Red Raspberry Cordial Recipe

Hi there ladies, it's a beautiful morning here at the Shabby Chateau!  We are getting one last taste of summer here in Michigan, with temps in the 70's!  The leaves are showing more color, and it's just beautiful!  I need to get out and do some clean up today of my flower beds while the weather is still nice, but first, the important stuff:  blogging!

Yesterday while I was working, hubby went and picked 2 quarts of red raspberries.  Yum!  I would've much rather pick berries than work any day!!  So this morning, I used one of the quarts to make a cordial, and I wanted to share the recipe with you.  It is super easy to make, and makes great Christmas gifts!  (yes, I am already beginning to think of the holidays!).

Anyhow, this is all you need!  (Actually you will need only 1 of the quarts of berries.)

2 cups sugar
2 cups vodka
4 cups fresh red raspberries 
Note that I have also made this with blackberries, and with fresh cranberries, too.
You will need a large glass container with a tight fitting lid.  Here you will see my extra large vintage blue glass canning jar.  Don't you love it?!  I picked it up at a garage sale a few years ago, for just a few dollars I think.  I would love to find some more this size.  I already have quite a few of the quart sized blue jars, but for some reason I never seem to find the really big ones.

All you need to do is place the sugar in the jar, then the vodka and either stir or put the lid on and shake it up.

Then you just add your berries.  4 cups equals about 1 quart of berries.

I am loving the red berries in the blue glass!  Then you just either gently stir, or put the lid on tightly and gently shake a bit.

Oh, a little secret for getting your ingredients in the jar, rather than all over your counter: I used this little funnel "thingy" from my canning supplies.
Store in a cool place, and then shake gently every day for 2 weeks.  After a few days, you will see that the sugar, which settles on the bottom, has now started to dissolve.
After 2 weeks, strain the mixture thru a fine sieve, pressing the berries with a wooden spoon to extract all of the liquid.  Then you just pour into jars, that's it, easy peasy!  The cordial can be kept indefinitely in a cool place.

I like to save cute little bottle like these.

The cordial looks so pretty once bottled.  I like to decorate the bottles by making cute tags, and adding bows, and a bit of Christmas greenery when I give these as gifts.
Now, I don't want to give the impression that I am a "lush"!  I am not really into hard liquor (ok, except for pina coladas while on vacation, and strawberry margarita's when we eat Mexican!). Anyway, I do like to serve this at the holidays in little tiny glasses, served ice cold!
One more things, when I made the cordial with cranberries (you first need to roughly chop them by pulsing in the food processor), I saved the berries and used them in cranberry walnut bread, and it was delicious!  (you know how I hate wasting anything!).  I was afraid that the cranberries might make the bread taste too "boozy", but they didn't!  I supposed you could save the raspberries, too and make a sauce for ice cream or pound cake.

Let me know what you think if you try the recipe!  Oh, if you don't have one large jar to make it in, you can always use two smaller ones.  I'll be sure to show you photos of the cordial once I have it all bottled and "prettied up"!
I have linked up with Henrietta's House for a fun Happy Hour Party!