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Sparkly Rum and Cranberry Cocktail with Homemade Simple Syrup

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I would be grateful if you shared this recipe :-)

If you love cranberry, this homemade cranberry simple syrup is so easy to make! Drizzle this cranberry syrup on ice cream, waffles, or use it in a cranberry cocktail recipe like this rum and cranberry cocktail.

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

Two glasses of a cranberry rum cocktail on a slate tile. Round lime wedges garnish the glasses.

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 come up with a new cranberry recipe every year. Something that can be enjoyed by everyone.

This is the first year we decided to make a syrup out of cranberries. My kids thought a syrup would be fun on gluten-free waffles. Mr. Fearless Dining even suggested making a cranberry ice cream.

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!

A can of 7UP next to a cranberry syrup mocktail. An orange slice is garnishing the glass.

Cranberries

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! They are high in antioxidants, and their tart flavor works beautifully with 7UP.

You are going to love this sparkling cranberry cocktail for holiday entertaining!

Cans of 7UP lined up with holiday lights.

7UP is perfect for cocktails

Given the tartness of this cranberry simple syrup, I chose 7UP to add sweetness to this cranberry rum cocktail recipe. I know you can find 7UP anywhere, but my go to grocery store is our local Safeway.

Add some sparkle with my favorite mixer, 7UP® for a deliciously refreshing holiday cocktail! And, you can check here for even more inspiration on how to use 7UP for holiday cocktails and mocktails!

The flavor of 7UP works well in so many cocktail recipes. Try pairing 7UP with liquors like:

  • Bourbon
  • Vodka
  • Amaretto
  • Gin
  • Rum

 

I am lucky that there are 3 Safeway stores close by in our town, making it easy to pick up any items from wherever I am. Safeway has everything from fresh produce like cranberries, to gluten-free snacks to serve, to 7UP :-).

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

Let’s start with how to make a cranberry simple syrup.

Cranberries cooking in a pot. A bottle of 7UP is behind the pot

  • Add fresh cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, 7UP, and water to a pot.
  • Cook on medium heat until the cranberries pop. (You will actually hear them pop, it is really fun!)
  • Use a spoon to mash the cranberries up against the side of the pot.
  • Allow the cranberry mixture to simmer for another 15 minutes. The sauce will be thick with the cranberry chunks.

Put some cranberry mixture into a mesh strainer

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

This cranberry pulp is delicious used in recipes like gluten-free cranberry muffins…or you can make a chutney out of it and serve it with chicken or pork!

7UP soda being poured into a cranberry rum cocktail

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

The top view of a cranberry rum cocktail. Cranberries and a red Christmas ornament are in the background.

We had fun making this sparkling cranberry cocktail in different glasses so we could decide which made the drink look the fanciest for entertaining. What do you think?

A glass of cranberry rum cocktail. Cranberries are around the base of the glass.

recipe love

How to make a cranberry rum cocktail:

4.89 from 9 votes
Print
Cranberry Rum Cocktail Recipe
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

An easy cranberry rum cocktail that features a cranberry syrup.

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 67 kcal
Author: Sandi Gaertner
Ingredients
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup 7UP®
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 ounces rum per drink
Instructions

  1. In a pot, add all ingredients and bring to a boil.

  2. Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. 

  3. Use a spoon so smoosh cranberries into the side of the pan. 

  4. Remove from the heat. 

  5. 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.

  6. Allow the syrup to cool.

  7. Add 3 ounces rum to a glass. Pour 1/4 cup syrup into the glass. Top off with 7UP®.

Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Rum Cocktail Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 67
% Daily Value*
Sodium 7mg 0%
Potassium 48mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 12g
Vitamin A 0.7%
Vitamin C 9.1%
Calcium 1%
Iron 0.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Alcohol for 21 and older. Please drink responsibly.

 

Yummy Gluten Free Appetizers For Your Holiday Party

I would be grateful if you shared this recipe :-)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 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

  4. 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

    • 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

  7. Oh yes, I am all about the cranberries! I love them and stock up on them every year to keep in the freezer to hold me over for the year. This is definitely going on my list to try. It is so simple and sounds delicious. I think this will be a good base for many adult beverages. Thanks for sharing = )

    Reply

  9. Oh my, I haven’t had 7up in a long time but reading your post I just remembered the flavour and now I crave it! I can almost taste it together with the cranberry syrup. It sounds amazing

    Reply

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