Looking for a homemade holiday drink that's easy to make and always gets rave reviews? This good Cranberry Moonshine recipe combines cranberry juice, fresh cranberries, sugar, and alcohol to create a sweet-tart, festive flavor you can't beat.

It's the kind of holiday alcohol that makes a fantastic Christmas gift pretty, homemade, and packed with real cranberry taste. Bring a bottle to your next holiday party and it'll be a hit every time, because the bright cranberry flavor and smooth, boozy finish have everyone coming back for another glass.

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Spunky Cranberry Moonshine

This cranberry moonshine makes a great group gift. We like to hand out flavored moonshines for Christmas gifts for our husband's employees because we can make a large batch all at once, and they are so beautiful!

Cranberry Moonshine Ingredients

First assembled the following ingredients:

Cranberry juice – cranberry juice has a sharp flavor that pairs well with the alcohol and makes this moonshine give drinks a sharp hit.
White sugar – you need sugar to balance out the intensity of the cranberry flavor.
Fresh Cranberries – fresh cranberries give this moonshine a beautiful look and a fresh intensity.
190 proof grain alcohol – we use everclear for this moonshine. It mixes well with the intensity of the cranberries.

Steps to make Cranberry Moonshine

Boil. Bring all the ingredients except the alcohol to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Don't let it heat for a long time or else the fresh cranberries will split into cranberry sauce.

Sterilize Jars. Cover and remove from the heat, let it cool. Sterilize your jars and prepare them while you are waiting.

Mix and Label. Mix the alcohol into the cooled mixture. Label it into the prepared jars, label them with the date, and let them sit for 2 weeks to 6 months.

Kitchen notes

Everclear. We're not actually sealing/canning the jars- bringing all of the ingredients except the alcohol to a boil, letting it cool, and then adding them to sterile jars with Everclear. It is important to use Everclear for this recipe since it has such a high alcohol content. This helps keep everything from going bad!

Make Ahead. It's best to make the moonshine ahead of time and let it sit, as the moonshine will sweeten and become more flavorful over time.

Alcoholic. Remember this moonshine is HIGHLY alcoholic- do not drive after drinking. It is not worth the risk- let's keep the holidays happy! Please also keep well out of the reach of children. This is such an alcoholic drink it could be dangerous if ingested by a child.

Favorite Recipes to Enjoy Alongside your Drink

Cranberry Moonshine FAQs

What can we mix this with for cocktails?

This makes for good cocktails when mixed with sprite, ginger ale, or tonic.

Can we substitute another alcohol for Everclear?

Yes but make sure its 190 proof so the mixture keeps well.

Can we make it without fresh cranberries?

Yes. You can make a version using cranberry juice only, but you'll lose some of the deep color and “real cranberry” texture that fresh cranberries bring.

How should we serve it?

Serve chilled in small glasses. It's also good in:cranberry juice + soda
ginger ale cocktails with a splash of citrus

Do we need to refrigerate it?

For the best quality, yes—store in the refrigerator after infusion.

Should we strain the mixture?

Usually, yes. Straining removes solids and gives you a cleaner drink. Many people strain, then optionally bottle and chill.

What alcohol should we use?

Common choices are: Vodka (clean, lets cranberry shine) Everclear/neutral grain spirit (strong, use carefully) Rum or bourbon (adds warm flavor).
Use a brand and proof you're comfortable working with, and always follow safe dilution practices.