Learn how to make cranberry juice at home with just 2 ingredients! It's much easier than you think and you only need a bag of cranberries and your sweetener of choice (I prefer raw honey for its health benefits!) This homemade cranberry juice recipe can be done in the Instant Pot for a hands-off simple method or on the stovetop. Plus, it's great as a chilled beverage or as a hot cider during the holidays.
Did you know you can make cranberry juice at home using better-for-you ingredients? Now, I'm not talking about juicing cranberries because that would be weird since they are so painfully dry. I'm talking about extracting as much goodness out of them using water and heat.
You'll love this DIY juice recipe. It's easy, convenient, and the perfect drink for this holiday season and beyond!
Whether enjoyed over ice with a lemon wedge or savored as a comforting warm cider adorned with flavorful toppings, this homemade cranberry juice is a versatile and festive beverage suitable for any occasion.
Looking for more healthy drinks? Check out Honey Lemonade, Tomato Juice Recipe, and Honey Citrus Mint Tea Recipe.
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Recipe Overview
- Prep and Cook Time: Only 15 minutes of active time with your pressure cooker doing the rest.
- Cooking Method: Instant Pot but stove top suggestion included.
- Dietary Info: Sugar-free and naturally paleo and GAPS-compliant.
- Tools Needed: Pressure cooker or large stockpot, strainer, juice jars.
- Skill Level: Easy
Why I love this Cranberry Juice Recipe
Enjoy seasonal goodness: Make this during the holiday season when cranberries are prolific, but you can also extend that well into the warmer months. So be sure to throw a few bags of cranberries into your freezer for a future cranberry juice.
Cooking method - The primary cooking method is the Instant Pot, which renders it essentially hands-off. But, if you prefer a different method, I also include suggestions for how to make this on the stove top.
Suitable for dietary needs - I love that this DIY juice is suitable for most diets because it's just real food using real food ingredients. Sweetened with honey, it's refined sugar-free!
Two serving options - You can serve it chilled over ice (or even in a cocktail, if you dare) or enjoy it warm like a hot cider.
Versatile Flavor Combos: Use this DIY juice recipe as your blank slate to make your own homemade juice. You can also adjust the amount of sweetener used to make it suitable for your taste buds.
Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice
- Urinary tract health: Cranberry juice may help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) by reducing the adhesion of bacteria to the urinary tract walls, according to this Houston Methodist Medicine article.
- Rich in antioxidants: They are loaded with antioxidants, particularly phenols and proanthocyanidins, which may continue to overall health by neutralizing free radicals, according to WebMD.
- Heart health benefits: Some studies suggest that these antioxidants could have a positive effect on overall heart health and may help prevent heart disease, thanks to this Medscape article.
- Vitamin C boost: Cranberry juice is a good source of vitamin C and rich in anti-inflammatory properties, according to Medical News Today, which may help support the immune system and collagen production.
Ingredients for Cranberry Juice
Learn how to make cranberry juice with 2 simple ingredients plus water and an optional cinnamon. This easy recipe can be made in under 50 minutes from start to finish.
- Cranberries: These fresh berries provide the tart and distinctive flavor to the homemade cranberry juice. Whole cranberries come in different size bags, ranging from 8 ounces to 32 ounces. You will need approximately 16 ounces or 4 cups of cranberries for this recipe.
- Cinnamon stick: This is optional but it gives the homemade fresh cranberry juice a warm and aromatic flavor. It's especially tasty if you are enjoying the cranberry juice warm.
- Raw honey: Used as a natural sweetener and complements the tartness of the cranberries well. Add it to the juice when it's slightly cooled to help retain its benefits.
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use other warming spices - Swap out the cinnamon stick and add a whole star anise, a few whole cloves, or allspice to the cranberry juice for a unique flavor.
- Add other fresh fruits - I've added roughly chopped pear and apples along with raw cranberries when making the DIY juice to add some natural sweetness.
- Have fun with garnish - For a chilled drink, serve this with a slice of lemon and sprig of mint. If you're serving this as a hot cider, consider adding a cross-slice of apple and a fresh rosemary sprig.
💭Make it Nutrient-Dense: You can experiment with other sweeteners beyond raw honey. Try maple syrup or coconut sugar for a more robust flavor. Check out other nourishing unrefined sugars here but I would advise against using agave nectar.
How to Make Cranberry Juice
The complete printable recipe is below in the recipe card for your convenience. Follow these simple step-by-step instructions for the best results. The easiest way to make this pure cranberry juice recipe is using a pressure cooker.
Step 1. Add
Rinse the cranberries in a colander under running water. To the inner pot of your pressure cooker, add whole berries, cinnamon stick, and half of the water.
