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Lighter Cranberry Moscow Mule Pitcher with Rosemary and Orange

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A crisp, refreshing, and naturally sweetened twist on the classic Moscow Mule, made with tart cranberries, aromatic rosemary, and fresh orange. Perfect for entertaining, this lighter pitcher cocktail is easy to make and sure to impress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 3–4 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus extra for garnish
  • 1 large orange (zested and juiced)
  • 1 ½ cups (12 oz) high-quality vodka
  • 2 cups (16 oz) diet or regular ginger beer
  • 2 cups (16 oz) sparkling water or club soda
  • 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (optional)
  • Ice (for pitcher and serving)
  • For the optional rosemary-orange simple syrup:
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • Orange peel from ½ orange (removed with vegetable peeler, no white pith)

Instructions

  1. Muddle the base: In a large pitcher, add 1 cup cranberries, 3 sprigs rosemary, and the zest of the whole orange (use a vegetable peeler to get big strips). Gently muddle with a wooden spoon or muddler until cranberries burst and rosemary is fragrant (about 5 minutes).
  2. Add the liquids: Pour in 1 ½ cups vodka and the juice from the whole orange (about ¼ to ⅓ cup). If using optional maple syrup or honey, add it now and stir until dissolved.
  3. Chill: Refrigerate the pitcher for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours) to let flavors meld.
  4. Finish and fizz: Just before serving, add a generous amount of ice to the pitcher (fill about halfway). Pour in 2 cups ginger beer and 2 cups sparkling water. Stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness or ginger kick as desired.
  5. Serve: Fill serving glasses with ice. Pour the mule mixture over the ice, including some muddled cranberries and rosemary. Garnish each glass with a fresh rosemary sprig and a few fresh cranberries on a cocktail pick. Optionally, add a thin slice of orange.
  6. Optional rosemary-orange syrup: In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup water, ¼ cup maple syrup, 2 sprigs rosemary, and orange peel strips. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until maple syrup dissolves. Remove from heat and steep 10-15 minutes. Strain out solids and let cool completely before adding to the pitcher in step 2.

Notes

For the best flavor, chill all ingredients before starting. Do not over-muddle the cranberries and rosemary—just bruise them. The base (muddled cranberries, vodka, and orange juice) can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Add ginger beer and sparkling water just before serving to keep the fizz. To make a mocktail, omit the vodka and increase ginger beer and sparkling water by 1 cup each.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry moscow mule, rosemary cocktail, lighter cocktail, pitcher drink, holiday cocktail, cranberry rosemary mule, healthy cocktail

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/lighter-cranberry-moscow-mule-pitcher-with-rosemary-and-orange/