10 Perfect Party Snacks to Complement a Vodka Cranberry

The vodka cranberry is a cocktail that looks incredibly simple, but it has a lot more going on inside the glass than what meets the eye. The cranberry juice is tangy, mildly sweet, and just a little bit bitter to round things out. And despite being a relatively neutral base spirit, vodka ends up being the perfect backdrop for that dominant flavor profile. Depending on the type of vodka you use in a vodka cranberry, it can add any number of additional flavors, from vanilla to coconut to citrus. If you’re planning a party and are looking to serve a simple drink with a tantalizing flavor profile, a vodka cran may just be the answer.

As you start the process of planning this vodka cran-stravaganza, you need to think about the snacks. A party without snacks is like a martini without an olive. It’s lobster with no melted butter. It’s popcorn with no salt. It’s … you get it. It’s not great. It’s incomplete. However, there are a variety of snacky options that will go nicely with this cocktail, and we spoke with Broken Shed vodka’s master blender Mark Simmonds, as well as Conrad New York Downtown’s executive sous chef Hugo Saavedra and food and beverage manager Rene Jaquez, for some expert-approved pairings.

From mixed nuts and olives to slightly more elevated finger foods like sliders and souvlaki skewers, the elusive vodka cranberry is the perfect drink to plan a party snack menu around. The following party snacks won’t just pair well with the vodka cran, but elevate and enhance it, too.

“In a vodka cranberry, the cranberry flavor is forward — and cranberries exhibit a bitter, tart astringency,” notes Mark Simmonds, master blender for Broken Shed vodka. “To balance the astringency of the tannins in the cranberry, I’d be looking for fatty, rich flavors.” When it comes to putting together a party snack menu, having a balance of simple snacks and more complex ones is part of the charm of it all. Enter: the bruschetta. It starts with a toasted slice of baguette as the vehicle and can then be topped with just about anything your sweet or savory heart desires. For the purposes of a vodka cranberry pairing, a goat cheese and cranberry bruschetta hits all the right marks. It’s simple and satisfying, while also complementing the cocktail.

Following the rules Simmonds lays out, the tart flavor in the cranberry compote on top is the dominant one, but it’s balanced and complemented by the rich, fatty goat cheese underneath. Perfect as a one- or two-bite treat, a bruschetta with this much flavor and character makes for the ideal party snack.

Baked Brie is like an old friend you haven’t seen in a while. When they come around, you’re filled with all the love and admiration you almost forgot you had for them. Baked Brie is about as simple as it gets when it comes to a party snack — take a wheel of Brie cheese, wrap it in puff pastry, and bake. As a party snack to complement a vodka cranberry, a baked Brie is like a blank canvas, and your paint is the exciting flavors that you can add to make it more than just a simple snack, as our cranberry and rosemary baked Brie recipe proves.

The rich, buttery flavor from the Brie is really the star here, and it pairs wonderfully with the sour cranberry juice. But don’t be afraid to layer on more flavors from there — and consider the vodka when you’re adding. “Cranberry being so dominant, anything we can do to add extra dimension to the taste profile should be a consideration,” Mark Simmonds says. 

Indeed, as Rene Jaquez, food and beverage manager for Conrad New York Downtown, further notes, “Vodka is that personality hire that will get along with anyone they are with.” Jaquez adds, “That being said, vodka really thrives with fruits, such as apples, pears, apricots, grapefruits, mangos, and cranberries.” An apricot jam or a not-too-sweet apple butter spread on top of your baked Brie can add a tart contrast to the buttery cheese, while also balancing that same flavor from the drink. A win-win.

The slider is like that party snack that seems almost too filling to be considered a party appetizer, and yet, it ends up being just a few bites. And just because it’s a slider, that doesn’t mean it has to be a mini hamburger. Throw just about any ingredient combination between two tiny buns, and you’ve got yourself a slider. And hey, have two or three — it’s just a snack! For our purposes, Mark Simmonds says that a rich combination of meat and cheese will serve as a solid complement to a vodka cranberry.

For example, just like with the baked Brie, these ham, Brie, and cranberry sauce sliders are a perfect mix of fatty and tart, making for a nice balance against the vodka cran. The buttery Brie is like an added unctuous layer on top of the rich ham, but the cranberry sauce works as that sour contrast to cut through it all. Again, the cranberry flavor may be the one that stands out the most, but it finds its balance with the rest of the ingredients. It’s giving Thanksgiving in one bite, and we can’t say no to that.

We’ll say it: mini meatballs are the superior party snack. They have everything we want in one single, solitary bite. They’re rich and meaty, and when topped with a flavorful sauce, they’re the perfect snack to soak up all the booze that we are most definitely consuming responsibly. When we think about pairing snacks with a vodka cranberry, we automatically think of ones that we can eat several of without feeling overly stuffed, but that also doesn’t destroy our palate for the drink itself. As both a party snack and a snack in general, cranberry meatballs tick each box with perfection.

Ever wondered why pork chops taste so good with applesauce, or why bourbon candied bacon is so darn delicious? It’s because when you combine sweet and salty flavors in one bite, it’s the definition of balance. Rather than fight each other, these flavors work together to fight off any bitter flavor notes to create a more flavorful, memorable experience. Sauceless meatballs are great, but when they go for a swim in a deeply flavorful cranberry barbecue sauce, they get an extra layer of deep, rich flavor. 

This fatty, meaty, saucy, and tangy combination will allow that vodka cranberry to taste great without being overpowered. And that’s really the goal here.

Vodka cranberry is about as simple as it gets, and yet the flavors within this cocktail can end up being incredibly complex and interesting. So, why not introduce a party snack that can be described the same way?

