Crown Cran Apple Shooter
The Crown Cran Apple Shooter is two ingredients, five minutes, and the kind of shot that disappears the moment you set it down at a party.
Tart cranberry juice meets apple-flavored Crown Royal in a combination that tastes like fall in a glass and is dangerously drinkable (just like my Irish redhead cocktail) whether you serve it at a holiday gathering, a New Year's Eve party, or just a casual Saturday night with friends.
If you love shots that are easy to batch, beautiful to serve, and crowd-pleasing without being complicated, you've found the right recipe. This shooter pairs naturally alongside other party drinks. Set it up next to a batch of Fruity Pebbles margaritas for a fun drinks spread that covers shots and full cocktails, or turn it into a full fall party lineup for guests who want something non-alcoholic.
The apple garnish is optional, but it's the detail that takes these from a 'quick shot' to 'party-worthy.'
Quick Look: Crown Cran Apple Shooter
- ⏱ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 5 minutes
- 🧉 Serving: 4 shots
- ⚡ Calories: 430 calories per serving
- 🍂 Flavor Profile: Sweet, tart and crisp- like my homemade apple cider mix.
- 👌 Difficulty: Very easy.
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
- You'll need just two ingredients- Crown Royal Apple and cranberry juice. That's it. No syrup, no shaker skills, no bartending experience required.
- It gets ready in just 5 minutes- like my Autumn Harvest hard cider. You can batch these for 20 people in the time it takes to open the bottle.
Recipe Ingredients
- Crown Royal Apple: This apple-flavored Canadian whisky is the backbone of this shot. It has a naturally sweet, crisp apple flavor that pairs beautifully with the tartness of cranberry.
- Cranberry juice: Use a good-quality cranberry juice cocktail - Ocean Spray is the classic choice. 100% cranberry juice is significantly more tart and intense; if that's all you have, dilute it slightly with a splash of apple juice to balance it. color.
- Apple slices: Thin wedges of green or red apple fanned out on a toothpick. This step is optional but worth the extra two minutes. Green apple gives a slightly tart visual contrast; red apple gives a warmer, more festive look.
See the recipe card below for exact quantities.
Recipe Variations, Additions, and Substitutions
- Swap the whisky: Any apple-flavored spirit works in place of the whisky. Smirnoff Green Apple vodka, DeKuyper Apple Pucker schnapps, or Fireball Cinnamon Whisky are all great. Each one changes the flavor profile slightly but keeps the apple-cranberry combination intact.
- Make it sparkling: Top the shot with a small splash of ginger beer or cranberry sparkling water instead of still cranberry juice for a little fizz.
- Rim the glass: Roll the rim of each shot glass in cinnamon sugar before filling for a warm, spiced finish that works beautifully for holiday parties. I also do this when I make my festive Christmas sugar cookie shot.
How to Make Crown Cran Apple Shooter
- Fill a shot glass halfway with Crown Royal Apple.
- Top off with cranberry juice. Garnish with apple slices.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- The best way to batch-make these is to line all your shot glasses up in a row on a tray, pour the Crown Royal down the line first, then the cranberry juice. Takes about 3 minutes for 20 shots.
- Chill everything ahead of time. Cold Crown Royal Apple and cold cranberry juice make for a much better shot than room-temperature ingredients. I always do this when I make my Alabama Slammer and mint Julep.
- Prep the garnish just before serving. Apple slices can start to oxidize and brown within 20-30 minutes of cutting, even with lemon juice. Cut them as close to serving time as possible for the best presentation.
- You can also make a pitcher version by combining Crown Royal Apple and cranberry juice in a 1:1 ratio. Pour everything in a pitcher, refrigerate, and pour into shots as needed.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
The Crown Cran Apple shooter is great to serve at home at any fall or holiday party. Pair them with some Moscow Mule cocktail if you want to have a bit of fun added in.
On the food side, these pair brilliantly with shareable party bites like my taco pretzel bites. I also love whipping up my Slow Cooker sausage cheese dip or my famous Taco charcuterie board, especially when I'm hosting a party.
Recipe FAQs
Yes - combine the Crown Royal Apple and cranberry juice in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Pour into shot glasses just before serving and add the garnish at the last minute. Pre-assembled shots on a tray (without the garnish) can be refrigerated for a few hours before guests arrive.
Pre-mixed shots can sit on a tray in the refrigerator for a few hours. Store the apple garnish separately in an airtight container with a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent browning, and add it just before serving.
More Interesting Drinks
If you tried this Crown Cran apple shooter or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments. I love hearing from you!
Crown Cran Apple Shooter
Ingredients
- 4 oz Crown Royal Apple
- 4 oz Cranberry Juice
- 1 Apple sliced
Instructions
- Fill a shot glass half way with Crown Royal Apple.
- Top off with cranberry juice.
- Create a apple fan with apple slices and a tooth pic.
- Cheers!
Notes
- Chill both the Crown Royal Apple and cranberry juice before serving for the best-tasting shots.
- Add the apple fan garnish just before serving as apple slices start to brown within 20-30 minutes even with lemon juice.
- Adjust the ratio to taste: 50/50 is the sweet spot, but go 60/40 Crown Royal-heavy for a stronger shot or 40/60 for something lighter.
- To turn this into a full cocktail: pour 2 oz Crown Royal Apple into an ice-filled glass and top with cranberry juice.
Nutrition
