These DIY Cocktail Infusion Kits are the perfect easy homemade holiday gift! They're also super affordable and easy to customize with different add-ins and liquors. We included 3 different options below: Spiced Orange Bourbon, Pineapple Jalapeño Tequila and Cranberry Citrus Vodka.
Every year around the holidays, I see these cocktail kits at local stores (and even some big box stores, too!). As cute as they are, I'm always a bit surprised at the price tag – they usually run around $25+ for a basic glass jar filled with some dried fruit and spices.
This year, we thought why not DIY them? As it turns out, it's super easy to do AND it's significantly more affordable!
These DIY cocktail kits are a thoughtful, crowd-pleasing gift for just about anyone in your life, including family, friends, coworkers, hosts/hostesses, teachers and more!
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Why We Love This Recipe
- Affordable: Those store-bought cocktail kits are not cheap! 😅 It's far less expensive to make these on your own, especially if you have a few mason jars laying around. All you need is some fruit, a few spices and a little bit of patience!
- Excellent holiday gift for anyone on your list: truly...who wouldn't want to receive one of these?! They're adorable, useful and extra thoughtful when you DIY.
- Versatile: You can use this basic tutorial as a starting point for so many different flavor combinations! We've included a few more flavor ideas in the notes section below.
- Easy: Although you'll need a bit of time to dry the fruit, these DIY cocktail kits are mostly hands off. If you make a big batch, you can easily assemble 10+ of these in less than an hour!
Equipment
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Here are a few helpful tools to make these DIY cocktail kits an absolute breeze to assemble:
- Jars: No need to get fancy here! We use these basic 16oz wide mouth mason jars with lids.
- Tags/labels: You can use just about any tags for these jars! I cut some tags out on thick paper, cut a hole punch, and used kitchen twine to affix it to the jar, along with an extra dried orange slice. You can also design and print your own tags on a website like Canva.
- This red and white twine is extra festive for the holidays!
- Countertop oven: This is the oven we use in all of our videos and we absolutely love it. It's especially great for drying/dehydrating since the temperature can go super low. We also use it as an air fryer! We use it almost every day – it heats up so much faster than our regular oven, so it's great to have on hand when you're short on time.
- Mandoline: This mandoline will help you slice the fruit into perfectly even-sized slices! We use ours several times a week. It's also great for salads, gratins, pickled vegetables, homemade chips and more.
Ingredient Notes
- Fruit: You can use so many different types of fruit in these DIY cocktail infusion kits. We take fresh fruit, slice it thinly, and dry it overnight at the lowest heat possible in our oven. The easiest options are any kind of citrus (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc), pineapple, apple and cranberries.
- You can also use store-bought dried fruit, like cranberries, cherries, apricots, figs, raisins and more.
- It's important to slice all fruit to an even thickness: about ⅛ inch works best. You can use a mandoline to keep the slices even.
- Spices: Whole spices are best here, including cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom, star anise, dried or crystallized ginger, etc. Vanilla beans are also a fantastic addition (although a bit more expensive).
- Sugar: Sugar is technically optional, but we like to add just a little bit to each infusion. For the spiced orange, we use candied ginger, which is a source of sugar. For the other two infusions, we just add in 1 tablespoon of sugar. We like using turbinado sugar, but any kind will do.
- Herbs & vegetables: Think dried jalapeño, dried herb sprigs like rosemary or thyme, etc. We add these in with the fruit to dry in the oven overnight!
Step-by-step Instructions
PREP: Preheat oven to the lowest temperature – we did 170˚F (75˚C). Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
STEP 1: Prepare all of the fruit. We recommend drying out extra than what's listed above so you have back ups in case anything burns. Make sure to slice everything to the same thickness (about ⅛-inch), otherwise they will not dry at an even rate. Place all of the fruit on the sheet pans, grouping it by type (some fruits will take longer than others).
STEP 2: Place in the oven. The rosemary will take 1-2 hours, the limes and cranberries will take 3-4 hours, the oranges will take 4-6 hours, and the pineapples and jalapeño will take 6-8 hours. The fruits are done when they are completely dry to the touch on both sides. They may still be slightly pliable when you remove from the oven, but will harden as they cool.
STEP 3: Assemble the jars! Simply add all ingredients to a glass mason jar, screw on the lid and add a label. Write on the label, instructing the user to fill the jar with the alcohol of their choice and infuse for 1-3 days before straining.
More flavor combinations to try
- Tropical Rum: Dried pineapple, dried mango, dried papaya, coconut flakes and sugar.
- Chocolate Espresso Martini: Cacao nibs, coffee beans, 1-2 dried orange peels, vanilla bean.
- Spiced Apple Whiskey: Dried apples, dried orange, cinnamon, dried or crystallized ginger, whole cloves, whole cardamom, brown sugar.
- Sangria Infusion (for red or white wine): Dried apple, orange, strawberry, peach, lemon and sugar.
- Chocolate Orange Bourbon: Dried oranges, cacao nibs, sugar.