Step 2. Cook
Close the lid and set the safety valve to sealing position. Press "manual" and reduce time to 8 minutes.
Step 3. Strain
After it has cooked and when it's safe to do so, open the Instant Pot and strain the cranberry juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove the cranberry pulp. Press the cranberries to extract as much cranberry flavor as possible.
Step 4. Sweeten
Add remaining water to instantly cool the unsweetened cranberry juice down. Stir in honey and lemon juice. Allow to cool completely or serve warm like a hot cider.
Helpful Tips for DIY Juice
Divide the water - I prefer to divide the water: use half to cook the cranberry juice and the other half to add later to cool it. This is a time-saving time that works exceptionally well.
Don't rush to add honey - Add honey to the cranberry juice when it's slightly cooled to touch so it retains the health benefits.
Lemon juice is optional - Cranberries are tart, but lemon juice, in a weird way, softens that with its tanginess and gives a more balanced flavor. Squeeze a few fresh lemons or add a few tablespoons of the lemon juice extract.
Release pressure - When cooking a large amount of liquid, it's best to let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure. However, if in a rush, you can do a quick pressure release.
💭Stovetop Suggestion: Don't have a pressure cooker? No problem. Just add all your DIY juice ingredients (minus the honey) into a large stockpot, bring it to a full rolling boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the cranberries are softened. Strain, sweetenen, and serve!
Serving Suggestions
We love serving this festive drink over ice with a fresh lemon wedge. But you can also serve this warm like a hot cider. If serving warm, consider keeping it in a slow cooker, like you would apple cider and keep tasty toppings closeby like rosemary sprigs, ground cinnamon, cross-cut apple slices. When these garnishes hit the hot cranberry juice, they will infuse their flavor into the beverage, creating a cozy and aromatic drink.
Tasty cranberry juice pairing suggestions:
Storage and Reheating Instructions
How long does cranberry juice last in the refrigerator?
To store: Store leftover cranberry juice in an airtight container like a glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Give it a good shake before using to redistribute any sediment that accumulates on the bottom.
Storage containers: These Weck juice jars with lids are perfect for storing DIY juice. But regular wide-mouth mason jars work great, too!
To freeze: If you have excess homemade cranberry juice, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Just make sure there is enough headspace in the jar to allow room for water expansion and it's best to use a wide-mouth jar to prevent glass breakage. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature.
Is it safe to can cranberry juice?
To can: You can also pour freshly prepared, strained, and hot cranberry juice into mason jars and tightly seal them with clean, new canning lids. At this point, you can let them seal naturally or process jars in a water bath canner to store them shelf-stable. If you skip the canning process, store the canned cranberry juice in the fridge for up to 3 months as it's not safe for shelf-stable storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, cranberry juice can be a healthy drink due to its antioxidants and potential benefits for urinary tract health. However, most store-bought cranberry juice from the grocery store have added sugars like high fructose corn syrup and other artificial sweeteners. For maximum health benefits, it's best to ditch store-bought juice and make your own cranberry juice at home using nutrient-dense sweeteners such as honey.
Not many people appreciate the natural tartness of cranberry juice. To improve the taste, you can add natural sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup. Or consider cutting the cranberry juice with another fruit juice like apple juice or orange juice. You can also muddle some frozen berries like raspberries or strawberries and pour the cranberry juice over it to infuse some refreshing flavor. These simple methods tone down the taste of cranberry juice.
Yes, pure cranberry juice is naturally gluten-free, as fresh cranberries do not contain gluten. However, it's important to check the ingredient labels of commercially produced cranberry juice products as some may have additives and ingredients that potentially contain gluten. That's why it's best to make homemade cranberry juice recipe instead.
Looking for more related recipes? Here are some ideas:
Did you make this homemade cranberry juice? Please leave a ⭐ recipe rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comments. Thank you!💚
Printable Recipe
Cranberry Juice Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh cranberries (16 ounces)
- 1 cinnamon stick optional
- 1 gallon water divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup raw honey
Instructions
- Add: Rinse the cranberries in a colander under running water. To the inner pot of Instant Pot, add cranberries, cinnamon and ½ gallon of filtered water.
- Cook: Close the lid and set the safety valve to sealing position. Press "Manual" and reduce time to 8 minutes.
- Strain: After cooking time has finished, turn off Instant Pot by pressing "Cancel" and allow to naturally release pressure. When the safety pin has dropped and it is safe to do so, carefully open the Instant Pot. Strain the cranberry juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove the cranberry pulp and cinnamon stick.
- Sweeten: Add remaining water and stir to cool slightly. Stir in honey and lemon jucie. Enjoy as a hot cider or chilled with ice. Garnish with a fresh lemon slice and sprig of mint or fresh rosemary.
