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    Make It Skinny Please » Recipes » Cocktails » Cranberry Ginger Spritzer (easy holiday cocktail)

    Published: Dec 5, 2023 by Toni Dash · 11 Comments

    Cranberry Ginger Spritzer (easy holiday cocktail)

    Weight Watchers Points5
    Calories: 122kcal
    Carbs: 10g
    Protein: 0.1g
    Fats: 0.1g
    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    cranberry wine spritzer in glass.

    A Cranberry Spritzer is a perfect drink for a holiday gathering, New Year's Eve or whenever you want a fizzy drink without a load of calories. Perfect drink recipe for the holidays and a good cocktail any time of year.

    cranberry wine spritzer in glass.
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    cranberry wine spritzer in glass.

    A wine spritzer blends wine with other flavors and usually seltzer water or sparkling water for a fizzy light classic cocktail. They an easy drink to make and are typically lower in calories.

    We changed it up to add with our fun holiday cocktails. Using cranberry juice cocktail and light ginger beer (as in a Moscow Mule) makes a great drink perfect for a big holiday meal or party. You can make it in a single cocktail or in a pitcher. However you make it this holiday drink adds a touch of elegance to your celebrating.

    Jump to:
    • What makes this skinny
    • Recipe Ingredients Notes
    • Recommended Low Calorie Ginger Beers
    • How to make single Cranberry Spritzers
    • How to make a pitcher
    • Pro Tips
    • More recipes you'll love
    • Recipe

    What makes this skinny

    • ​Wine cocktails tend to be lower calorie than those made with liquor. This cranberry spritzer uses flavors perfect for a holiday party in a festive drink with fewer calories. 
    • Light ginger beer cuts the calories from using regular ginger beer or ginger ale. 
    • The calories in regular Cranberry Juice Cocktail is about 30 for the amount used in this wine spritzer. We felt this was a reasonable amount of calories and did not require using an artificial sweetened diet option. However Diet Cranberry Juice Cocktail is 5 calories per 8 ounces and Cran50 is 50 calories per 8 ounces. If desired you could experiment with those options too to reduce the calories slightly.
    • No extra sweeteners like simple syrup are used in the cocktail.

    Recipe Ingredients Notes

    • White wine. We recommend using Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or a Chardonnay. Each cocktail will use 4 ounces. Start with chilled wine. 
    • Light Ginger beer. This gives the cocktail a gingery flavor and some fizziness perfect for the holiday season. Using a light ginger beer helps keep the calories lower in this festive cocktail. Light ginger beer instead of regular ginger beer or ginger ale still give the ginger flavor. Our recommended brands below.
    • Cranberry Juice. You'll use sweetened cranberry juice like Cranberry Juice Cocktail. Be sure not to use unsweetened cranberry juice which is very tart and required a sweetened to drink.
    • Garnish options. Fresh cranberries float so can be fun to add to the cocktail for garnish. Lime wheels (slices), mint sprigs or a sprig of rosemary are great too.
    cranberry spritzer with ice.

    Recommended Low Calorie Ginger Beers

    To maintain the authentic taste of this cocktail while reducing calories, we opted for a ginger beer that boasts excellent flavor and is crafted using high-quality ingredients. We deliberately avoided sugar substitutes that might introduce an unusual taste.

    We conducted extensive taste tests to arrive at our preferred choices, and we also found the information in this article useful. 

    Here are our top selections when it comes to both ginger flavor and calorie content (none of them taste like diet beverages, by the way):

    1. Reed's Craft Ginger Beer Zero Sugar Extra: Crafted with fresh ginger and a blend of sweeteners, including monk fruit and stevia leaf extract, this ginger beer delivers a robust ginger flavor without adding any calories. It contains 0 calories.
    2. Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Ginger Beer: Created with natural extracts and devoid of artificial sweeteners, this ginger beer offers a subtle effervescence. It contains 38 calories per 6.8-ounce bottle.
    3. Q Light Ginger Beer: This ginger beer distinguishes itself with its unique ginger flavor, thanks to the use of agave and ginger extract. It contains 40 calories per 7.5-ounce can.

    How to make single Cranberry Spritzers

    Combine chilled white wine, cranberry juice cocktail and ginger beer over ice in a wine glass or glass of choice.

    cranberry spritzer recipe steps collage.

    Garnish (optional) with cranberries or lime wheels.

    How to make a pitcher

    You'll use (start with all ingredients chilled): 

    • 1 750-ml bottle of sauvignon blanc wine
    • 12 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
    • 12 ounces light ginger beer

    Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and serve over ice in glasses. 

    cranberry spritzer with ice

    Pro Tips

    • Start with all ingredients chilled. This will slow the melting of the ice and provide best flavor. 
    • Don't add ice to a pitcher. As ice melts it dilutes the cocktail. Instead pour the cocktail over ice in individual serving glasses.
    • If making a pitcher ahead: add the ginger beer just before servings so it does not go flat. 