- Fruitcake Brandy: Raisins or dried cherries, dried oranges, candied pineapple, dates, pecans, cinnamon stick, whole spices, sugar.
Tips and FAQs
- Start drying the fruit the night/day before: Although this recipe is super easy and mostly hands off, you will need at least 4-6 hours for the fruit to dry out in the oven, so make sure to give yourself enough time.
- Nonalcoholic/mocktail version: If you want to gift these to someone who doesn't drink alcohol, they can actually use it as a DIY tea kit! Simply instruct them to pour in hot water and steep for several minutes before straining. You can also use a nonalcoholic spirit – we love these ones.
Here's how long it takes for us to dry out these common fruits at 170˚F. Note that every oven is different, so it's best to start checking after 2 hours. Flip the citrus halfway through if needed. If your oven only goes down to 200˚F, these times will be 1-2 hours shorter.
Rosemary (or other herbs): 1-2 hours (more delicate herbs may be shorter)
Oranges (any variety): 4-6 hours
Lemons and limes: 3-4 hours
Cranberries: 3-4 hours
Pineapple slices: 6-8 hours
Jalapeño halves: 6-8 hours (shorter if you slice into rounds)
Apples: 3-4 hours
Grapefruit: 5-7 hours
It should be dry to the touch on both sides. The fruit may still feel a little pliable right when you remove it from the oven, but will harden up as it cools.
When you give these as a gift, the user can add alcohol to the kit and infuse anywhere from 1-5 days before straining and enjoying. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor.
These kits will last for 1 year in a cool, dark place. If stored in 80˚F, they will last 6 months.
Related Recipes
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DIY Cocktail Kits
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 3 16 oz jars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These DIY Cocktail Infusion Kits are the perfect easy homemade holiday gift! They're also super affordable and easy to customize with different add-ins and liquors.
Ingredients
Spiced Orange Bourbon Kit:
- 5-6 navel or cara cara orange slices, sliced into ⅛-inch rounds
- 3 1-inch pieces crystallized (candied) ginger
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2-3 whole cloves
- 1 cardamom pod (optional)
- 1 star anise pod (optional)
Pineapple Jalapeño Tequila Kit:
- 6 pineapple slices, cut into ⅛-inch rounds (or use store-bought dried pineapple)
- 1 small jalapeño, halved lengthwise (remove seeds for less spicy option)
- 4 lime slices, cut into ⅛-inch rounds
- 1 tablespoon sugar (we used turbinado) or 3 small sugar cubes
Cranberry Citrus Vodka:
- ½ cup fresh cranberries, halved
- 4-5 slices blood orange, cut into ⅛-inch rounds
- 4-5 slices tangerine, cut into ⅛-inch rounds
- 1 sprig dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon sugar (we used turbinado) or 3 small sugar cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to the lowest temperature* – we did 170˚F (75˚C). Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Prepare all of the fruit. We recommend drying out extra than what's listed above so you have back ups in case anything burns. Make sure to slice everything to the same thickness (about ⅛-inch), otherwise they will not dry at an even rate. Place all of the fruit on the sheet pans, grouping it by type (some fruits will take longer than others).
- Place in the oven. The rosemary will take 1-2 hours, the limes and cranberries will take 3-4 hours, the oranges will take 4-6 hours, and the pineapples and jalapeño will take 6-8 hours**. The fruits are done when they are completely dry to the touch on both sides. They may still be slightly pliable when you remove from the oven, but will harden as they cool.
- Assemble the jars! Simply add all ingredients to a glass mason jar, screw on the lid and add a label. Write on the label, instructing the user to fill the jar with the alcohol of their choice and infuse for 1-3 days before straining.
Notes
*If your oven only goes down to 200˚F, subtract 1-2 hours from the times listed in the instructions. Make sure to check them often, as there is a chance they will burn. Flip them every 30-60 minutes to prevent burning.
**Note that every oven is different, and these times may be shorter or longer than listed based on your oven. We recommend that you start to check each ingredient early and often to prevent burning. If needed, flip the fruit every hour or so to prevent burning.
Shelf life: These DIY cocktail kits will last for 1 year in a cool, dark place. If stored in 80˚F, they will last 6 months.
Find more flavor combination ideas in the blog post above!
Equipment used is listed in the "equipment" section of this blog post.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It may vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 jar (without alcohol)
- Calories: 117
- Sugar: 24.5 g
- Sodium: 1.5 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 30.2 g
- Fiber: 3.1 g
- Protein: 1.3 g
Tammra Benton says
I want to make the Espresso Martini Kit for friends for Easter. I need to know how much of each ingredient to use. Thanks
Lexi says
Chocolate espresso: 1/4 cup lightly crushed espresso beans, 2-4 tbsp cacao nibs, 1 tbsp sugar. Optional other ingredients would be 1 cinnamon stick and a vanilla bean cut in half. You can recommend infusing with vodka, bourbon or rum.
Tammra Benton says
Thanks so much, I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
Rochelle says
Made these and every single one of our friends LOVED IT! It was so simple to make, we’re definitely doing it again!
