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Minted Cranberry-Lime Sparkletinis

3.8

(3)

Editor's note: This recipe was created by Erika Lenkert, author of the book, The Last-Minute Party Girl: Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining. For Lenkert's tips on throwing a last-minute New Year's Eve party, click here.

I adore this cocktail recipe because it's refreshing, pretty, and has subtly mint and cucumber flavors that will keep everyone guessing at exactly what's in it. You can dress it up for an evening fete by straining it and serving it up with edible gold or silver flecks as it is done here, or dress it down by throwing everything — mint, cucumber slices, and all — into a serving pitcher. Best of all, you can skip squeezing limes all day by using limeade concentrate. Shhhh. It'll be our secret.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 8 martinis

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, mottled
1/3 cup limeade concentrate
1/4 cup cranberry juice
1 cup vodka
1 cucumber, peeled and sliced into wheels
1 1/2 cup carbonated water
Gold or silver fleck (optional; available from goldleafcompany.com)

Preparation

  1. In a pitcher combine the mint leaves, limeade concentrate, cranberry juice, and vodka and stir until combined; add the cucumbers and chill well, for at least 2 hours. Before service, strain out the mint leaves and cucumber, add the carbonated water and gold or silver fleck, stir gently and pour into martini glasses.

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