Cherry Cranberry Water: Recipe & How to Make It

Cherry cranberry water is water infused with cherries and cranberries; it takes 2 hours 10 minutes total and makes about 4 cups (950 mL).

To explore another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is cherry cranberry water?

Cherry cranberry water is a chilled fruit-infused water with a gently fruity flavor and a tart finish. The fruit steeps in the water rather than being blended into it, so the finished drink is lighter than juice.

This recipe combines the two fruits in one pitcher without added sweetener. For more combinations, browse these berry infused water recipes.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 4 servings, gather:

Water: 950 mL (4 cups)
Sour cherries: 75 g (1/2 cup), pitted and halved
Fresh cranberries: 50 g (1/2 cup), halved

The ratio is about 1 cup of prepared fruit to 4 cups of water. It gives the water a subtle flavor; for a stronger result, use the longer steeping time rather than expecting the intensity of juice.

Use fresh fruit or unsweetened frozen fruit. If using frozen cherries, choose pitted ones. The fruit measurements are approximate because the size of individual cherries and cranberries varies.

How do you make cherry cranberry water?

Active prep: 10 minutes
Refrigerator steep: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 4 cups (950 mL)

Wash the fresh cherries and cranberries under running water. Remove any stems and discard damaged fruit.
Pit the cherries, then halve them and the cranberries. Cutting the fruit exposes more of its surface to the water.
Add the prepared fruit to a clean pitcher and pour in the 950 mL (4 cups) of water. Stir gently.
Refrigerate the pitcher for 2 hours. For a stronger flavor, leave it in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours.
Strain the fruit if you prefer a clear drink, then pour the water into glasses. Keep any remaining water refrigerated.

The color and flavor will vary with the fruit. If the first glass tastes too subtle, let the rest steep longer within the recommended window. You can also leave the fruit in the pitcher while serving, provided it stays chilled.

Why do cherries and cranberries pair well?

Cherries bring a rounded fruit flavor, while cranberries add a sharper, tangy note. Sour cherries keep the combination particularly tart; sweet cherries make a softer-tasting variation.

For a single-fruit approach, see cherry infused water or cranberry infused water.

The main benefit of cherry cranberry water is hydration. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste; this drink does not replace those processes.

Whole cherries and cranberries contain nutrients, including vitamin C, but the amount that transfers into steeped water is unknown. Eating the fruit adds its nutrients and calories; steeping alone is not equivalent to eating the whole fruit.

How should you store cherry cranberry water?

Keep cherry cranberry water refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Do not leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than a few hours. If you plan to eat the infused fruit, keep it refrigerated too, and check that all cherry pits have been removed.

How can you vary cherry cranberry water?

Change the fruit balance

For a rounder flavor, use more cherries and fewer cranberries while keeping the total amount of fruit close to 1 cup. Reverse the balance for a sharper cranberry taste.

Try sweet cherries

Replace the sour cherries with the same amount of pitted sweet cherries. The water will taste less tart, although it will still be much lighter than a sweetened fruit drink.

Use frozen fruit

Unsweetened frozen cherries and cranberries can stand in for fresh fruit. Add them to the pitcher and refrigerate as directed; the final color may differ from a batch made with fresh fruit.