Spiced Cranberry Ginger Ale (Dirty)
A fall dirty soda with ginger ale, homemade spiced cranberry syrup, cranberry juice, fresh orange and a coconut cream float over pebble ice. Ready in 2 minutes once the syrup is made. Alcohol-free.
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 12 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries for the spiced cranberry syrup (makes about 1/3 cup, enough for 4 or 5 drinks)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar for the syrup
- 1/4 cup water for the syrup
- 1 cinnamon stick for the syrup
- 1 tbsp spiced cranberry syrup or store-bought cranberry syrup plus a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon
- 2 oz cranberry juice cocktail 1/4 cup, chilled
- 1 tbsp fresh orange juice about 1/4 of an orange
- 8 oz ginger ale 1 cup, chilled; or ginger beer for more kick
- 2 tbsp coconut cream stirred smooth; or half-and-half (contains milk)
- pebble ice or crushed ice to fill the cup
- fresh cranberries, orange wheel and cinnamon stick for garnish
Make the syrup (one time): add the cranberries, sugar, water and cinnamon stick to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 to 7 minutes, until the berries pop. Mash them gently, simmer 1 more minute, then strain through a fine sieve and let cool. Keeps in the fridge up to 1 week.
In a 16 to 20 oz glass, stir together 1 tbsp spiced cranberry syrup, the cranberry juice and the orange juice.
Fill the glass with pebble ice.
Tilt the glass and slowly pour in the ginger ale. Give it one gentle stir so the red swirls up through the soda.
Stir the coconut cream until smooth and spoon it over the top.
Garnish with a few fresh cranberries, an orange wheel and a cinnamon stick. Sip right away.
How to order it at a bar or soda shop: At a soda shop (Swig, Sodalicious, etc.), say: "Ginger ale with cranberry syrup, a splash of orange and coconut cream." If they don't carry ginger ale, lemon-lime soda with cranberry and coconut cream is a great backup. At a bar or restaurant, ask for "ginger ale on pebble or crushed ice with a splash of cranberry juice and a little cream on top, no alcohol." Say "light ice" so the cream has room to float.
Allergens: contains coconut (coconut cream). The FDA no longer lists coconut as a major-allergen tree nut (2025 update), but some people with nut allergies react to it, so check with your doctor if you're allergic to tree nuts or coconut, or use an oat-based creamer. No dairy as written; half-and-half contains milk.
Caffeine: most ginger ales are caffeine-free; check your label.
Make it lighter: use diet or zero-sugar ginger ale and light cranberry juice.
Batch it: for 6 drinks, stir 6 tbsp syrup, 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice and 6 tbsp orange juice in a pitcher. Pour about 1/3 cup into each iced glass, then top with ginger ale and coconut cream.