This festive cranberry apple switchel is an easy and delicious ferment – perfect for keeping your body healthy during the holidays and throughout the year!

This festive cranberry apple switchel is an easy and delicious ferment - perfect for keeping your body healthy during the holidays and throughout the year! #paleo #gapsdiet #switchel #cranberry #apple #drinks #fermented #traditional #holiday

Healthy drinks.

It might seem, from looking at my homepage, that I’ve been on a little drinking binge lately. Not to worry, I’ve just been drinking my weight in homemade hot chocolate, golden milk, and pumpkin chai lattes. And most recently spiced pumpkin golden milk. I shared the recipe for that over on my Instagram feed, if you want to go check it out. It’s basically taking the place of my summer breakfast smoothie…

While it’s important to stay properly hydrated during the summer, healthy drinks are important in the fall and winter weeks, as well! I know warming drinks are the most popular during the cold months, but every now and again I like to switch things up… with switchel.

Cranberry Apple Switchel 1

What is switchel?

If you’ve never heard what switchel is, let me enlighten you. It kinda sounds like some alcoholic concoction that was illegal when your grandma was a kid (or great grandma, depending on how old you are!), but it’s not! Switchel dates back to the 1700s, when it was dubbed “haymakers punch” and drank by thirsty farmers during the summer.

Despite its strange name, switchel is actually quite nourishing for your body – summer or winter. This is due to its two main ingredients: ginger, and apple cider vinegar.

Cranberry Apple Switchel 4

All-natural goodness.

I‘ve mentioned before in my posts that ginger is great for decreasing inflammation in the body. But ginger’s goodness doesn’t stop there! The benefits of ginger root are vast, including aiding your digestive tract, boosting your immune system, increasing insulin sensitivity (protecting against diabetes), lowering cholesterol levels, and more!

And I know, it doesn’t sound like the most delicious thing to drink, but I’ve come to love apple cider vinegar in the past few years for its multiple health benefits. Just like ginger, apple cider vinegar has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties. It can also help lower blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, as well as combat sinus congestion and sore throats.

Cranberry Apple Switchel 5

Cranberry Apple Switchel. 

Traditionally, switchel is made with ginger, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup. Since I can’t help but change things up, I added delicious apple chunks and cranberries to this version. You can use maple syrup to sweetened it, if you want, but I like to use honey. A few of my friends have delicious real-food switchels on their blogs, too, I’m sure you’ll love them!

This festive cranberry apple switchel is an easy and delicious ferment - perfect for keeping your body healthy during the holidays and throughout the year! #paleo #gapsdiet #switchel #cranberry #apple #drinks #fermented #traditional #holiday

In the recipe card I’ve linked to some of the products from my affiliate partners that I like to use. Purchasing through these links won’t cost you anything extra. Thanks!

Cranberry Apple Switchel

Free from grain, gluten, eggs, dairy, and refined sugar.

Ingredients

Instructions

Place everything in a blender with 2 cups of water. Puree until smooth. (I use the ‘whole juice’ setting on my Blendtec.)

Pour into a 1/2 gallon jar or divide evenly between 2 quart-sized jars. Fill jar(s) with remaining water.

Enjoy fresh or cover with a cloth and a rubber band and let the cranberry apple switchel ferment on the counter for 4-12 hours.

Raias Recipes - https://raiasrecipes.com
 

This festive cranberry apple switchel is an easy and delicious ferment - perfect for keeping your body healthy during the holidays and throughout the year! #paleo #gapsdiet #switchel #cranberry #apple #drinks #fermented #traditional #holiday

Looking for more delicious and refreshing drinks? Try these favorites! They’re just as healthy and delicious as this cranberry apple switchel!

Paleo Apple Cider Latte

Blueberry Elderberry Water Kefir

Honey Sweetened Orange Julius

Homemade Mango Soda

Spiced Apple Kombucha

Probiotic Elderberry Water Kefir

Paleo & Keto Frozen Hot Chocolate