Cranberry Cream Whipped Ginger Ale

Truth time: I’m pretty boring usually when it comes to my beverage choices. A tall glass of ice water, a hot black coffee or a refreshing unsweetened iced tea is typically all my heart desires. That is, until the holiday season rolls around. Perhaps it’s the never-ending supply of Christmas cookies or just the general merriment of the season, but as soon as Christmas comes to town, I’m all about trying festive holiday cocktails and mocktails.

Inspired by the viral TikTok recipe for whipped Dr Pepper, this cranberry cream whipped ginger ale is made with a homemade spiced cranberry syrup and a cloud of cranberry cold foam. We like to think of it as a Christmas dirty soda. Served over ice, this refreshing, bubbly mocktail is a treat that holiday revelers both young and old will sip with cheer.

Ingredients for Cranberry Cream Whipped Ginger Ale

• Water: Homemade simple syrups for coffee, cocktails or Italian sodas always start with water. Typically, a 1-1 ratio of sugar to water is used unless a thicker, richer syrup is desired, in which case you can use a 2-1 ratio.
• Sugar: Sugar thickens the syrup and also balances the tartness and acidity of the fresh cranberries.
• Fresh cranberries: Fresh cranberries burst and release their juices into the syrup as it simmers and reduces on the stovetop, just like in homemade cranberry sauce. The berries also release pectin, which further thickens the syrup once it cools.
• Cinnamon: A touch of cinnamon gives the sweet syrup warmth and depth.
• Orange: A splash of orange juice further cuts through the tartness of the cranberries. The orange zest complements the other flavors in the syrup.
• Ginger ale: Ginger ale is known for its distinctive flavor. It’s a little sweet, a little peppery (thanks to the ginger) with a clean and refreshing citrus undertone. Nothing quite compares.
• Heavy whipping cream: If you’re new to the dirty soda game, trust us when we say that mixing a little cream into soda-based beverages (like this espresso cream soda) is a game-changer.
• Ice: You can use any shape of ice cubes for this drink. If you want your drinks to look extra festive, prep your glasses the same way you would for these magical snow globe cocktails.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the cranberry syrup

In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, fresh cranberries and cinnamon. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer. Cook the mixture until the cranberries have split, about five to seven minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the orange juice and orange zest. Let the mixture rest for 15 minutes.

Step 2: Strain and cool

Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve, pressing down on the mixture as it drains to extract as much flavor from the cranberries as possible.

Transfer the syrup to a glass bottle or Mason jar and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 3: Make the cranberry cold foam

Combine 2 tablespoons of the cranberry syrup with the heavy cream in a small glass or bowl. Use a milk frother or electric hand mixer to beat the mixture until it’s light and foamy, but not quite to the point of having soft peaks.

Step 4: Assemble the drink

Fill a tall glass halfway with ice. Pour 6 to 8 ounces of ginger ale into the glass. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the cranberry syrup, then carefully spoon cranberry cream cold foam over the top. Serve the drink immediately.

Cranberry Cream Whipped Ginger Ale Variations

• Make it boozy: If you’d like to add some extra holiday spirit to this drink, pour 1 to 2 ounces of vodka, whiskey, bourbon, rum or gin over the ice before adding the ginger ale and cranberry syrup.
• Blend it up: For a frozen drink variation, freeze an ice cube tray of ginger ale the night before you want to enjoy the drink. Then, add the ginger ale ice cubes to a blender with three tablespoons of cranberry syrup. Pulse several times until the mixture is slushy. You may need to add a splash or two of ginger ale to achieve the right consistency. Add the mixture to a glass and then top it with the cranberry cream cold foam.
• Have some fun with garnishes: This festive mocktail would look beautiful with a rim of sparkling sugar, such as turbinado sugar. For garnishes, add sugared cranberries, thin strips of candied ginger or a twist of orange peel. A small sprig of rosemary would be another way to dress up this merry and bright holiday drink.
• Consider ginger ale alternatives: If you don’t enjoy ginger ale, this drink would also work well with lemon-lime flavored soda or cream soda for a sweeter spin.
• Try an ice cream version: Turn this drink into an old-fashioned ice cream soda. Omit the cold foam and ice, and instead pour the ginger ale and cranberry syrup over a few scoops of vanilla ice cream.

How to Store Cranberry Cream Whipped Ginger Ale

Once mixed, cranberry cream whipped ginger ale should be consumed right away for the best taste. That said, the recipe yields approximately 1/2 cup of cold foam (enough for two drinks) and 1 cup of cranberry syrup. Store leftover syrup in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Cranberry Cream Whipped Ginger Ale Tips

Do you mix the whipped cream into the ginger ale before drinking it?

Whether you should stir the whipped cream into the soda before drinking it depends on whether you are using a straw. If you’re using a straw, we recommend lightly stirring the drink so some of the cream settles to the bottom of the glass. Otherwise, you’ll sip away most of the cranberry soda before you ever get to the creamy cold foam. If you’re sipping straight from the glass, there’s no need to stir. As the cranberry soda passes through the cream, you’ll get the combination of textures and flavors in every sip.

Why did my cranberry cream whipped ginger ale separate or curdle?

It’s worth noting that acidic ingredients can cause cream to curdle. That means if you mix the cold foam into the cranberry soda, the longer the drink sits, the more likely it is to separate with time. That said, a curdled drink is totally safe to drink; its appearance and texture may just be less desirable.

If you’re committed to preventing separation, you can prepare this drink in a cocktail shaker. Mixing it in a shaker will help emulsify the ingredients, preventing or slowing the drink from curdling. This tip applies to our equally festive cherry pie cocktail, too.

What can you serve with a cranberry cream whipped ginger ale?

We can’t imagine a better way to celebrate the holidays than serving a big batch of these cranberry cream whipped ginger ales for friends and family while decorating (and eating) a few classic Christmas cookies. If you have a holiday gathering planned, this drink would make a great nonalcoholic offering to serve alongside your favorite festive Christmas appetizers.