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The perfect cocktail to start off your holiday dinner or party, Cranberry Caipirinha is a sweet and tart drink that you simply can’t resist. #CranberryWeek

When I was in high school, my mother be-friended someone who worked with the doctor she was working for at the time.  Of course, it doesn’t hurt that my mother is a total extrovert and talks to EVERYONE.  I mean E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E!  I have no idea how I turned out so introverted.  Guess I’m more like my father…

Anyway.

So, she befriended this doctor that worked with her doctor.  This doctor was from Portugal.  She and her husband were so much fun!  We went to their house and that was the first time I had bacalhau.  I am dying to try to recreate this recipe, but the salted cod isn’t popular in this area.

They introduced us to the deliciousness that is a caipirinha.  If you haven’t had a caipirinha order one next time you’re out.  Some bars don’t always know what they are, but if they do, give it a try.  It’s limes muddle with simple syrup topped with cachaça and either water or seltzer water.  That last depends on the bartender making it.

I know.  You’re like, “Cacha what?”  Cachaça .  It’s a liquor made from sugar cane.  No, it’s not as sweet as you’d think it would be.  In fact, it’s not sweet at all.  It tastes like rum, but not exactly.  It’s a little sharper than your regular rum.  Combine three parts rum with one part moonshine?  Maybe that’s more along the lines of the bite that cachaça has.

Of course, it could be the simple fact that I have one may be two brands available to me.  They could be the worst ones out there and I just don’t know that.  I only know that this drink tastes like limeade but packs a powerful punch if you don’t watch out.

I’ve made many versions of this drink, but I’ve only published one.  And that was a Caipirinha Colada for my friend’s birthday.  That was such a delicious drink!  It’s a caipirinha mashed up with a pina colada.  The sweet coconut, the cachaça; it was so good!  I should make those again.

But this post isn’t about that recipe.  This post is about these Cranberry Caipirinhas and the fact that I went on a tangent with my little story here.  The doctor and her husband took us to a Brazilian restaurant in DC one night.

There was food, there was drinking, and there was dancing.  There’s a photo of my father on the dance floor with a pink, feather boa around his neck.  See what I mean when I say you need to watch out?  You could be having dinner one night and then next thing you know a photo of you with a pink feather boa will go viral on Instagram or Facebook.

I love the color of these cranberry caipirinhas.  The cranberry simple syrup has a delicious sweet tart flavor that’s perfect for the holiday season.  Muddling a few frozen cranberries that have been thawed adds to that flavor.

Why the frozen thawed cranberries?  Well, fresh cranberries are sort of…crunchy?  The thawed ones are definitely soft enough to muddle easily and not make your drink extra crunchy.  They also add another level of cranberry flavor in these delicious drinks!  You can easily make a large batch of the simple syrup and have these ready for your drinks as they arrive to your holiday dinner or party.

Have you ever had a caipirinha?  Do you know what cachaça is?

Make sure you see what other cranberry recipes my fellow bloggers are sharing today for #CranberryWeek.

Welcome to #CranberryWeek, hosted by Caroline’s Cooking and A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures. We’ll be sharing cranberry-inspired creations all week long in celebration of national cranberry day. Search #CranberryWeek to keep up to date and follow the #CranberryWeek Pinterest board for more cranberry inspiration.

But first, see all the other cranberry recipes we’re sharing today:

• Baked Pork Chops with Cranberry Thyme Sauce from Hostess At Heart
• Cranberry Caipirinha from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Cranberry-Sage Breakfast Sausage from Palatable Pastime
• Pumpkin Cranberry Bread from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks