Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

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Cranberry Kamikaze shots (or co*cktails) are a fantastic way to mix up your party drink menu. This tangy and refreshing drink is easy to make and is sure to be a hit with your guests.

Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (1)

These cranberry kamikaze shots are a fun take on a classic shot or co*cktail. They’re perfect for your Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations!

While I am a sucker for the classic kamikaze drink combination of lime, vodka and triple sec, I thought it would be fun to mix things up for New Year’s Eve. These vodka shots can pack a punch, so make sure designated drivers are in place!

Instead of sweetening the co*cktail with a traditional simple syrup, I added a splash of cranberry juice. If you prefer a touch more sweetness, feel free to add some simple syrup. (See my original kamikaze recipe for the proportions.)

What is a cranberry kamikaze shot?

Cranberry kamikazes are made with vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice and triple sec. It’s served in a shot glass and is meant to be consumed in one quick gulp.

If made into a full co*cktail rather than a shot, the resulting drink is almost exactly the same as a cosmopolitan (affectionately known as a cosmo). However, cosmos are typically made with Cointreau rather than triple sec, though both lend an orange flavor to the drink.

Ingredients for cranberry vodka shots:

  • CRANBERRY JUICE: Cranberry juice can be found in the juice aisle of most grocery stores.
  • VODKA: The better the vodka, the better the taste of the shot or co*cktail. Use your favorite! I opted for cranberry-flavored vodka, but plain vodka works, too.
  • LIME JUICE: Use fresh lime juice. This is my favorite citrus juicer to get every last drop of juice out of the limes.
  • TRIPLE SEC: Available in most places that sell distilled spirits. Cointreau can be substituted.
  • ICE: Use cubed ice for shaking with the co*cktail ingredients.

See recipe card below for full ingredients list & recipe directions.

How to make cranberry kamikaze shots:

The instructions for making these shots are very simple – combine everything, shake with ice and serve! Let’s talk details…

THE ICE: Fill a co*cktail shaker halfway with ice. Cubed ice is the way to go – not crushed ice. Crushed ice will melt much more easily while shaking the mixture, watering it down. No one likes watery co*cktails!

SQUEEZE THE LIMES: Squeeze the limes with your favorite juicing tool. This is mine. To get the most juice out of the limes, use the palm of your hand to press and roll them on the counter before squeezing. If the limes are really firm, pop them into the microwave for 10 seconds or so.

COMBINE: Pour the lime juice, cranberry vodka, triple sec and cranberry juice over the ice in the shaker.

Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2)

SHAKE: Cover the shaker and give the mixture a good shake to chill the liquids. About 15 seconds should do the trick.

SERVE: If serving as shots, strain the mixture into four shot glasses. For a co*cktail, strain all of the mixture into a martini glass or highball glass. Garnish the co*cktail with a wedge of lime and serve immediately.

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VARIATIONS:

Adjust the ratios to your liking. If you prefer a stronger or weaker drink, feel free to play around the ratios of the ingredients. For example, you could use more cranberry juice for a tarter drink or more triple sec for a sweeter one.

Experiment with other fruit juices. While cranberry juice is a classic option for a holiday drink, you could also try using orange juice, pineapple juice or even grapefruit juice.

If you want to make a larger batch, simply multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you need. If you are just doubling the recipe, there’s no need to increase the amount of ice in the shaker.

Other co*cktail recipes:


Pink Grapefruit Greyhound co*cktail
Cranberry Prosecco co*cktail

Make ahead and serving tips:

If you are a hosting a party, you can save time by mixing up a large batch of cranberry kamikaze shots in advance.

Combine all of the ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl, cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve. When it’s time to serve, pour the mixture into shot glasses and serve immediately. There’s no need to shake with ice since the mixture is already chilled.

Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (4)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these shots non-alcoholic?

Yes, it’s possible to make a non-alcoholic version of cranberry kamikaze shots. Simply omit the vodka and triple sec and increase the amount of cranberry and lime juices to make up for the missing volume.

Can I make these shots with other types of alcohol?

While vodka and triple sec are the traditional choices for kamikaze shots, you can certainly experiment with using other types of alcohol. For example, you could try using gin or tequila in place of the vodka, or use a different type of liqueur in place of the triple sec. Just keep in mind that substituting different types of alcohol will change the flavor of the drink.

Printable Recipe

Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (5)

Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail

Kick up your next co*cktail or holiday party with these easy, festive cranberry kamikaze shots!

4.75 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Beverages

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Holiday Recipes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Shots or 1 co*cktail

Calories: 57.4kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • ice
  • 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice
  • 1 ½ ounces cranberry vodka
  • 1 ounce triple sec
  • 1 ounce cranberry juice

Instructions

  • Fill a co*cktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the lime juice, cranberry vodka, triple sec, and cranberry juice.

  • Shake well, about 15 seconds, to chill the mixture. Strain into a highball or martini glass for a single drink or, if you prefer, into 4 separate shot glasses. Garnish with a wedge of lime and serve cold.

Notes

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I provide nutritional information for my recipes as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using the LoseIt! calculator. While I attempt to provide information that is as accurate as possible, you should calculate the nutritional information independently before relying on it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Shot | Calories: 57.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.5g | Sodium: 0.6mg | Sugar: 3.8g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

This post was first published on December 26, 2013 and updated on December 20, 2022.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (6)
Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

FAQs

Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or co*cktail Recipe | Cookin' Canuck? ›

If you're only drinking cranberries for your health, it's better to avoid the co*cktail. But if you're drinking it to enjoy the taste, it really depends what you're in the mood for. If you like the tartness of the 100% cranberry then the pure juice is great. However, if you like it a little sweeter, go for the co*cktail.

