand, it’s easy to make your own. For every 2 cups of bourbon, add any combination of: 1 cinnamon stick, 2–3 whole cloves, 1 vanilla bean (split, with seeds and pod), a few dried plums or other complementary dried fruit, a strip or two of orange zest, and even 1–2 cardamom pods if you like. Cover and let the bourbon steep with the aromatics for a few days and up to 2 weeks, tasting as you go. When it tastes warm and cozy, strain out the solids and enjoy.
How to Make Cranberry Apple Bourbon Cocktail
Make the cranberry bourbon base: In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 tablespoon jellied cranberry sauce and 2 ounces spiced bourbon, then add a handful of ice and shake briskly until the shaker feels very cold and the cranberry sauce is mostly dissolved, about 10–15 seconds. Strain and add ice: Fill an 8–12 ounce rocks or stemless wine glass with fresh ice, then strain the cranberry–bourbon mixture into the glass. Top with cider: Pour 4–6 ounces of chilled dry hard apple cider over the top (start with about 4 ounces, taste, and add more cider if you’d like a lighter, more sippable drink), then give it a gentle stir so everything is just combined without knocking out all the bubbles. Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh apple slices or chopped apple and a few fresh cranberries, and serve immediately while it’s cold and fizzy.
Big-Batch Pitcher Instructions
For a party, you can scale this up easily: stir 1 cup jellied cranberry sauce and 2 cups spiced bourbon together in a pitcher until smooth (a whisk helps), chill well, then just before serving, add one 750-ml bottle of dry hard cider (or more to taste) and plenty of ice. Ladle or pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish each one with fresh apple and cranberries.
🔬 The Science Behind This Cocktail
Cocktails are all about balance and texture, and this one leans on a few small tricks to feel polished instead of syrupy:
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Jellied cranberry vs. whole-berry: Jellied cranberry sauce is smoother and more uniform, so it dissolves into the bourbon when shaken. That creates a consistent flavor and texture instead of leaving heavy fruit pieces that sink or float.
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Dry cider vs. sweet cider: The cranberry sauce already brings sugar and body. Using a drier cider adds bubbles and apple flavor without doubling down on sweetness, so the drink tastes bright instead of flat.
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Shaking with ice: Shaking chills the bourbon quickly, introduces a touch of dilution (which opens up the flavors and keeps the bourbon from feeling harsh), and helps break up the cranberry jelly so it suspends evenly in the drink.
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Gentle stir after topping: A light stir blends the layered components together while preserving carbonation—stir too aggressively and you’ll lose your bubbles.
⭐ Pro Tips
⭐ Use jellied cranberry for the smoothest finish.
Canned jellied cranberry sauce gives you that silky, bar-style texture. If you only have whole-berry, you can still make the drink—just strain the shaken mixture through a fine-mesh strainer before adding cider to catch most of the bits.
⭐ Taste as you pour the cider.
Start with about 4 ounces of cider, taste, and then add up to 2 more ounces if you want something lighter and more bubbly. Less cider = stronger, more bourbon-forward cocktail; more cider = easier sipper.
⭐ Chill your cider ahead of time.
Cold cider means you don’t have to rely on tons of extra ice to bring the drink down to temperature, so the flavor stays bold without getting overly diluted.
⭐ Make it your signature.
Play with different dry ciders (a little more tart, more apple-y, or even slightly funky) and your favorite bourbon to find the combo you love most—and then that’s your house holiday cocktail.
⭐ Garnish generously.
Those apple slices and fresh cranberries aren’t just pretty—they smell amazing as you sip and instantly tell guests what’s in the glass. Don’t be shy with them for parties or holiday photos.
What to Serve With Cranberry Apple Bourbon Cocktail
Since this cocktail is pure holiday vibes, I love to lean into a festive appetizer spread and let the Cranberry Apple Bourbon Cocktail be the star of the drink table.
Hot Dips
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Hot Crab Dip – Creamy, savory, and a little indulgent, this one feels extra special for Christmas or New Year’s gatherings.
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Mississippi Sin Dip – A warm, ultra-creamy baked dip loaded with cheese, ham, and green onions. It’s rich, indulgent, and perfect for scooping with crusty bread or crackers.
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Hot Corn Dip – This bubbly, cheesy corn dip is packed with sweet corn, green chiles, and plenty of melty cheese. It’s the kind of crowd-pleasing, scoop-and-go appetizer everyone hovers around.
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Hissy Fit Dip – Hissy Fit Dip is a hot, cheesy sausage dip with just enough spice to keep everyone coming back for “one more bite.” It’s hearty, savory, and always one of the first dishes to disappear at a party.
Finger Foods
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Bisquick Sausage Balls – These little bites are loaded with savory sausage and plenty of cheese, all tucked into a tender Bisquick base. They’re easy to make, totally poppable, and always one of the first appetizers to vanish.
