Cranberry Apple Water: Recipe and How to Make It

Cranberry apple water is chilled water infused with fresh cranberries and apple; it takes 2 hours and 10 minutes and makes about 4 cups.

For another combination based on the same method, try the AI infused water generator.

What is cranberry apple water?

Cranberry apple water is a lightly flavored infusion, not a blended fruit drink or a juice. The fruit rests in water in the refrigerator, then can be strained out before serving.

The cranberries bring tartness, while the apple gives the water a mild fruit flavor. It is one of many simple berry infused water recipes you can make without added sugar.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For one pitcher, use about 150 g of fruit for approximately 1 liter of water. This combination balances the sharper cranberries with a larger portion of apple.

Ingredients

960 ml water, about 4 cups
100 g chopped apple, about 3/4 cup
50 g fresh cranberries, about 1/2 cup

Choose an apple you enjoy eating: a sweeter apple softens the cranberry's tartness, while a tart apple makes the drink brighter. You can leave the apple skin on after washing it.

The measurements are flexible, but using much more fruit will make the flavor stronger. Because the fruit is steeped rather than blended or squeezed, its full calories and fiber do not transfer into the water.

How do you make cranberry apple water?

Prep time: 10 minutes
Refrigerator steeping time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 4 cups

Wash the apple and cranberries under running water, and use a clean knife, cutting board, and pitcher.
Core the apple and chop 100 g, or about 3/4 cup, into small pieces. Discard the core and seeds.
Cut the cranberries in half, or gently press them with the back of a spoon to expose their interiors.
Add the prepared fruit and 960 ml, or about 4 cups, of water to the pitcher.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate it for 2 hours. For a stronger infusion, leave it in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours.
Strain out the fruit if you prefer a clear drink, then serve the cranberry apple water chilled.

Taste the water after the initial steep. If you want a milder drink, strain it then; if you prefer more fruit flavor, give it the longer steep. Keep the pitcher refrigerated either way.

Why do cranberries and apple work well together?

Cranberries have a distinctive tart flavor that can taste sharp on its own. Apple rounds it out with a gentler sweetness, although the finished water will be less sweet and less intense than juice. Compare the flavors in cranberry infused water and apple infused water.

The main practical benefit of cranberry apple water is hydration: its fruit flavor may make plain water more appealing. Steeped water is generally very low in calories, but the exact amount depends on the fruit and preparation. Eating or squeezing the fruit adds more of its calories.

The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; a fruit infusion does not remove toxins for them. We found no evidence that this particular drink prevents or treats a health condition.

How should you store cranberry apple water?

Keep cranberry apple water covered and refrigerated, and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard it after 2 days, or sooner if it becomes unusually cloudy, slimy, or sour-smelling. Unsafe food and drink do not always look or smell spoiled, so don't rely on appearance alone.

Do not leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you strain out the fruit, continue to refrigerate the water and use the same storage limit, counting from when you prepared it.

How can you vary cranberry apple water?

Change the apple

Use a sweeter apple for a softer flavor or a tart apple for a sharper one. Keep the same amount of fruit and the same refrigerator steeping time.

Add cinnamon

Add 1 cinnamon stick to the pitcher before refrigerating. Its warm flavor pairs with both fruits; remove the stick when you strain the infusion.

Make it sparkling

Strain the chilled infusion, then top each serving with unsweetened sparkling water. Add it just before drinking to preserve the bubbles, and expect a lighter fruit flavor.

Adjust the fruit balance

Use a little more cranberry and less apple for a tarter pitcher, or reverse the balance for a milder one. Keep the total fruit amount close to 150 g so the water remains a light infusion.