Cranberry Cinnamon Water: Recipe & How to Make It

Cranberry cinnamon water is a chilled infusion of cranberries and cinnamon that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to make and yields about 4 cups (950 mL).

What is cranberry cinnamon water?

Cranberry cinnamon water combines water with whole cranberries and a cinnamon stick. The berries add a tart note, while the cinnamon gives the infusion a warm, gently spiced aroma without heating the drink.

It’s a variation on cranberry infused water, with cinnamon adding another layer of flavor. Unlike cranberry juice, the finished drink is strained rather than blended or squeezed, so expect a lighter taste and color.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about four servings, use the following ingredients:

1 liter water (about 4¼ US cups)
150 g fresh or frozen whole cranberries (about 1 US cup)
1 cinnamon stick (approximately 2–3 g)

This ratio uses about a cup of berries and one cinnamon stick per liter of water. A whole stick is easier to remove than ground cinnamon, which can leave sediment in the pitcher.

Use a clean, covered pitcher with enough space for the water and fruit. The exact finished volume will depend on how much water remains with the berries after straining.

How do you make cranberry cinnamon water?

Rinse the cranberries under cool running water and discard any that look spoiled.
Cut the berries in half on a clean cutting board to expose their interiors. For frozen berries, let them soften enough to cut safely.
Add the cranberries and cinnamon stick to a clean pitcher, then pour in the water.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate it for 2–4 hours. The shorter steep gives a lighter flavor; the longer one gives the ingredients more time to infuse.
Strain out the cranberries and cinnamon stick, then serve the water chilled. Keep any remaining drink refrigerated.

Active preparation takes about 10 minutes; the minimum refrigerated steep takes 2 hours. For another combination after making this recipe, try the ai infused water generator.

Why do cranberry and cinnamon pair well?

Cranberries bring a sharp, fruity flavor that balances cinnamon’s sweet-smelling spice. The water itself remains mild: it will not have the concentrated flavor or deep color of cranberry juice.

The main benefit of cranberry cinnamon water is hydration. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste; this drink supports hydration rather than cleansing or removing toxins from the body.

There is no established evidence that this particular infusion treats a health condition. Whole cranberries contain nutrients, but the amounts that transfer into steeped water are uncertain. For a strained infusion that is not blended or squeezed, calories are usually under 10 kcal per glass; eating the fruit adds its calories.

The whole stick also gives the drink a subtler spice flavor than ground cinnamon. If you enjoy that flavor on its own, see cinnamon water. If you take warfarin or have liver disease, ask your clinician about regularly consuming cranberry or cinnamon products.

How should you store cranberry cinnamon water?

Keep the pitcher covered and refrigerated, including while it steeps. Drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor, and discard it after 2–3 days or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or develops an unusual sour smell.

Do not leave the infusion at room temperature for more than a few hours. Use clean utensils when serving, and strain out the ingredients before storage if you prefer the flavor not to deepen further.

How can you vary cranberry cinnamon water?

Use frozen cranberries

Frozen whole cranberries work when fresh ones are unavailable. Soften them just enough to cut safely, then follow the same refrigerated steeping method.

Make the cinnamon flavor lighter

Remove the cinnamon stick after 1 hour, then let the cranberries continue steeping until the drink has spent at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. This keeps the berry flavor prominent without adding another ingredient.

Add a little apple

Add a few thin slices of washed apple to the pitcher for a fruitier flavor. Keep the same refrigeration and storage schedule, and strain the apple out with the other ingredients.