Which is better, cranberry juice or cranberry co*cktail? ›

If you're only drinking cranberries for your health, it's better to avoid the co*cktail. But if you're drinking it to enjoy the taste, it really depends what you're in the mood for. If you like the tartness of the 100% cranberry then the pure juice is great. However, if you like it a little sweeter, go for the co*cktail.

What's in a cranberry juice co*cktail? ›

Cranberry juice is usually labeled "100% juice." Other fruits are sometimes added to balance the tart cranberry taste, but that label indicates that the product is made with 100% fruit juices. Cranberry juice co*cktail, meanwhile, has added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup for extra sweetness.

What is a blue kamikaze shot made of? ›

1. Pour 4 ounces chilled vodka into a co*cktail shaker. 2. Add 4 ounces chilled blue curacao.

What alcohol goes well with cranberry? ›

With: Vodka, triple sec, falernum, cranberry juice, and lime juice. With: Gold rum, lime juice, falernum, cranberry juice, and Daiquiri Bitters. With: Reposado tequila, triple sec, falernum, lime juice, cranberry juice, and Margarita Bitters.

Is drinking cranberry juice good for your kidneys? ›

4. Cranberries. Cranberries are low in potassium and high in vitamin C, making them another great choice for people with kidney disease. Cranberry juice has also been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections, which are typical for people with kidney disease.

Does cranberry juice co*cktail help kidneys? ›

Cranberries contain significant amounts of oxalate, a primary component of the most common calcium-based kidney stones. That said, cranberry juice can prevent brush*te kidney stones by lowering urine pH; however, these stones are less common than others.

What is the best vodka to mix with cranberry juice? ›

For a classic and easy-to-make co*cktail, mix Stolichnaya Ohranj Vodka with cranberry juice in a highball glass filled with ice.

What is a vodka and cranberry drink called? ›

The Cape Cod or Cape Codder is a type of co*cktail consisting of vodka and cranberry juice. Some recipes also call for squeezing a lime wedge over the glass and dropping it into the drink.

Is cranberry juice co*cktail good for your liver? ›

The presence of vitamin C in cranberries accelerates the production of glutathione, which is basically an antioxidant. This component is needed by the liver during both the stages of the detoxification process.

What is a kamikaze shot? ›

The word “kamikaze” is Japanese for “divine wind.” The Kamikaze co*cktail recipe contains equal parts vodka, triple sec, and lime (similar to a Margarita, which uses tequila as its base liquor). Sometimes blue Curaçao liqueur is added to this classic co*cktail in place of triple sec to turn it into a Blue Kamikaze.

Why is it called a kamikaze shot? ›

It is believed that the co*cktail was created in an American Naval base in Japan during World War II. At that point of time, the Kamikaze was served as a shot. The World War II soldiers named it after Japanese kamikaze bombers.

What is in a tiger shot? ›

"The Crouching Tiger is a simple shooter to make, but unlike many others, it tastes really, really good. Maybe too good. It's simply a shaken tequila and lychee liqueur shooter that is so sweet, it can replace any candy any day. However, it is so tasty that you may find you've had one too many; they are addicting."

What not to mix with cranberry? ›

Possible Interactions
  1. Warfarin (Coumadin): Cranberry may raise the risk of bleeding, especially if you already take medications to thin the blood such as warfarin. ...
  2. Aspirin: Like aspirin, cranberries contain salicylic acid. ...
  3. Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

How do you make cranberry co*cktail taste better? ›

The orange enhances the cranberry flavor in the best possible way! Other great mixers for cranberry juice are grapefruit juice and pineapple juice. Cranberry juice also goes well with alcohols such as vodka, rum, gin, champagne, or red wine.

Why do people drink cranberry juice after alcohol? ›

Fruit juice: Pour a glass of apple or cranberry juice to kick start the recovery process. The fructose in sweet fruity drinks gives the body some instant energy, and may even help boost metabolism to get rid of those gnarly alcohol toxins. Juice also contains vitamins and plenty of water to get the body rehydrated.

Which is healthier, cranberry juice or co*cktail? ›

Since cranberries are a great source of vitamin C you'll get plenty in both kinds of juice, but you'll have the added benefit of other vitamins and minerals like potassium in the naturally sweetened cranberry juice, thanks to the added fruit. Both can be used interchangeably in recipes.

Does cranberry co*cktail have any benefits? ›

Cranberry juice is rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants and key nutrients. It may also help prevent UTIs, support a healthy gut, and help manage some chronic conditions, like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Is drinking cranberry juice co*cktail good for you? ›

Cranberry juice is rich in vitamin C, which helps keep your immune system healthy and functioning properly. It fights against oxidative stress from free radicals and helps kill harmful bacteria. Some studies also link low vitamin C intake to poor immune function. Infection prevention.

Is cranberry co*cktail still good for you? ›

Cranberry juice co*cktail is more than just a sweet drink for you to sip on a warm summer day. It's a healthy option because it contains approximately 25 percent pure cranberry juice and is often mixed with other fruit juices, such as apple and grape.

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