15 Best Cranberry Vodka Cocktails (+ Easy Recipes)

Cranberry and vodka go together like peanut butter and jelly.

The Cape Cod, aka vodka and cranberry, is a simple and classic cocktail. But it doesn’t stop there!

There are tons of variations on the classic cape cod cocktail.

There’s no limit to the possibilities, from festive cranberry mimosas to fall-inspired sangria and spooky vampire cocktails.

Seriously, these are some of my favorites Thanksgiving vodka cocktails.

So the next time you want to whip up a batch of drinks, check out these fantastic cranberry vodka cocktails below.

Cranberry Vodka Cocktails & Drink Recipes

1. Vodka Cranberry Cape Cod Cocktail

The Cape Cod cocktail is the grandfather of cranberry vodka cocktails.

Most vodka cranberry cocktails are simple variations of this classic cocktail, also known as a vodka cranberry. 

It’s so simple to prepare and brimming with tart flavors.

Cranberry juice and lime add a punch of acidity and tartness.

They create a refreshing cocktail for sipping poolside or at a holiday party. 

The classic recipe doesn’t contain much sweetness, so if you prefer sweeter cocktails, you can add a splash or two of simple syrup. 

Once you master the Cape Cod, you can get a little more experimental with flavors, like the cocktail recipes found below. 

Ingredients: ice, vodka, cranberry juice, lime wedge, simple syrup

2. Sparkling Vodka Cranberry Cocktail

Do you prefer fizzy goodness in your cocktails?

What I love most about this vodka cocktail is that it boasts a double punch of cranberry and lime flavors. 

For that fizzy pop, skip the boring seltzer water and opt for Smirnoff cranberry lime spiked sparkling seltzer. 

It’s fizzy, refreshing, and the perfect summer cocktail with a boozy punch. 

Ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice, lime wedge, Smirnoff spiked cranberry lime seltzer, cranberries, lime twist

3. Vampire Vodka Cranberry Cocktail

Impress (and freak out) your Halloween party guests with this spooky vodka cranberry cocktail. 

It’s dark, brooding, creepy, fresh, and fruity.

It earns a fruity and tart punch from cranberry juice and a glass rimmed with freeze-dried raspberries. 

This cocktail is black and spooky, thanks to the addition of black food coloring.

If you want to make a non-vampire version of this cocktail, omit the food coloring!

Want to take your cocktail over the top? Garnish each glass with a cube of dry ice.

It will cause the drink to smoke and look like it came straight out of your evil laboratory. 

Ingredients: dried raspberries, agave nectar, vodka, black food coloring, cranberry juice

4. Bay Breeze

The bay breeze is also known as the Hawaiian sea breeze. It pairs tart tropical flavors for a refreshing drink ready for summer. 

This cocktail is light and bright with pineapple, cranberries, and a splash of lime juice. 

If you sip while closing your eyes, you can almost feel the hot Hawaiian breeze on your face. 

Ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice cocktail, pineapple juice, ice, lime slices

5. The Madras

The madras cocktail is a blend of vodka’s greatest hits: the screwdriver and the Cape Cod.

It pairs cranberry juice and orange juice together for the ultimate citrusy and tart cocktail. 

The madras is the perfect cocktail for those who like to mask vodka’s flavors.

It’s a drink that goes down smoothly. Maybe too smoothly!

Ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice, orange, orange slice

6. Cranberry Martini

When it comes to vodka, you can never go wrong with a martini.

While this cranberry martini looks suspiciously like a cosmopolitan, one ingredient makes it unique. 

Opting for blackberry vodka takes the flavors of this vodka classic to new heights.

It earns a bright flavor punch from cranberries, triple sec, and lime juice.

And the blackberry vodka makes this cocktail so refreshing. 

You can’t beat the beautiful pink color. It’s so pretty and delicate!

Ingredients: blackberry vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice, fresh cranberries, lime wedge

7. Cranberry Mistletoe Martini

This festive holiday cocktail tastes (and looks) like Christmas in a martini glass. Sign me up!

It pairs vodka, cranberry juice, citrusy triple sec, and lemon juice.

For added holiday flair and flavors, garnish your martini glass with a slice of orange or a twig of rosemary. 

Ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice cocktail, triple sec, lemon juice, rosemary sprigs, citrus wheels

8. Cranberry Cosmopolitan

It’s not a vodka cranberry party without the famous cosmopolitan!

Trust me when I say this homemade cranberry concoction is better than anything you’d order at a bar. 

It infuses all of the bright flavors of a cosmopolitan.

But it uses cranberry-infused simple syrup for an added tart and sweet punch. 

Ingredients: vodka, cranberry simple syrup, lime juice, triple sec, cranberry juice

9. Fall Cranberry Sangria

I love mixing up a big batch of sangria for a holiday party (or a Tuesday).

While most sangria recipes are light and summery, this cranberry sangria delivers a warm autumn twist. 

It infuses all fall classics like apples, cinnamon, ginger, and cranberries in a lively dry rosé wine. 

One sip of this robust fall sangria will inspire you to go apple picking or get lost in a corn maze!

Ingredients: cranberry juice, sugar, fresh ginger, cinnamon stick, Granny Smith apples, fresh cranberries, dry rose wine, vodka, ice

10. Vanilla Cranberry Mimosa

This vanilla cranberry mimosa is a perfectly festive Christmas morning cocktail.

It’s red, green, and insanely delicious. It’s perfect for Christmas brunch or to jump-start a long day of holiday baking!

Like any good mimosa, it pairs bubbly champagne with vanilla vodka, cranberry juice, and a dash of vanilla extract. 

For that pop of holiday flair and flavor, garnish each champagne flute with a sprig of rosemary. 

Ingredients: vanilla vodka, vanilla extract, cranberry juice, champagne, fresh cranberries, sprig of rosemary

11. Sex on the Beach

I love the flavors of sex on the beach, but I always feel awkward ordering it at a bar.

Thankfully, making it at home is super easy!

The ingredient list is simple. It pairs vodka with peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange juice.

That’s it! If you close your eyes, it almost feels like you are on the beach. Doing beachy things. 

It’s light, summery, and requires no personal admissions to your friendly local bartender.

Ingredients: vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, cranberry juice, lemon juice

12. Cranberry Pomegranate Cosmopolitan

Looking for an easy and festive cocktail to serve at your next party?

This cocktail recipe is easy to make in big batches so that you can spend more time mingling and less time behind the bar. 

The pomegranate infusion of flavors makes this unique take on a classic cosmo so perfect for parties. 

With a splash of Cointreau and fresh lime juice, it takes like the holidays in a glass. 

Ingredients: cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice

13. Cranberry Mojito With Vodka

Who doesn’t love a fresh and minty mojito? 

They’re the ultimate summertime cocktail that cools you off after a long, hot day.

This cranberry mojito is worth checking out if you want something different!

It contains all of the staples of a fantastic mojito. Vodka? Check. Mint? Check. Lime juice? Check. 

It also infuses cranberry juice and brown sugar to take this cocktail to new heights.

It’s sweet, tart, and minty. It’s the ultimate Christmas-in-July cocktail. 

Ingredients: vodka, fresh mint leaves, cranberries, soda water, brown sugar, lemon juice

14. Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch

Need to whip up a big batch of spiked punch for your next holiday party?

If this sparkling cranberry vodka punch doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, nothing will!

What I love most about this holiday punch is that it’s easy to whip together in a flash.

It pairs vodka with cranberry juice, lemonade, and ginger ale. 

Dump the ingredients into a fancy punch bowl, garnish with oranges and cranberries, and get the party started. 

Ingredients: cranberry juice cocktail, vodka, lemonade, ginger ale, sliced citrus fruit, cranberries, or mint

15. Cranberry Screwdriver

Screwdrivers are tasty, and they’re relatively simple.

If you’re on the hunt for a screwdriver cocktail with a little something extra, look no further. 

What takes this cranberry screwdriver to new heights is the addition of cranberry juice and just a slash of Grand Marnier. 

Grand Marnier adds more orange flavors to this fantastic cocktail and pairs well with orange and cranberry juice. 

Ingredients: cranberry vodka, freshly-squeeze orange juice, Grand Marnier