Looking for a creative way to use up that cranberry sauce? This Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cosmo is the most delicious (and fun) way to reinvent your canned or leftover crans!
It’s vibrant, it’s fresh, and it’s festive. And it’s got enough booze in just one glass to warm you up, making it the perfect winter cocktail.
Cranberry sauce is one of those obligatory side dishes on Thanksgiving along with sweet potato, mashed potato, green bean casserole…
Okay, I could probably write a novel on all the food-focused traditions we have in America, but the point is, the cranberry sauce adds a vibrant sweetness to cut through all the buttery savory casseroles piled high on your plate.
Now I don’t know if it’s just our family or if you can say the same for yours, within the next couple of days, EVERYTHING else is gone except for the cranberry sauce.
There is inexplicably ALWAYS some leftover—sometimes even whole unopened cans—even though every single person puts it on their plate.
And even with all the Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches slathered in cranberry sauce and gravy, we are always left wondering what to do with that extra sweet and tart deliciousness.
Because, well, we hate food waste, but also it’s way too good to pour down the drain or leave to get dusty in your pantry until next year.
Enter this Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cosmo—the deep red fancy and festive drink you’ll want to enjoy all year round. And the new approach to the classic Cosmopolitan that (dare I say it?) may even taste better than the original. We will let you be the judge of that.
Green tip: Did you know that of the billions of pounds of food wasted annually, it is estimated that 50% of it happens in our homes. It’s always best to avoid food waste as much as you can!
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cosmo Frequently Asked Question’s
This recipe is super versatile because it will turn out great with any cranberry sauce—homemade or canned. I prefer making this cocktail with whole cranberry sauce (as opposed to jellied), but I have had success using both!
So long as you’re using a powerful blender or food processor, you will be able to optimize the flavor of your cranberry sauce, whatever form it is in.
Just a blender and a strainer. My favorite thing about this Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cosmo is the ease of it!
Just throw all your ingredients into a blender, process on high for about 30 seconds to one minute, and voila! No need for crushing, muddling, or mixing!
This cocktail is best cold and smooth, which means we have to get out the solids. I like to double strain it, just to make sure the consistency is perfect. I pour it from my blender into a pitcher and then strain it again while pouring it into each glass.
Should I Serve This Over Ice?
When I know I’m making this cocktail, I stick my vodka and triple sec in the freezer. It keeps the whole cocktail nice and cold for a solid 15 minutes. And if you’re anything like me, these dangerously delicious cocktails are gone quicker than that.
(Even when I make a conscious effort to savor every sip! 😅)
I try to avoid using ice in this drink because when it melts it will dilute your beautifully balanced cocktail. Try making ice out of lime juice so when it melts, it just adds a little extra flavor.
Or maybe use Rocks Ice, which is larger ice intended for cocktails. My husband and I use these ice molds (affiliate link) to make ice for all of our cocktails and mocktails and highly recommend them!
But I know you are seeing this recipe right at happy hour, after a long day and thinking, “umm hello, I’m gonna need one of these immediately. I don’t have time to wait for my alcohol to sit in the freezer for hours or to make your fancy ice—give me another option!”
To which I say, “I TOTALLY get it”.
And in that case, just chill your glass in the freezer while you’re making your drink!
For more delicious Holiday cocktail ideas, check out this Sparkling Mulled Cranberry Cocktail and Reinvented Classic: New Fashioned.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cosmo
Course: CocktailCuisine: American2
cocktails5
minutes7
minutesWith sweetness from the cranberry sauce, citrus from the triple sec and lime juice, and a generous amount of vodka, this Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cosmo is sure to bring the holly jolly this Holiday season.
Ingredients
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) cranberry sauce
6 ounces (3/4 cups) vodka
4 ounces (1/2 cup) triple sec
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lime juice
Optional Garnish6 sugared cranberries
Peel of 1/2 lime
Directions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and process on high until smooth.
- Pour through a strainer twice to remove any remaining solids from your cranberry sauce.
- Serve cold in a martini glass and garnish with sugared cranberries and lime peel.
Pro Tips
- Stick your vodka and triple sec in the freezer a couple of hours before preparing these drinks, to achieve an ice-cold drink, without needing the ice.
- I prefer to use Whole Cranberry Sauce vs Jellied, but either will work!
- It’s best to double strain your ingredients after blending to get your cocktail super smooth.
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