Simple syrups are one of the easiest things you can whip up in your kitchen this holiday season. All it takes is a few minutes, boiling water, sugar, and whatever fruit or herbs you have on hand for flavoring (these are a few of my other favorite simple syrup recipes). I had leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving in my refrigerator and a thriving rosemary bush in my winter garden that I thought would make for a pretty perfect combination this time of year. The pine-like herbal notes of the rosemary nicely round out the tartness of the cranberries, and the red and green color combination can't be beat on the festiveness scale. Simple syrups require nearly zero effort to make, can be refrigerated for over a week, and they can be mixed into anything from hot tea, to ginger ale, to a wide range of booze for an instant seasonal upgrade. With last minute guests dropping by this holiday season a tasty simple syrup is an easy way to impress and treat your guests, almost effortlessly.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp of chopped rosemary

1 heaping cup of rinsed cranberries

2 cups of water 

1 cup of sugar

Directions:

In a sauce pot boil all of the ingredients together until the cranberries soften and begin to fall apart. Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes.

Pour the syrup through a fine metal sieve to strain out the rosemary and cranberry pieces. Use the back of a wooden spoon to gently push the syrup through the cranberry and rosemary pieces if the strainer becomes clogged. 

Drink Suggestions:

Cranberry Rosemary Hot Tea: 

Add 1-2 tablespoons of syrup until desired sweetness to your favorite green or black teas.

For Cranberry Rosemary Ginger Ale:  

Add 1-2 tablespoons of syrup until desired sweetness to a tall glass of bubbly soda such as ginger ale. Any other soda would work too so get creative and make festive versions of your favorite carbonated drinks!

For Cranberry Rosemary Bourbon (or Gin) Cocktail: 

1 shot Bourbon (or gin)

1/2 shot Cranberry Rosemary Syrup

2 shots soda water or ginger ale

Garnish with a sprig of rosemary, which works as a stirrer too! 

(For larger portions simply double to keep the same ratios)

Cheers!