Cranberry red wine spritzers!

Oh hello again my friends.  Care for a cranberry red wine spritzer???

Is it just me, or does anyone else have quite the hard time saying "spritzer" without a little smiley smirk.  I just imagine Seth Galifianakis, or maybe Marty Huggins!  ha!

If this looks familiar, it's because I got this idea from abeautifulmess.  This is a super super festive little drink, and doesn't really take a ton of effort.  YESSSSS!!!!

Here's what you need to make about a bottles worth:

1 cup halved raw cranberries
1 bottle of red wine (I used a merlot to balance the tart of the cranberry)
2 cinnamon sticks
1/3cup sugar
24-30 whole raw cranberries
3 kabob sticks, cut in half
sugar for sprinkling
club soda

Bring the first 4 ingredients to a boil.  Turn heat down and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the wine starts to reduce.  Refrigerate until cold and strain.  Be careful here!  The first batch that I made was a total disaster.  The super hot wine busted the bottom of my glass pitcher!  Pretty amazing actually.  A perfect circular break in the glass.  So...... although the original recipe says to strain before chilling, I recommend taking the cinnamon sticks out, and chilling before straining.

While that is chilling, string 4-5 cranberries on the end of a kabob stick broken in half.  Run under water for a second, and sprinkle sugar over the wet berries.  This recipe makes 6 of these.

Place some ice in a glass and fill with cranberry wine almost to the top.  Add a splash of club soda, stir drink, and use the sugared cranberries as a garnish.  VOILA!

These are super pretty and a big hit at any holiday party.  Tastes like Xmas. :)

Trish