Cranberry schnapps

Cranberry schnapps - based on fresh, wild cranberries - has a wonderful, distinctive taste and flavour. It's strong and fruity with a beautiful red colour.

Very good as after-dinner drink.

Serve with turkey and other poultry or add it to sauces. Also, it goes very well with ice cream and desserts.

Cranberry schnapps blends very well with...
lime schnapps · peach schnapps · blue berry schnapps · black currant schnapps · pear schnapps · pomegranate schnapps · almond schnapps.

Also, see how you can easily...
turn your cranberry schnapps into a liqueur.

Small cranberry

Small cranberry is also known as bog cranberry, wild cranberry or swamp cranberry.

It's a low-growing evergreen shrub with slender stems, small, thick leaves and pink flowers.

The small, round berries are red and juicy - with an acid taste and strong flavour.

After the first frost the berries become much milder, sweeter and very tasty.

And in spring, after the snow has melted, they are even sweeter and more tasty.

Cranberries are very rich in antioxidants and used in anti-aging products, herbal remedies and dietary supplements.

Here in Denmark, small cranberries grow wild in peat moss in raised bogs, hanging bogs and wet heaths.

They are most common in west and middle Jutland (Jylland), south Funen (Fyn) and north Zealand (Sjælland).

More information about the small cranberry plant

Recipe

Use fresh, wild and fully ripe cranberries. Pick them after the first frost.

If you pick them before you should leave them in the freezer for a couple of days - or a whole week - before steeping.

Remember to defrost the berries in the vodka.

If you defrost before steeping they will loose rather much of their flavours.

Direction:

• Rinse the cranberries carefully.
• Leave them to dry in the shadow - on paper towel.
• Use a clean glass jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Fill 1/2 - 2/3 of the jar with whole berries.
• Fill up with clear, unflavoured vodka - 40% alcohol content (80 proof).
• Steep for 3 - 4 months in a dark place at room temperature, 18-20°C (64-68°F).
• Shake lightly and taste it from time to time.
• Strain and filter your infusion into a clean glass bottle or jar with tight-fitting lid.

You can serve your cranberry schnapps after it has settled for a couple of days.

Or - you can store (age) it for 4-6 months in a dark place at room temperature before serving.

The flavours will change rather much during storage. For the better I think. But it's a matter of taste.

Some prefer the fresh, fruity taste - while others prefer their cranberry schnapps after some storage.

Note: If for some reason you are not satisfied with your infusion, there are ways to adjust both taste and flavours - click here to see how.

Serve your cranberry schnapps at room temperature in suitable glasses. And remember to keep your schnapps bottle tightly closed and in a dark place before and between servings.