Cranberry Ginger Mule Food

CRANBERRY MULE

Steps:

• Make the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup: Stir together sugar, cranberries, lime zest, and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high, stirring constantly, until cranberries just start to burst, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.
• Make the cocktail: Fill a 12-ounce glass with ice cubes. Stir in vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and 3 tablespoons cranberries and syrup from Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup. Garnish with lime rounds.

THANKSGIVING MULES

Steps:

• Put the dried cranberries in a small bowl and add enough simple syrup to cover. Let soak until slightly softened, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, chill 4 copper mule mugs in the freezer.
• For each drink, combine 1 1/2 ounces vodka, 1 ounce each orange juice and cranberry juice and 1/2 ounce simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with large ice cubes and shake vigorously. Add 1 ounce ginger beer, seal the shaker again and gently twist the shaker back and forth once (this will combine the drink without making the ginger beer go flat). Strain into a chilled copper mule mug and fill with fresh ice. Garnish with a few of the soaked cranberries.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE MULE

Steps:

• For the cranberry vodka: Combine the cranberries, sugar, orange peel and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the cranberries soften and pop, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the vodka into a large heatproof jar, then add the cranberry mixture. Let sit at room temperature for at least 3 days or up to 1 week. Strain and chill in the refrigerator before using.
• For the cranberry-orange mule: Mix together the ginger beer, cranberry vodka, lime juice and orange slices in a pitcher. Serve over crushed ice and garnish with skewers of Sugared Cranberries.
• Combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Add the cranberries and weight with a plate to submerge. Cover the pot and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 48 hours. Strain the cranberries, reserving the syrup. (Refrigerate leftover syrup in an airtight container for up to 1 month.)
• Spread the superfine sugar on a baking sheet and toss the cranberries in the sugar. Refrigerate on the baking sheet, uncovered, for 1 hour. Toss again in the sugar before transferring to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

GINGER AND CRANBERRY MULE

Steps:

• Fill 3/4 full 2 highball glasses with crushed ice.
• Divide the vodka and cranberries between the glasses.
• In a mixing glass, mix together the ginger beer and cranberry juice and pour over the vodka.