Enter Mark Simmonds’ suggestion to pair the cocktail with salmon sashimi. On its face, salmon sashimi is very precisely sliced, sushi grade, raw salmon. However, if you take a deeper look, salmon is a rich, luxurious fish that, when gently seasoned with flaky sea salt and a squeeze of lemon, can be transformed from a humble slice of fish to something really extraordinary. It’s this complexity masked as simplicity that makes this such a winning party snack to pair up with the vodka cran. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to show off your impressive salmon slicing skills. Talk about a party trick!

“The combination of citrus, deep berry notes, and sweetness goes well with almost everything,” explains Rene Jaquez. “You can complement the flavors by pairing with acid.” So, let the richness of the salmon pair with the sour cranberry juice, while that squeeze of lemon juice — or even lime and orange, per Simmonds’ recommendation — on top can complement and elevate the vodka while brightening the cranberry. And just like that, you’ve got a party snack that will make your vodka cranberry-drinking guests positively swoon.

Every good party needs a good meat-on-a-stick snack. And in the case of choosing the right meat to go on that stick — and that will also pair well with your vodka cranberry bar offering — a lamb souvlaki skewer is just the ticket. Keeping in mind the advice that the dominant cranberry flavor is best paired with a rich meat, lamb is the ideal option. Unctuous, earthy, and a little gamey, it is a tender protein that also happens to absorb seasoning like a sponge.

For these lamb souvlaki skewers, the seasoning isn’t overpowering, but it does have some power. The lamb is marinated in olive oil, garlic, salt, and oregano, then grilled until it has a good char on the outside. The rich, tender quality of the meat is still intact, and it’s those qualities that pairs so perfectly with the vodka cran, cutting through that astringency for a balance of savory and tart.

Meatballs, skewers, and sliders are undoubtedly the high end of the party snack spectrum, but what if you’re just looking for a simple snack to put out that also complements a vodka cran? Go back to basics and prepare spiced candied nuts. Nut options abound, but if you’re looking to not drive yourself nuts, opt for the humble walnut. Mildly flavored with a little bit of tang, walnuts have a great texture and crunch to them and are even more enjoyable when zhuzhed up with some good spice.

When coming up with a spice mixture to complement the vodka cranberry, Hugo Saavedra, executive sous chef at Conrad New York Downtown, recommends leaning towards warmer flavors. However, he and Mark Simmonds agree that it’s best to avoid anything with too much heat or sweetness, with the latter explaining, “They will only intensify the tannins.” So, think black pepper, nutmeg, garlic, toasted onion, and just a dash of cinnamon. These flavors can add complexity to this snack while also adding some dimension to both the vodka and the cranberry juice in the drink.

If the previously mentioned lamb souvlaki seems like too much effort to put in for a simple party snack, but you like the idea of having lamb somewhere on your menu, perhaps a lamb slider will fit the bill better, as Mark Simmonds suggests. This is like one of those snacks that looks really complicated to put together, but it’s actually fairly simple. And the seasoning is, too — seasoned with garlic, coriander, and mint, the minced lamb ends up taking on these deep flavors and holding them tight, resulting in a tender, mouthwatering patty that tastes like it’s been marinating for hours. Plus, the vodka itself gets a chance to stand out here, with Rene Jaquez noting that vodka shines its brightest when it’s paired with more complex flavors, such as fruity, earthy, spicy, rich, or minty tasting notes.

While this recipe is for full-size burger patties, it’s entirely possible to make the recipe in the same amount and just make smaller, slider-size patties instead. Avoid the urge to put out any spicy condiments to accompany these, as the heat will only end up making the cranberry juice taste more astringent.

Blue cheese of any kind, from the mildest of Gorgonzolas to that stinky, heady, good Stilton, has a bit of an acquired taste. And despite having a fairly polarizing smell and taste, blue cheese does still have the ability to be paired with a variety of flavors. As a party snack ingredient, think of blue cheese as your utility player — your (pepper) jack of all trades. It can add a rich, funky flavor, it can add a creamy texture, and it can complement other ingredients, too. With a vodka cranberry, which has subtle flavors from the vodka, as well as tart, sour notes from the cranberry, introducing an element that can carry the flavors rather than mute them is the best course of action.

In the case of the baked puff pastry with Stilton, the key flavor element is the cheese. The puff pastry is serving as a crispy, flaky vehicle to support the cheese. That funky, salt-forward flavor in the blue cheese cuts through the tart cranberry juice, providing a harmony of sweet, savory, tangy goodness. It’s a match made in cocktail and snack heaven.

A quality olive mix is an underrated party snack. It looks so simple in the bowl, and yet, there’s more to a bowl of olives than what meets the eye. Olives of all shapes and sizes, from kalamata to Castelvetrano and everything in between, have differing flavor profiles, to be sure — but they share one common trait. The oil they’re swimming in all the time makes them incredibly rich, which — when looking for a snack to pair with a vodka cranberry drink, per Rene Jaquez — is a great thing, as it will both complement the cocktail’s flavors while adding dimension.

When creating your citrus marinated olives, be sure to choose a variety of olives that offer different flavors and textures throughout. Variety is the spice of life, and now it’s the key to your next great party snack. Just like with the vodka cran, the olives themselves bring that fatty flavor, but the citrus marinade that you’ll use for this specific party snack is what makes them an even better pairing. Be sure to use the zest and some citrus peel in the mix, letting the acid in the olive mix elevate the flavor of the vodka in the drink. 

It may seem like a one-note party snack. But when done the right way, a bowl of citrus marinated olives can be one of the more impressive items in your spread.