Video
Notes
- Divide the water - I prefer to divide the water: use half to cook the cranberry juice and the other half to add later to cool it. This is a time-saving time that works exceptionally well.
- Don't rush to add honey - Add honey to the cranberry juice when it's slightly cooled to touch so it retains the health benefits.
- Lemon juice is optional - Cranberries are tart, but lemon juice, in a weird way, softens that with its tanginess. Squeeze a few fresh lemons or add a few tablespoons of the lemon juice extract.
- Release pressure - When cooking a large amount of liquid, it's best to let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure. However, if in a rush, you can do a quick pressure release.
Sally says
I don't have an instant pot. Could you please give me slow cooker and stove-top instructions.
Anya says
For slow-cooker: toss cranberries, water and cinnamon and cook for 6-8 hours on low. Then proceed with the rest of recipe. For stove-top: bring cranberries, water and cinnamon to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and slightly simmer for about 15 minutes for all cranberries to cook down, then proceed with rest of recipe. Enjoy!! 🙂
Sarah says
Made this today! We've been drinking it warm since it's been snowing all day and it's soo good! My husband keeps saying how much he enjoys it so I think it's safe to say we'll be making it again soon. Thanks for sharing!
Anya says
Awesome to hear, Sarah! Thanks for the sweet comment.
Jade says
I found the ratios to be WAY off here. 4 cups of cranberries to a gallon of water made a very thin, flat, diluted liquid. Disappointing!! I wish I had only used a small amount of water (like 4 cups) then I could have added more after the fact to dilute as needed.
Anya says
Thank you for your feedback.
Joni Gomes says
Wow so easy to make and that color is gorgeous! I have all of the ingredients right now. Will give it a try!
ChihYu Smith says
Wow ! This cranberry juice looks so good ! It will go well with many holiday dishes for sure!
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday! says
What a festive and oh so pretty holiday drink, and I love that it's made in the Instant Pot!
Tessa Simpson says
I am so impressed by this!! I have some fresh cranberries that need to used, will give this a try! Yum!
Hope says
This looks so fresh and colourful - great for the festive season! Love the tips about heating raw honey 🙂
linda spiker says
I love this for the holidays! We don't drink so we always appreciate a festive drink for parties!
Anya says
This is one of our favorites! And so easy.
STACEY CRAWFORD says
Oh wow, I love that this can be made in the IP and uses honey! Great idea 🙂
Megan Stevens says
I love the idea of presenting this for the holidays!! My family and extended family will so appreciate it, and it's a beautiful addition to such a pretty holiday time!
Elaina says
This would be SO yummy as a festive warm beverage in lieu of apple cider (too sweet for me on its own). And it'd be extra good with splash or two of good whiskey for the adults. 😉
Anya says
Sounds like a plan. Apple cider is too sweet for my liking but this is perfect because the sweetness can be controlled. Thanks Elaina.
jennifer says
what a great holiday drink idea! I love the color and that it can be made in an Instant Pot!
Anya says
Thank you Jennifer! The color is beautiful.
Astrid says
Wow that's brilliant! Never thought of making my own cranberry juice in the instant pot. Will be trying this soon because I add cranberry juice to my morning detox drink, but can't find a low sugar version. This is way better than the organic store option.
Thanks for sharing!
Anya says
Yes - and you can control how much sweetener you use. Thanks for commenting!
Catherine Baez Sholl says
I can definitely see myself having this delicious drink cold and hot. Great recipe!
Anya says
Hope you get to try it Catherine!
Alena says
Looks fresh and delicious! Can you use dried cranberries and powdered cinnamon for substitution?
Much thanks!
Anya says
Hi Alena,
I have not tried with dried cranberries but please let us know if it works out for you. 🙂
Maria says
Why do you have yo boil cranberries? I read in another site to put them in a blender strain them and drink it, I did and is delicious like lemonade.
Anya says
Sure Maria - you are welcome to do that too. This is a completely different recipe from what you are referring to.
Amanda says
This is an easy and delicious cranberry juice. I added a bit less water as there were comments about too much water being added. I also reduced the honey as I like my cranberry juice quite tart. Will definitely make again!
Anya says
So glad you enjoyed it! That's the best part about this recipe - it's so flexible!
Reyna says
Given the feedback below I used 7 cups of water and didn’t need to add additional water otherwise it would have been too diluted. I added sugar to desired taste and it was nice. Definitely prefer it warm.
Anya says
Hi Reyna! Happy to hear that! This recipe is super flexible with water and sweetener and I always encourage people to make it their "own" by tweaking things as they see fit.