Cranberry Apricot Water: Recipe & How to Make It

Cranberry apricot water is chilled fruit-infused water that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare, including steeping, and yields about 4 cups (950 ml). It’s one of many berry infused water recipes you can make without a blender or juicer.

What is cranberry apricot water?

Cranberry apricot water is plain water steeped with fresh cranberries and sliced apricots. The cranberries add a tart note, while the apricots lend a softer fruit flavor.

The result is lightly flavored water, not fruit juice: the fruit is steeped rather than blended or squeezed. Serve it chilled, with or without the fruit pieces.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For one pitcher, use about 150 g of fruit for 1 liter of water. The cup measurements for fruit are approximate because the size of the pieces affects how they pack.

1 liter water (about 4 1/4 cups)
75 g fresh whole cranberries (about 3/4 cup), to be halved
75 g fresh apricot slices (about 1/2 cup), pits removed

Active prep time: 10 minutes
Refrigerated steeping time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 4 cups (950 ml)

Choose ripe apricots for their aroma and firm cranberries that are free of spoilage. The recipe doesn’t require sugar; taste the finished water before deciding whether you want to sweeten a serving.

How do you make cranberry apricot water?

Rinse the cranberries and apricots under running water, then drain them.
Halve the cranberries. Remove the apricot pits and cut the flesh into slices.
Add the fruit to a clean pitcher and pour in the water. Stir gently to distribute the pieces.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. Taste the water and, if you prefer a stronger flavor, continue steeping for up to 4 hours total.
Strain out the fruit if desired, then pour the water into glasses and serve chilled.

For a different fruit-to-water combination, try the ai infused water generator.

Cutting the cranberries exposes their flesh to the water; leaving them whole will generally give a milder infusion. You can leave the apricot skin on, so there’s no need to peel each slice.

Why do cranberry and apricot pair well?

Cranberries are distinctly tart, whereas ripe apricots have a gentler, sweet-tart flavor. Together, they give the water a fruit-forward taste without making it as concentrated as juice.

You can adjust the balance after tasting: use a little more cranberry for tartness or more apricot for a softer flavor. For comparison, cranberry infused water highlights the berry’s tartness, while apricot infused water puts the milder fruit first.

Whole cranberries and apricots contain vitamin C and fiber, but the amounts that transfer into steeped water are not established. Much of the fiber remains in the fruit, so don’t count the strained water as a significant fiber source.

The main benefit of the drink is hydration. Water supports normal body functions, including those of the liver and kidneys, which do most of the body’s detoxification; it does not flush toxins from the body.

How should you store cranberry apricot water?

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

Use a clean pitcher and pour servings into glasses rather than drinking directly from the pitcher. Don’t leave the water at room temperature for more than a few hours, and refrigerate it promptly after serving.

What variations can you try?

Make it more tart

Replace part of the apricot with an equal weight of cranberries, keeping the total fruit close to 150 g per 1 liter of water. Halve the extra cranberries before steeping them.

Make it softer and fruitier

Replace part of the cranberries with an equal weight of ripe apricot. This shifts the flavor toward apricot without changing the amount of water or the steeping time.

Add a fresh herbal note

Add a few rinsed fresh mint leaves to the pitcher with the fruit. Refrigerate and steep the mixture as directed, then strain out the mint along with the fruit if you prefer.