This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.

Cranberry Vodka Slush combines cranberry juice and vodka with frozen orange juice, frozen lemonade, red jello, and sugared cranberries. This simple recipe will brighten up your holiday gatherings, and your guests will be begging for the recipe! Cheers!

Side view of my hand holding glass of cranberry slush, with another one in the background.

The Holidays are such a special time of year for me. SO many amazing memories of my childhood, and I’m blessed to have had an abundance of love from a great big family. Christmas time was always a sacred time of year and still is, thanks to the example of my parents.

My mom did a lot of prep for the holidays, stacking her freezer full of all the “goodies”, in her words. She made batches and batches of cookies, peanut butter balls, peanut brittle, and holiday cocktails she could store in the infamous “buckets” (aka ice cream containers). When we gathered, we enjoyed her Frozen Vodka Slush, Frozen Grasshoppers, Frozen Kahlúa Cocktails, and this Cranberry Vodka Slush, among many other things. Her kids are still making these concoctions for their families, me included!

Overhead shot of my hand holding a glass of cranberry slush, with some sugared cranberries on top and a spoon inside.

Ingredients needed for Cranberry Vodka Slush:

This takes just a few minutes to mix up, and then about 24 hours to freeze. Make sure you plan ahead and make the slush at least the day before your big event!

Red Jello – You’ll need a 3 oz. package of red jello, any flavor. If you can find cranberry, use that, but I normally find strawberry works well too. You DO want some sort of RED jello though.
Boiling Water – Used to dissolve the jello.
Orange Juice – Make sure you buy one 12 oz. can of frozen orange juice.
Lemonade – Also, one 12 oz. can of frozen lemonade is needed.
Cold Water – Straight from the filter!
Cranberry Juice – You can buy the fresh bottled juice, or the pre-packaged from the juice aisle. Either one works fine.
Vodka – Make sure you buy a good quality vodka. Your head will thank you!

Overhead shot of a large green container with slush inside.

How to make Cranberry Vodka Slush:

Dissolve jello. Boil a cup of water, and add jello. Stir until completely dissolved. Let this cool slightly.
Mix. In a large container (with lid), add the dissolved jello, the softened orange juice and lemonade, the cold water, the cranberry juice, and the vodka. Stir until well combined. Make sure the frozen juice and lemonade are liquid.
Freeze. Place the lid on the slush, and put it in the freezer until hardened. This may take up to 24 hours.
Serve. Scoop slush in glasses, add a splash of 7UP or Sprite (if desired), and top with a few sugared cranberries.

A white bowl of sugared cranberries, on a white background.

How to make Sugared Cranberries:

Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat, and add cranberries. Let this come to room temperature. You can place in the refrigerator to speed up the process.
Drain cranberries over a measuring cup, catching the simple syrup to add to other cocktails (if desired).
Place a wire rack on a baking sheet. Arrange cranberries on top of the wire rack and let them dry.
When the cranberries are dry, remove them from the rack to the baking sheet, sprinkle sugar over the top, and then roll the cranberries in the sugar.
Store sugared cranberries in an airtight container in the freezer.

Overhead view of two glasses of cranberry slush, on a white background with a pink napkin.

This vodka slush freezes well for up to six months.

Other Holiday Cocktail ideas for you to enjoy:

Side shot of two glasses of cranberry slush, with spoons and sugared cranberries inside.

All-Clad 3-quart, Stainless Steel

Make this slush recipe next: Frozen Vodka Slush Recipe

Please let know if you try this recipe. Be sure to comment and leave a review on the blog so I can see what you think. You can also like my Facebook Page, follow me on Pinterest, and catch me on Instagram.

xoxo ~Sue