I clipped the original version of this recipe out of the newspaper so many years ago that the newsprint has become blurred and unreadable. But the taste has stayed with me. I included the recipe for this fun and festive holiday cocktail in Blue Christmas, one of the four books in my Savannah series, and I continue to serve it every Christmas when my book club gathers at my house for our holiday party.
¼ cup sugar
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
2 cups vodka
1 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
1 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
4 cups ginger ale
Orange slices for garnish (optional)
Fresh cranberries for garnish (optional)
1. Bring the sugar and ½ cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cook until the sugar dissolves.
2. Transfer the sugar syrup to a large freezer-safe container or baking dish. Stir in the cranberry juice, vodka, lemonade concentrate, orange juice concentrate, and 4 cups water.
3. Freeze for 5 to 6 hours, stirring the mixture occasionally to break up large ice crystals. To serve, spoon the slush into 6 to 8 ice-filled glasses, top with the ginger ale, and garnish with the orange slices and cranberries, if desired.