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Home Recipes Cocktail Recipes

Cranberry Rum Cocktail with Homemade Cranberry Simple Syrup

Published: Dec 1, 2017 · Modified: Sep 25, 2023 by Sandi Gaertner · 24 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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If you love cranberry, this homemade cranberry rum cocktail is so easy to make! It is fizzy and full of incredible sweet-tart cranberry flavor. This is a great drink to make throughout the fall holiday season!

The top view of two glasses of cranberry rum cocktail.
Jump to:
  • How To Make This Cranberry Rum Cocktail:
  • Serve With These Appetizers:
  • More Delicious Cranberry Recipes:
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Fearless Dining
  • 💬 Comments

(This is a sponsored conversation written by me and on behalf of 7UP®. All opinions and gushings are all my own.)

Are you as excited about the holidays as I am? I love how the holidays can bring family and friends together. Do you have any special holiday traditions?

Our family has a fun tradition that is centered around cranberries. That probably sounds odd, but we try to develop a new cranberry recipe every year, something that everyone can enjoy.

This is the first year we decided to make syrup out of fresh cranberries. My kids thought a syrup would be fun on gluten-free waffles. Mr. Fearless Dining even suggested making a cranberry ice cream. Personally, I love cranberries in this amazing gluten free banana bread recipe!

I saw this homemade cranberry syrup idea as a delicious way to make cocktails (and mocktails!) for our friends who come to visit :-). Either way, we all win with this easy-to-make cranberry reduction sauce!

If you are entertaining this holiday season, you may want to try serving this Grinch Cocktail too :-).

A tall glass of the cranberry simple syrup and 7 Up.

Cranberries are a symbol of the holidays. These tart little berries are versatile and work with all sorts of recipes, from sauces to baked foods! Their tart flavor works beautifully with sparkly 7UP.

You are going to love this sparkling cranberry cocktail for holiday entertaining! You can also use the cranberry syrup to make mocktails. Follow the same recipe and skip the rum.

Five cans of 7 UP with holiday lighting.

Given the tartness of this simple cranberry syrup, I chose 7UP to add sweetness to this cranberry rum cocktail recipe. The flavor of 7UP works well in so many cocktail recipes. Try pairing 7UP with liquors like:

  • Bourbon
  • Vodka
  • Amaretto
  • Gin
  • Rum

Are you ready to see how easy this sparkling cranberry rum and 7UP cocktail is to make?

Two glasses of cranberry cocktail on a slate serving dish.

How To Make This Cranberry Rum Cocktail:

Step 1: Wash the cranberries and remove any that are not fresh. Add the fresh cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, 7UP, and water to a pot.

Step 2: Cook the cranberry mixture on medium heat until the cranberries pop. (You will actually hear them pop, it is really fun!)

Step 3: Use a spoon to mash the cranberries up against the pot's side.

Step 4: Allow the cranberry mixture to simmer for another 15 minutes. The sauce will be thick with the cranberry chunks.

Pressing the cooked cranberry mixture through a strainer.

Step 5: Use a mesh strainer to strain out the cranberry pulp. I kept a container underneath to capture all the delicious syrup. You should end up with a bowl of syrup and a bowl of cranberry pulp.

🔑 Sandi says: The cranberry pulp is delicious and can be used in recipes like gluten-free cranberry muffins...or you can make a chutney out of it and serve it with chicken or pork!

Pouring 7 Up into a glass with the cranberry syrup.

Add the cranberry simple syrup into a glass. For a cocktail, add rum and 7UP. For a mocktail, skip the rum.

We had fun making this sparkling cranberry cocktail in different glasses to decide which made the drink look fancy for entertaining. What do you think? You may also have fun making this Cranberry Moscow Mule.

Serve With These Appetizers:

  • Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Meatballs
  • Easy Gluten Free Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Crispy Gluten Free Air Fryer Ravioli
A single cocktail glass filled with cranberry rum cocktail. It has a lime garnish.

More Delicious Cranberry Recipes:

  • Gluten Free Cranberry Coffee Cake - Fluffy and light with a thick streusel topping.
  • Use your leftover cranberry pulp to make these Gluten Free Cranberry Hand Pies!
  • Gluten Free Cranberry Scones - Another great recipe to use your cranberry pulp in!

📖 Recipe

The top view of two glasses of cranberry rum cocktail.

Cranberry Rum Cocktail Recipe

Sandi Gaertner
An easy cranberry rum cocktail that features a cranberry syrup.
4.91 from 30 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Cocktail Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 102 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ cup 7UP®
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 ounces rum per drink

Instructions
 

  • In a pot, add all ingredients and bring to a boil.
  • Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. 
  • Use a spoon so smoosh cranberries into the side of the pan. 
  • Remove from the heat. 
  • Use a ladle to spoon some of the mixture into a mesh strainer. Use a spoon to press the mixture down, which forces the juice out of the mixture. Do this until the mixture is firm and has little moisture.
  • Allow the syrup to cool.
  • Add 3 ounces rum to a glass. Pour ¼ cup syrup into the glass. Top off with 7UP®.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 102kcalCarbohydrates: 18gSodium: 7mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13g
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

This post was updated from an older December 2017 post with more recipe information.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Leigh

    December 20, 2017 at 2:29 pm

    5 stars
    Rum, cranberries and sparkling 7UP. Sounds like a tradition I could get behind. I love all of the ways that you could serve this. It is beautiful in a coupe and a real showstopper in a highball.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      December 21, 2017 at 11:18 am

      Thank you so much Leigh...I think you can do a lot with the homemade cranberry syrup. I love the highball idea 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lori

    December 18, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    4 stars
    How far in advance can I make the simple syrup. Because I’m entertaining a lot for people.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      December 18, 2017 at 5:31 pm

      Hi Lori, I stored it for 5 days without issue. I am sure you could freeze the syrup and then thaw it when you need it. Take care and have a great holiday party 🙂

      Reply
  3. Angela

    December 17, 2017 at 5:57 pm

    5 stars
    Hi! What kind of rum do I use?

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      December 17, 2017 at 6:20 pm

      Hi Angela, the rum doesn't really matter. I would use any clear rum. Do not use spiced or dark rum. Have a great day!

      Reply
  4. Hilary Duesenberg

    December 16, 2017 at 4:25 pm

    Hi Sandy!

    This may be obvious, but when making the cranberry syrup do I add the 7up and rum, and then add more 7up and rum later?

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      December 16, 2017 at 7:14 pm

      Hi Hilary, you are right, it can be confusing. I add 7Up while cooking. The rum is poured over the ice with the completed syrup. I add more 7Up on top for a fizz. I hope that helps. Have a wonderful holiday!

      Reply
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