The Secret Ingredient in This Cosmopolitan Is Delicious AND Will Get Rid of Your Leftovers

Sparkles? Check. Cranberries? Check. Orange liqueur? Check. A large splash of vodka for good measure (if you’ve got any leftover from this ginger-lime-vodka infusion)? Check. Okay, we’re all set for holiday cocktails! It’s pretty difficult to improve upon the classic cosmopolitan, but we think we’ve cracked it, while using up holiday leftovers too! The addition of a good spoonful of store-bought or homemade cranberry sauce to that cocktail shaker adds an extra sweet tanginess that tastes amazing. Take it over the top with a sugar- and edible glitter-rimmed glass, then finish it off with fresh cranberries and beautifully fragrant thyme. This is the party cocktail of the season!
Ingredients:
Serves 2
- 1 lime
- 2 heaped Tablespoons superfine sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon fine edible gold glitter
- 2 cocktail stirrers/skewers
- 12-14 fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 Tablespoons cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
- 2 1/2 fluid ounces (5 Tablespoons)Â vodka
- 2 1/2 fluid ounces (5 Tablespoons) cranberry juice
- 2 heaped teaspoons cranberry sauce
Instructions:
- Slice the lime in half, and make a shallow cut into the flat side of one of the lime pieces (like you’re going to cut the lime into quarters, but don’t go all the way through with the knife). Take a martini glass, and use the cut part of the lime to run the lime around the whole edge of the glass. Repeat with a second glass. Place the sugar and edible glitter on a plate. Stir to mix. Place one of the glasses upside-down into the glitter sugar to coat the top of the glass (the lime juice should make it stick). Repeat with the other glass. Put the glasses to one side.
- Thread the cranberries onto the two cocktail skewers, then wind the thyme sprigs around the cranberries. Put to one side.
- Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the cointreau, vodka, cranberry juice, cranberry sauce and juice of the remaining half of the lime. Place a lid on the shaker and shake thoroughly.
- Pour the cocktail into the glasses (use a strainer so the ice and any lumps of cranberry sauce are left behind).
- Top the glasses with the cranberry and thyme skewers before serving.
Slice the lime in half, and make a shallow cut into the flat side of one of the lime pieces (like you’re going to cut the lime into quarters, but don’t go all the way through with the knife). Take a martini glass, and use the cut part of the lime to run the lime around the whole edge of the glass. Repeat with a second glass. Place the sugar and edible glitter on a plate. Stir to mix. Place one of the glasses upside-down into the glitter sugar to coat the top of the glass (the lime juice should make it stick). Repeat with the other glass. Put the glasses to one side.
Thread the cranberries onto the two cocktail skewers, then wind the thyme sprigs around the cranberries. Put to one side.
Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the cointreau, vodka, cranberry juice, cranberry sauce and juice of the remaining half of the lime. Place a lid on the shaker and shake thoroughly.
Pour the cocktail into the glasses (use a strainer so the ice and any lumps of cranberry sauce are left behind).
Top the glasses with the cranberry and thyme skewers before serving.
Have you got a cranberry sauce hack? We’d love to hear — tweet us @BritandCo, and check out our Pinterest for more festive cocktails!
Back in January, we introduced you to a feel-good cause to inspire your New Year's resolution: a walking challenge to help raise funds for the amazing cancer fighters at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I took part in the challenge with the Brit + Co team and ended up walking 105+ miles in January — it was awesome.
This spring, there's a new challenge on the horizon, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Big Climb. The ask: On May 15, 2021, you can step up to take cancer down by committing to climb 1,311 steps, walking 3.2 miles, or doing 440 chair step-ups at home as part of the Big Climb. If you need some motivation to bring movement back into your daily routine — look no further!
As always, it's free to sign up, but climbers are encouraged to set a fundraising goal to help beat cancer. We'll be organizing another Brit + Co team to step up, and I hope you'll join us too! Keep scrolling for a peek at where I'll be completing the challenge in my Los Angeles neighborhood around the hidden Silver Lake Stairs. Happy climbing!
Never underestimate the power of an accountability buddy! I asked my in-laws, my partner, and a few friends to join me so we can keep each other motivated and accountable in completing the challenge — virtual high-fives all around! Also, my dog Fox is a great climber, too.
An aesthetically pleasing backdrop is a huge motivator for me! I'm fortunate to have all sorts of painted steps around my neighborhood to keep the challenge interesting, but you can also keep cool inside with at-home chair step-ups.
Don't forget to share your progress on social — #BigClimb!
Feel free to break the challenge up if you need to by tackling half the distance in the AM and half at sunset. Here's me 1,311 steps later and ready for a break — but, think I earned this one!
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