Hazel Walker'S Cranberry Tea
A festive and flavorful cranberry tea infused with red hots, cloves, and citrus juices, perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy winter celebrations.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cook cranberries and 1 quart of water until the cranberries pop and are soft.
- Strain the cooked cranberries, not pressing them, and set aside.
- In a pan, place 2 cups of water, red hots, and cloves in a bag.
- Cook until the red hots dissolve.
- Add sugar and heat until dissolved.
- Pour in the strained cranberry juice, frozen orange juice, and frozen lemonade.
- Add 2 quarts of water to the mixture.
- Heat the drink and serve.
Tips & Substitutions
For a sweeter tea, adjust the sugar to your taste. If red hots are unavailable, try cinnamon sticks or a splash of cinnamon extract for a similar flavor. For a lower sugar version, consider using a sugar substitute or reducing the amount of sugar to 2 cups. Additionally, you can make this tea ahead of time and chill it for a refreshing iced variation.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Hazel Walker's Cranberry Tea warm in mugs, garnished with a slice of orange or a few whole cranberries for a festive touch. It pairs beautifully with Bill's Quick-Baked Potatoes and is perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy evenings. For a fun adult version, consider adding a splash of Homemade Kahlua for a delightful twist.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, gently warm the tea on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it's hot. Avoid boiling to preserve the flavors. You can also serve it cold over ice for a different experience.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Hazel Walker'S Cranberry Tea contains roughly 727 calories, with 3g protein, 188g carbohydrates, and 5g fat. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber (52% of the Daily Value) and vitamin C (46% of the Daily Value), and a good source of iron and calcium. It also contributes 15g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen cranberries instead of fresh?
Yes, you can use frozen cranberries in this recipe. Just cook them the same way as fresh cranberries, as they will also pop and release their juice when heated. However, you may want to slightly reduce the cooking time to avoid excessive mushiness.
How can I make this recipe less sweet?
To reduce the sweetness, start with 2 cups of sugar and taste the mixture before adding more. You can also adjust the balance by increasing the water or adding more tart ingredients like lemon juice to complement the cranberries.
Is there a way to make this tea caffeine-free?
Yes! This recipe is naturally caffeine-free as it doesn't include tea leaves or caffeinated ingredients. You can enjoy it any time of day without worrying about caffeine. It's a great warm beverage option for those avoiding caffeine.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).