Healthy Cranberry Wassail Recipe {the perfect holiday spiced drink} (2024)

FAQs

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

Potential Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice. Cranberry juice is an excellent source of vitamin C and provides 26% of your recommended daily allowance in an 8-ounce serving. Vitamin C plays many important roles in the body. A powerful antioxidant, it helps stop free radicals from damaging cells and DNA in your body.

What is Wassail? Wassail is like the tastier sister to Apple Cider. Traditional wassail was made with hard liquor, apples, brandy, and other spices. This recipe is made with cloves, apples, cinnamon, lemon, orange, ginger, and nutmeg and is a nonalcoholic wassail recipe.

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 ...

Cranberries are small, hard, round, red fruits known for their bitter or tart flavor. They're widely thought to be a Thanksgiving must-have but are also used in sauces, juices, muffins, and more throughout the year.

Opt for one with 100% pure cranberry juice and no "added sugars" on the nutrition label. This is different from the naturally occurring sugars from the fruit which will be present in the juice.

If you take aspirin regularly, as a blood-thinner, for example, or if you are allergic to aspirin, you should not take cranberry supplements or drink a lot of juice. Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

Because wassail is made with fruit juices and spices such as cinnamon and ginger, it can be soothing for a cold, and may even be helpful in easing congestion.

Trader Joe's describes the rosy-hued Winter Wassail Punch as “a sweetened blend of black currant, apple, and lemon juices, with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, and orange peel.” After tasting it, I really appreciated how balanced it is. It's the ideal mix of fruity, tangy, sweet, and spiced.

By wassailing their crops in the winter, it was said to ensure a healthy crop in the spring. As Christianity began to spread, this ritual evolved further into singing and drinking to the health of next season's crops on Twelfth Night; the last night of the traditional Christmas season.

I sweetened my juice with honey which adds a sweet floral touch to the beverage. I also use a couple of freshly squeezed oranges which gives the juice a nice hint of citrus flavor. I'm sure apple juice or apple cider would work well too. I think moving forward I'm going to call this drink cranade (like lemonade…).

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.

The best way to consume cranberries

Or you can purchase already frozen cranberries in your grocery store. If you're wondering how to use cranberries in your diet, some healthy ideas are to throw fresh or frozen cranberries into smoothies, oatmeal, salsa, or granola.

Drink cranberry juice. In a 2012 study, researchers found that drinking cranberry juice regularly can help drop blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) by three points. It might not sound like a lot, but it's enough to bump someone from pre-hypertension back into the normal range, for example.

The cranberry is also a contender when it comes to antioxidant content. While wild blueberries outperform them when it comes to measuring both antioxidant capacity and cellular antioxidant activity, cranberries pack their own health punch.

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.

Although cranberry juice is safe to consume in moderation, drinking too much can cause side effects such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and blood sugar spikes. In the past, it was believed that cranberry juice can slow the growth of bacteria and therefore is useful in treating urinary tract infections.

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.

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.