Cranberry Rosemary Water: Recipe and How to Make It

Cranberry rosemary water is a chilled infusion of cranberries and fresh rosemary that takes 2 hours 10 minutes, including steeping, and makes about 4 cups (1 L).

What is cranberry rosemary water?

Cranberry rosemary water is plain water flavored with cut cranberries and rosemary sprigs. It’s a savory, herbal variation of cranberry infused water, with a gently tart fruit flavor rather than the sweetness of cranberry juice.

The fruit and herb are steeped in cold water, then strained out if you prefer. The finished drink is unsweetened and is generally much milder than a blended fruit drink.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 4 servings, gather:

Water: 1 L (about 4¼ US cups), cold
Fresh cranberries: 150 g (about 1 cup), roughly chopped
Fresh rosemary: 2 sprigs, about 5 g (roughly ⅛ cup, loosely packed)

This ratio gives the berries room to infuse without making the rosemary overpowering. The cup measures are approximate, especially for the irregularly shaped rosemary sprigs; use the weights if you have a kitchen scale.

Choose firm cranberries and fresh, fragrant rosemary. A clean pitcher with a lid is useful for steeping and storing the water, while a strainer makes the finished drink easier to pour.

How do you make cranberry rosemary water?

Prep time: 10 minutes
Chill time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 4 cups (1 L)

Rinse the cranberries and rosemary under running water.
Chop the cranberries roughly to expose their cut surfaces. Leave the rosemary on its sprigs so it is easy to remove.
Add the cranberries and rosemary to a clean pitcher, then pour in the cold water.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. For a fuller flavor, steep for up to 4 hours.
Taste the water, then strain out the cranberries and rosemary if you like. Serve chilled.

For help adjusting ingredients in another batch, try the ai infused water generator.

Taste before adding anything else: the water should be lightly flavored, not as concentrated as juice. If the rosemary is strong enough for you before the berries have finished steeping, remove the sprigs and return the pitcher to the refrigerator.

Why do cranberry and rosemary pair well?

Cranberries bring a sharp, fruity note, while rosemary adds a pine-like herbal aroma. Together, they make a refreshing water that is less sweet-tasting than many fruit infusions. If you enjoy the herb’s flavor, rosemary water uses it on its own.

The main benefit of cranberry rosemary water is hydration. There is no established evidence that this particular infusion prevents or treats urinary tract infections or provides a special detox effect.

The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste. Steeping fruit and herbs does not mean all their nutrients transfer into the water, so the drink should not be treated as equivalent to eating the ingredients.

How should you store cranberry rosemary water?

Keep cranberry rosemary water covered and refrigerated from the time you make it. Drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor; discard it after 2 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. Removing the fruit and rosemary after steeping can help keep the flavor from becoming stronger than you want, but it does not extend the recommended storage time.

How can you vary cranberry rosemary water?

For a milder herbal flavor, use one rosemary sprig instead of two. You can also remove the rosemary as soon as its flavor suits you and let the cranberries continue to steep in the refrigerator.

For a fruitier version, press some of the chopped cranberries gently before adding the water. This can release more flavor and make the drink cloudier; pressing or eating the fruit also adds more of its calories than steeping alone.

Frozen, unsweetened cranberries can stand in for fresh ones. Thaw them before chopping so their flavor can infuse into the water.