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    Recipe

    cranberry spritzers

    Cranberry Ginger Spritzers

    Weight Watchers Points5
    Click to track Weight Watchers Points
    This light, sparkling wine spritzer has holiday flavors of cranberry and ginger. Perfect for lower calorie holiday celebrating or a refreshing summer spritzer too.
    5 from 76 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegan
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 cocktail (see notes)
    Calories: 122kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    Single Cocktail

    • 4 ounces white wine (chilled) Sauvignon Blanc recommended; Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay can also be used
    • 2 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
    • 2 ounces light ginger beer

    Pitcher

    • 1 750-ml bottle white wine (chilled) Sauvignon Blanc recommended
    • 12 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
    • 12 ounces light ginger beer

    Instructions

    Single Cocktail

    • Combine all ingredients in a glass over ice. Garnish with fresh cranberries, lime wheel, rosemary sprig or mint sprig (optional).
      4 ounces white wine (chilled), 2 ounces cranberry juice cocktail, 2 ounces light ginger beer

    Pitcher

    • In a large pitcher combine the wine and cranberry juice cocktail. Add the light ginger beer just before serving.
      1 750-ml bottle white wine (chilled), 12 ounces cranberry juice cocktail, 12 ounces light ginger beer
    • Serve in glasses over ice.

    Notes

    The calories are for one cocktail. If making a pitcher it would serve 6 (six cocktails).
    Pro Tips
    Start with all ingredients chilled. This will slow the melting of the ice and provide best flavor.
    Don't add ice to a pitcher. As ice melts it dilutes the cocktail. Instead pour the cocktail over ice in individual serving glasses.
    If making a pitcher ahead: add the ginger beer just before servings so it does not go flat. 
    Cranberry Juice options. 
    Regular cranberry juice cocktail (which we used) is 30 calories for 2 ounces. There are lower calories options (we have not tried) too. Diet Cranberry Juice Cocktail is 5 calories per 8 ounces (so would be 1-2 calories per cocktail in this recipe). Cran50 is 50 calories per 8 ounces (would be 13 calories for one cocktail).

    Nutrition

    Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 8mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    cranberry wine spritzer in glass.
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutritional Coach and certified Weight Loss Specialist, writer/blogger, photographer, chief recipe developer and creator of Make It Skinny Please. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her slimmed down recipes using real food ingredients bring excitement to the dining table and never taste like 'diet food'. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 76 votes (65 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Abby says

      December 06, 2023 at 8:33 am

      5 stars
      Such a tasty drink that's so festive! My friends and I loved it.

      Reply
    2. Will T says

      December 06, 2023 at 5:03 am

      5 stars
      My favorite cocktail for the season! Easy to make and pretty too. Great recipe, I am making these again for Christmas Eve.

      Reply
    3. Sha says

      December 06, 2023 at 2:49 am

      5 stars
      This is so refreshing! Perfect for holiday entertaining too.

      Reply
    4. Tay says

      December 05, 2023 at 8:41 am

      5 stars
      I love anything cranberry this time of year. Throw in some ginger and I'm sold! I will definitely be making these again.

      Reply
    5. Kim says

      December 05, 2023 at 7:50 am

      5 stars
      So yummy! They were so pretty that the kids wanted some fancy grownup drinks, too, so I made them - I replaced the alcohol with plain ginger ale and served it in some fancy plastic glasses. We loved them!

      Reply
    6. C.V. says

      December 05, 2023 at 7:47 am

      5 stars
      These are delicious! I really appreciate having a light cocktail to enjoy without throwing my daily plan out the window.

      Reply
    7. Siree says

      December 05, 2023 at 7:46 am

      5 stars
      These were delicious. I love the combination of cranberry and the the ginger beer. Perfect for the holiday season.

      Reply
    8. Kate says

      December 05, 2023 at 7:05 am

      5 stars
      Loved this festive spritzer! Had with a few with a friend and will definitely make them again at Christmas!

      Reply
    9. Mahy says

      December 05, 2023 at 7:01 am

      5 stars
      Oh wow - this is the perfect drink to make these holidays. Definitely making the recipe again - it is a stunner!

      Reply
    10. Stephanie says

      December 05, 2023 at 7:00 am

      5 stars
      This is such a clever cocktail. The ginger and cranberry make for an ideal holiday drink. Will certainly serve again for my Christmas eve gathering.

      Reply
    11. Carrie R says

      December 05, 2023 at 6:47 am

      5 stars
      What a festive and bubbly cocktail idea for the holiday season! I love that this is lower in calories. 🙂

      Reply

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I'm a Certified Nutrition Coach and NASM certified Weight Loss Specialist. I'm excited to share Classic Recipes made more calorie friendly using real food!

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