Easy holiday cocktail recipe-Alle Abroad

Holidays got you stressin?

Yeah, I feel ya. I’m stressing about them and I’ve only got a few cats and parents to shop for… I can’t imagine parents with young kids this time of year...YIKES! Anyways, speaking of young children let’s talk about alcohol. (See this is why I’m not a parent). I’m sure after all the running around you’ll be doing in the next few days you’re going to need a drink. Am I right?

So no matter if you’re a mom who has her hands full with kids or just a girl trying to make it through the holidays without seeing another one of her friends get engaged, I’ve got the perfect holiday drink recipe to get you through. Because one thing we can all agree on (well unless you don’t drink…) alcohol is essential this time of year.

DISCLAIMER: I cannot take ANY credit for coming up with this recipe. That goes to my girl Carson Love who quite possibly is the younger & more hip version of the Barefoot Contessa. I digress, she came up with this Cranberry Simple Syrup recipe last year and then thought of about 37 different ways (I’m exaggerating only slightly) to use this stuff. Naturally I honed in on the fact that you can use it in cocktails…

OKAY SO IN HONOR OF THE WOMEN BEHIND IT ALL I’M NAMING THIS HOLIDAY DRINK “CARSON’S CRANBERRY COCKTAIL”

Check out this video below to learn how to make this puppy.

Or if you’re an old school learner and didn’t attend the University of YouTube I’ll write the recipe below as well.

Ingredients:

1 bag of cranberries
About 1/2 cup of maple syrup
2 pieces of orange peel
2 cinnamon sticks
3 teaspoons of vanilla extract
A few sprigs of fresh rosemary
A bottle (or let’s be honest a few) of Prosecco or Champagne

Directions:

Pour the cranberries into a medium size pot (save a handful for garnish) and cover with water (about 2 cups). Add in the rest of the ingredients.
Heat it up! Bring the mixture to boil and then reduce the heat. Give it a stir and let it simmer and reduce until it becomes a thick syrup! Should take about 30ish minutes. If it gets too thick, just stir in a bit more water!
Pour the mixture through a strainer, and catch all the liquid in a bowl (preferably with a pour spout- it will make it easier to pour into a jar later!)
Use the back of a spoon to press the mixture into the strainer, to make sure you squeeze out all of that liquid.
Discard the orange peel and cinnamon stick (I actually just stick the cinnamon stick in the mason jar with the syrup). What’s left in the strainer is the chutney!
You could blend it up to make it really smooth if you want, but I like it kind of chunky.
Once the syrup cools a bit, you can pour it into a cute mason jar, or any air tight container. Same goes for the chutney!
Pour a spoonful or two of syrup into a champagne flute, top with champagne or prosecco. Garnish with a few of the cranberries you set aside earlier and a sprig of rosemary. BOOM! You’ve got yourself a holiday cocktail!

Wondering what to do with the chutney or looking for other uses for the Syrup?

I’m gonna let Carson take it from here. Click the button below for TONS of simple recipe ideas.

More recipe ideas!

SNAG THIS SUPER AWESOME T-SHIRT

Remember kids… the holidays can be stressful and truly they shouldn’t be. They should be about spending time with loved ones, getting some rest, eating way too much and drinking delicious drinks. So keep that in mind the next time you’re running around Target like a crazy person.

A good rule of thumb while shopping during the holidays: always just grab an extra bottle of Prosecco. You’re gonna need it.