Christmas Spa Water

Christmas Spa Water is the most festive way to keep your holiday guests hydrated. Fill a pitcher with cranberries, rosemary, heaps of ice and a hint of lemon. 

The holidays are all about impressions: The prettiest lights, the tastiest appetizers, the sparkliest outfit!

I am here for all of it. 

To me, that’s one of the most fun parts of the holiday season — the widespread permission to go all out. 

Now, I don’t need permission the rest of the year, but there’s something about the holiday over-the-top-ness that I just adore. 

If you’re hosting a holiday party this year, you probably have already thought about the ways to impress your guests. 

Could be your dazzling decorations, some darling drink stirrers, a designer dress… 

But have you given any thought to the water? 

Yes, the water. What will your non-drinkers drink? I’m talking about the designated drivers, the pregnant friend, the one who just “doesn’t like wine.” 

Enter this Christmas Spa Water. 

It’s certainly a statement piece for your holiday table, and everyone will be so impressed.

I made this over Thanksgiving weekend, on a total whim.

As I was grabbing something from the fridge the day after Thanksgiving, I spied the previous day’s bottle of wine and realized our guests for a Lunch of Leftovers probably wouldn’t imbibe this early in the day. 

I also spied my extra cranberries, a lemon and rosemary, and I knew I had a winner. I tossed them all into a pitcher, and voila — Holiday Spa Water.

A super simple but oh-so-fancy hydration station. It’s so similar to my Winter Citrus Spa Water, but even easier! 

Let me tell you how simple it is. 

How to make Christmas Spa Water

First, pick out your pitcher. This is very important, because cranberries like to float above ice and once you pour your Christmas Spa Water out into another container, you will lose all artistic control. 

Put the cranberries in first. All of them. Add a squeeze of lemon juice. I recommend a whole lemon’s worth, but it’s up to you! 

Then fill your pitcher with ice. All the way to the top is fine. It’s going to melt eventually anyway!

Add your water next. Then give the ice a few gentle pokes and stirs with the end of a wooden spoon to wiggle the cranberries in. 

Like I said, cranberries prefer to be up top, so emphasis on the gentle or you won’t have that just-mixed-in look. 

Pop in a few sprigs of rosemary and you are all set! Place that puppy on the drinks table and your guests are ready to hydrate with some infused water. 

What does Christmas Spa Water taste like?

Honestly, just like water. With a hint of lemon and rosemary. The longer the water infuses, the stronger it will taste. 

The cranberries don’t really give off a ton of flavor or color, but they sure do have that festive holiday look. 

The lemon juice adds the most flavor of all, so be generous if you want your Christmas Spa Water to have a bit more flavor. 

I just know your guests are going to ooh and ahh over this.

I mean, it’s just water.

But why can’t the water pitcher be just as festive as your punch bowl?! I challenge you to make it so. //susannah