Alicia says
This is such a great Christmas gift idea! I am making them for coworkers. How much alcohol do you tell them to add?
Thanks!
Lexi says
Thank you! It depends on the size of the jar. We used 16 oz jars, so just fill to the top.
Mary says
Do you happen to know the drying times and temperature for a dehydrator for each of the ingredients?
Lexi says
I do not unfortunately - I only tested it in the oven!
Cori says
Could you go into more detail with the other suggested combinations? They look great but I'm not sure on quantity of ingredients and, for the martini, what type of liquor to use.
Lexi says
Hi Cori, I haven't tested anything so I'm not 100% sure if these will work but here are my ideas:
Chocolate espresso: 1/4 cup lightly crushed espresso beans, 2-4 tbsp cacao nibs, 1 tbsp sugar. Optional other ingredients would be 1 cinnamon stick and a vanilla bean cut in half. You can recommend infusing with vodka, bourbon or rum.
Sangria: A few orange slices, a few lemon slices, a few dehydrated apple slices, ~2 tbsp dried cherries or cranberries, 1 tbsp sugar. Optional: cinnamon stick.
Tropical rum: ~4 dried pineapple slices, ~4 dried mango slices, 2-3 papaya slices, 2 tbsp coconut flakes, 1 tbsp sugar. Recommend with any kind of rum.
Spiced apple whiskey: 5-6 dried apple slices, 2-3 dried orange, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 crystallized ginger pieces, 2 cloves, 1 cardamom, 1 tbsp brown sugar.
Chocolate orange bourbon: 6 dried orange slices, 1/4 cup cacao nibs, 1-2 tbsp sugar
Fruitcake brandy - we actually just posted a recipe for this on our Instagram a few days ago!
Jane says
This might be a dumb question but you don’t dry the spices and herbs do you? Like the cloves, cinnamon, pods? Just the fruit and & rosemary
(I’m making vodka and bourbon ones!)
Lexi says
Correct! No need to dry the spices.
Alicia says
Do you have recipes for the Chocolate Espresso Martini or the Sangria? Not sure how mush of each to add to the jar, but really want to make them.
Lexi says
Hi Alicia, so sorry but I do not!
Alicia says
Oh bummer. But, thanks for letting me know. I have the stuff, but not sure how much to do.
Lexi says
If I had to guess, here's what I would do (I just didn't test them so I'm not 100% sure how they will turn out!!)
Chocolate espresso: 1/4 cup lightly crushed espresso beans, 2-4 tbsp cacao nibs, 1 tbsp sugar. Optional other ingredients would be 1 cinnamon stick and a vanilla bean cut in half. You can recommend infusing with vodka, bourbon or rum.
Sangria: A few orange slices, a few lemon slices, a few dehydrated apple slices, ~2 tbsp dried cherries or cranberries, 1 tbsp sugar. Optional: cinnamon stick.
I hope that helps, lmk if you have any questions!
Alicia says
Thank you! I will give it a go.
Carol says
Do you just drink these or do you use them in cocktails?
Lexi says
They can be enjoyed plain or added to just about any cocktail!
Betsy Wyatt says
I'm in the process of making these wonderful kits right now! I can't wait to see how they turn out! I'm thrilled at the whole idea! I'm looking now for recipes to use with the infusions. Thank you so much for the idea to create such a creative and special gift!
Lexi says
So glad to hear that! Enjoy!
Jessy says
How long will the alcohol keep after infused? Or is it best to use it straight away?
Lexi says
It should be infused for a few days, and then after straining it should last indefinitely!
Bree says
Hi there, how much alcohol should be added? Do you fill the jar to the top? Currently drying my fruit and can’t wait to try!
Lexi says
Hi! Just add alcohol all the way to the top of the jar. Hope you enjoy!
Rochelle says
I am loving everything about this!! Do you have any suggestions for a gin kit?
Thanks for the great idea!!
Lexi says
Hi! For gin, I might do something like mint, ginger, lime and sugar, or something with grapefruit!
Michelle says
Once the recipient infuses the alcohol and strains it, are they supposed to just drink it straight? Do you have drink recipes for the actual cocktail once it’s infused?
Lexi says
They can drink it straight or add it to cocktails! Here are a few suggestions:
Bourbon: https://www.crowdedkitchen.com/cranberry-orange-whiskey-cocktail/
Tequila: https://www.crowdedkitchen.com/pineapple-coconut-margarita/
Vodka: https://www.crowdedkitchen.com/cranberry-moscow-mule
Kallah says
Hi, Can I dry everything in my food dehydrator instead of the oven or air fryer?
Brent Harrison says
Yes, absolutely
Lexi says
Just note that the times will be longer in a dehydrator since the temperature will be lower!
Rochelle says
What size of mason jars did you use?
Brent Harrison says
These are 16oz jars
Toni says
Is the way the recipe written for 1 pint jar? So like, 5 dried sliced of tanergine in each jar, etc.
Lexi says
Yes!
Alex says