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Air Fryer Crab Rangoon – Crispy on the outside with a creamy crab and cream cheese filling, these air fryer crab rangoons give you all the takeout flavors you love without the deep fryer. They’re light, crunchy, and perfect for dipping and snacking.
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Tiropita – Flaky layers of buttery phyllo wrapped around a rich, tangy feta cheese filling make these little Greek cheese pies an elegant yet easy finger food. They add a fun, slightly unexpected bite to any holiday appetizer spread.
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Bacon Wrapped Chicken – Juicy bites of chicken wrapped in smoky bacon and baked until caramelized and crisp on the edges. They’re sweet, salty, and savory all at once—exactly the kind of two-bite appetizer people reach for on repeat..
Classic Appetizers
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Deviled Eggs – These creamy, tangy deviled eggs are the classic appetizer everyone expects on a holiday table. They’re simple to make, easy to garnish, and always one of the first trays to come back empty.
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Air Fryer Arancini – Crispy on the outside with a gooey, cheesy rice center, these air fryer arancini give you all the comfort of fried Italian rice balls with a lighter, easier twist. They’re elegant enough for a party but still totally snackable.
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Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball – This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is loaded with creamy cheese, ranch seasoning, and plenty of crispy bacon, then rolled in more crunchy goodness. It’s nostalgic, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for piling high on crackers or veggies.
✦ Cranberry Apple Bourbon Cocktail FAQs
✦ Can I use regular bourbon instead of spiced bourbon?
Yes, absolutely. Regular bourbon works just fine if that’s what you have. The “spiced” element just adds a little extra warmth and complexity, so if you’re using plain bourbon, you can mimic that by adding a dash of aromatic or orange bitters.
✦ What if I only have whole-berry cranberry sauce?
You can still make this cocktail with whole-berry cranberry sauce. Just know it will look a little more rustic with tiny fruit bits in each glass. For a smoother finish, shake the bourbon and cranberry well with ice, then strain it through a fine-mesh strainer before topping with cider.
✦ My drink tastes too sweet—how can I fix it?
If the cocktail feels too sweet, you’re probably using a sweeter-style cider or a very sweet cranberry sauce. Try adding a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the shaker next time, or look for a dry or off-dry cider. You can also slightly reduce the cranberry sauce if you prefer a drier profile.
✦ Can I make this non-alcoholic?
Yes! For a mocktail version, skip the bourbon and use a splash of apple cider (non-alcoholic) plus a little extra jellied cranberry, then top with a dry-style sparkling apple juice or club soda. The flavor will be lighter, but you’ll still get those cranberry-apple holiday vibes.
✦ How far ahead can I mix a big batch?
You can stir together the bourbon and jellied cranberry sauce in a pitcher up to a day in advance and keep it chilled in the fridge. Just wait to add the hard cider until right before serving so the bubbles stay lively. Give it a gentle stir, add ice, then pour into glasses and garnish.
Still have questions? Drop them in the comments — I love helping you cook with confidence! 💗
More Delicious Cocktails
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Cranberry Apple Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon prepared cranberry sauce
- 2 ounces spiced bourbon
- 4-6 ounces dry hard apple cider
- ice
- fresh cranberries
- fresh apples, sleced or chopped
Instructions
- Mix the base :In a cocktail shaker, combine the cranberry sauce (1 tablespoon) and spiced bourbon (2 ounces). Add a handful of ice and shake until well chilled and the cranberry sauce is mostly dissolved, about 10–15 seconds.
- Build the drink: Fill a rocks glass or stemless wine glass with fresh ice. Strain the cranberry–bourbon mixture into the glass.
- Top with cider: Pour 4–6 ounces of dry hard apple cider over the top. Start with about 4 ounces, taste, and add up to 2 more ounces if you’d like a lighter, more sippable drink.
- Garnish: Garnish with fresh apple slices or chopped apple and a few fresh cranberries. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use jellied cranberry for the smoothest finish.
Canned jellied cranberry sauce gives you that silky, bar-style texture. If you only have whole-berry, you can still make the drink—just strain the shaken mixture through a fine-mesh strainer before adding cider to catch most of the bits. - Taste as you pour the cider.
Start with about 4 ounces of cider, taste, and then add up to 2 more ounces if you want something lighter and more bubbly. Less cider = stronger, more bourbon-forward cocktail; more cider = easier sipper. - Chill your cider ahead of time.
Cold cider means you don’t have to rely on tons of extra ice to bring the drink down to temperature, so the flavor stays bold without getting overly diluted. - Make it your signature.
Play with different dry ciders (a little more tart, more apple-y, or even slightly funky) and your favorite bourbon to find the combo you love most—and then that’s your house holiday cocktail. - Garnish generously.
Those apple slices and fresh cranberries aren’t just pretty—they smell amazing as you sip and instantly tell guests what’s in the glass. Don’t be shy with them for parties or holiday photos.
Nutrition
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