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This Cosmopolitan cocktail is crisp, refreshing, and perfectly sweet-tart with vodka, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and Cointreau. It has that iconic bright pink color, takes just 5 minutes to make, and only requires four ingredients.
I’ve made a LOT of cocktails over the years, and the Cosmo is one of those classics that’s worth knowing how to make at home. The key is fresh lime juice, sweetened cranberry juice, and a really good shake so it’s ice-cold when it hits the glass.
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Pin ItIf you love pink, fruity cocktails, try my cranberry martini, cranberry Moscow mule, and cranberry margarita too.
Why You’ll Love This Cosmopolitan
Just four ingredients: Vodka, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and orange liqueur.
Ready in 5 minutes: Add everything to a shaker, shake it REALLY well, and strain.
Perfectly sweet-tart: Sweetened cranberry juice balances the fresh lime without making the cocktail overly sour.
That iconic pink color: It’s such a pretty cocktail for girls’ nights, dinner parties, Valentine’s Day, or the holidays.
Easy to make at home: You don’t need any complicated syrups or specialty ingredients.
Cosmopolitan Ingredients
You only need four ingredients to make this Cosmo:
Vodka: Use a good-quality vodka you enjoy. Classic Cosmopolitans are also commonly made with citrus vodka, so you can use that if you want a little more citrus flavor.
Cranberry juice: I use sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, such as Ocean Spray. This is important! Unsweetened 100% cranberry juice is considerably more tart and will change the balance of the drink.
Fresh lime juice: Always squeeze it fresh. It gives the cocktail that bright, tart flavor that balances the cranberry and orange liqueur.
Cointreau: This adds sweetness and orange flavor. Cointreau is my first choice, but another orange liqueur such as Triple Sec will work too.
How to Make a Cosmopolitan
1. Fill the shaker: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 2 ounces vodka, 1 1/2 ounces sweetened cranberry juice, 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice, and 1/2 ounce Cointreau.
2. Shake: Shake vigorously for 20–30 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is really cold.
3. Strain: Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
4. Garnish: Finish with a lime wheel, lime twist, or orange twist and serve immediately.
Eden’s Recipe Tips
Use fresh lime juice. This is one ingredient where fresh really makes a difference. Fresh lime juice gives this cocktail the brightest, freshest flavor.
Use sweetened cranberry juice. This recipe is balanced around cranberry juice cocktail, not tart 100% cranberry juice.
Shake it really well. Give it the full 20–30 seconds. You want the drink very cold before you strain it into the glass.
Chill the glass. Pop your coupe or martini glass in the freezer while you gather your ingredients. I love serving a Cosmo REALLY cold.
Make two at once. Double the ingredients and shake two cocktails together when you’re entertaining.
Dress it up for Christmas. Garnish with cranberries, rosemary, or orange zest. And for an even more festive cranberry cocktail, try my Christmas martini made with cranberry, tangerine, and cinnamon.
Cosmopolitan FAQs
I use sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, such as Ocean Spray. Pure unsweetened cranberry juice is much more tart, so I don’t recommend swapping it 1:1 in this recipe.
Yes. Cointreau is my first choice because I love its orange flavor in a Cosmo, but Triple Sec works too.
Shake it! Add all four ingredients to a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and shake for 20–30 seconds before straining into a chilled glass.
Both contain vodka and cranberry juice, but a Cosmopolitan also has fresh lime juice and orange liqueur and is shaken with ice before being strained into a cocktail glass. A vodka cranberry is a simpler mixed drink that’s typically served over ice.
More Vodka cocktails
If you love a Cosmo, try my Sea Breeze cocktail, another classic made with vodka and cranberry juice, or browse my favorite vodka cocktails.
For something fun for a party, my Jolly Rancher shots are made with apple vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice. They’re fruity, easy, and another great way to use cranberry juice.
If you make this Cosmopolitan cocktail, leave a star rating and comment below. I love hearing what you’re mixing up!
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Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 1/2 ounces cranberry juice, Ocean Spray brand
- 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau, any orange liqueur
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add 2 ounces vodka, 1 1/2 ounces sweetened cranberry juice, 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice, and 1/2 ounce Cointreau.
- Shake vigorously for 20–30 seconds, until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel, lime twist, or orange twist and serve immediately.
Notes
- Cranberry juice: Use sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, such as Ocean Spray. Unsweetened 100% cranberry juice will make the drink much more tart.
- Fresh lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime gives this cocktail the best bright, crisp flavor.
- Orange liqueur: Cointreau is my favorite, but Triple Sec works too.
- Chill it well: Shake vigorously with plenty of ice for 20–30 seconds and strain into a chilled glass.
- Holiday garnish: Add fresh cranberries, rosemary, or an orange twist to make it festive for Christmas
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
just gorgeous and what I’m craving for tonight, perfect Saturday night cocktail, thank you!
This is such a refreshing and yummy drink! This is going to be our go-to-cocktail recipe for sure.
Perfect drink – my sister and I enjoyed a couple over the weekend!
Wow! This was delicious and refreshing, thank you for the easy directions!