Boozy Drinks

Cranberry Mojito

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

Both tart and sweet, this mojito situation is sure to get the holiday festivities started. 

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

It’s about to get festive all up in this blog piece. Thanksgiving and Christmas are my FAVORITE holiday situations. I’ve already busted out a crackly voiced rendition of Santa Baby. I have tried (and failed) to get Mr. M.O.B. to put a sable under the tree; for no better reason than Eartha Kitt feels I should ask for one.

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

I will refrain, or at least attempt from posting all the Christmas things until December. I will try not to wrap, compose, or embellish a thing in Christmas colors until December. You will not see a peppermint this or that until then.

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

Full disclosure situation: I’ve already eaten at least 2 candy canes, so we all know where this is headed. Something about cold weather right before Thanksgiving releases a chemical in my brain which makes me want to crush and mainline candy canes like heroin. Or is it cocaine? I’m no good at drugs.

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

I’m sorry.

I will abstain from dragging you down with me. If I fail – And I may fail – Call me on it.

It’s cool. We’re cool.

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

In the meantime, let’s break out the cranberries. Its cranberry season, people – We need to get with the program. And since I am almost certain you come here for booze and cookies, I will try not to disappoint; at least not on the booze front.

Flow with me, we’re making a cranberry mojito.

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

I found a large bag of cranberries while making room for the turkey sized chicken and the baby pig I’m roasting this Thanksgiving.

I thought should I make cranberry sauce?

How ‘bout a cake?

Nah, my mind don’t work that way sometimes. Sometimes it wants booze. So I made booze. I don’t fight my urges. You could explode that way.

This mojito situation starts with cranberry simple syrup. Tart cranberries are cooked down with sugar and water until those cranberries burst and release their dazzling red. And trust – It is dazzling.

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

I allowed it to steep a bit before straining the cranberries, which I added to a batch of cranberry orange jam I was making. You can’t waste a thing these days. Anyway – A few lime slices, mint and cranberry simple syrup are muddled in a glass, granting a sweet release of fragrant oils. To that I added a bit of light rum, followed by some cranberry juice and topped that jammy with seltzer.

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

This festive mojito situation is tart from the cranberries and lime, yet sweet. The mint lends a nice refreshing note, and of course – There’s the rum; rum you can barely taste – Yet two mojitos in you’ll be handing your car keys to a friend and designating them the driver.

Cranberry Mojito {mind-over-batter.com}

You may lose a friend.

[purerecipe]

Ingredients

For the cranberry simple syrup

  • 1 cup fresh cranberries frozen is fine, just not dried
  • 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water

For the mojito

  • 2-3 tablespoons cranberry simple syrup
  • About 10 mint leaves
  • 1 lime cut into quarters
  • 1.5 ounces cranberry juice
  • 2 ounces light or dark rum
  • seltzer water
  • mint for garnish
  • cranberries for garnish

Instructions

Make the cranberry simple syrup:

  • In a small saucepan combine cranberries, water and sugar. Stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved and bring to a boil over medium/high heat. Reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved and the cranberries burst and soften, about 10 minutes. Allow the mixture to steep for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Strain into a measuring cup with a lip, pressing on the cranberries to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the cranberries or save them for another use (Jam!). Pour the syrup into a container with a tight fitting lid and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  • Makes about 1 ¼ cup of simple syrup.

Make the mojito:

  • To an 8 oz glass add the cranberry simple syrup. Add mint followed by the limes. Muddle with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon until the mint is crushed, the limes are smashed, and both have released their fragrance.
  • Add the cranberry juice and rum and stir to combine. Add ice and top with seltzer. Make that situation festive and garnish it with cranberries and mint leaves. Feel free to double, triple, or quadruple this situation. The simple syrup makes enough for several mojitos.
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