Homemade Cranberry Juice

There are plenty of benefits to making homemade beverages. First, and most obvious, you get to completely control what goes into them, including cutting down on sugar if you have dietary restrictions. Then you have the flexibility to infuse your drinks with whatever fun flavors you like. This recipe for homemade cranberry juice requires about 30 minutes to prepare and leaves room for lots of customization. Once you know how to make homemade cranberry juice, stir up a batch at the start of the week, store it in a pitcher in the fridge and reach for it whenever you need a delicious and refreshing sip.

Homemade Cranberry Juice Ingredients

• Cranberries: For this recipe, you can use fresh or frozen cranberries. We take the fruit and melt it down into a saucy syrup. 
• Sugar: We rely on granulated sugar to sweeten this homemade cranberry recipe. 
• Lemon juice: A splash of lemon juice adds a refreshing tartness and balances the sweetness of this beverage.
• Orange juice: We pour orange juice into this drink recipe to help sweeten the overall taste.

Directions

Step 1: Boil the cranberries

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In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, bring the water and cranberries to a boil. Reduce the heat, then cover and simmer the fruit until the berries begin to pop, about 20 minutes.

Step 2: Strain the juice

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Strain the juice through a fine strainer, pressing the mixture with a spoon. Discard the leftover berries and return the cranberry juice to the pan.

Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients

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Stir in the sugar, lemon and orange juice. Bring everything to a boil, then cook and stir until the sugar dissolves.

Step 4: Chill the cranberry juice

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Remove the juice from the heat and let it cool. Transfer the juice to a pitcher, then cover and refrigerate it until the juice completely chills. 

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Homemade Cranberry Juice Variations

• Sweeten it with honey: Instead of sugar, use honey as a sweetener for this homemade cranberry juice.
• Have fun with the flavors: To give this drink an extra delicious taste, swap the orange and lemon juice for creative options like passion fruit or apple juice.
• Add fresh lime: For a play on a lime rickey, add a few spritzes of fresh lime to the base of this homemade cranberry juice.

How to Store Homemade Cranberry Juice

We suggest refrigerating your homemade cranberry juice in an airtight pitcher or container. You can keep this beverage in the fridge for three days.

Can you make homemade cranberry juice ahead of time?

You can prepare a large batch of this homemade cranberry juice and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days. Enjoy it whenever you crave a sweet and refreshing drink.

Can you freeze this cranberry juice recipe?

You can store this cranberry juice in the freezer for up to one month. When you’re ready to drink it, simply thaw it and serve it over ice.

How long does homemade cranberry juice last?

Cranberry homemade juice can remain in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three days or in the freezer for one month.

Homemade Cranberry Juice Tips

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Where can I find cranberries?

The easiest route to getting cranberries is heading over to your grocery freezer aisle. There, you’ll find them packed up and ready to use. Alternatively, you can research whether there are any cranberry bogs near you and take an excursion to harvest them yourself.

What other ingredients can I add to homemade cranberry juice?

To add a different sweetness to this juice, you can substitute the sugar with honey, agave or stevia. To enhance the taste of this beverage, try using passion fruit, raspberry or apple juice instead of the orange and lemon juice.

How should you serve homemade cranberry juice?

We suggest serving this cranberry juice homemade chilled over ice. For an added touch, sprinkle a few raspberries or blueberries into the glass.