This festive Cranberry Margarita is the perfect blend of tart, sweet, and refreshing-ideal for holiday parties or cozy nights in. With bright cranberry flavor and the classic margarita tang, this feels like Christmas in a glass.
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Please drink responsibly! 21+
Why This Recipe Works
Easy to Customize: Adjust sweetness, tartness, or strength to fit your taste.
Balanced Flavor: The mix of tart cranberry and fresh lime creates a perfectly bright, refreshing cocktail.
Holiday Appeal: Cranberry adds a festive twist that feels seasonal without being overly sweet.
Quick to Make: Just shake, pour, and enjoy-no complicated steps required.
What This Recipe Needs
- Tequila: The classic base that adds smooth warmth and structure to the drink.
- Cranberry Juice: Provides tartness, color, and that signature holiday flavor.
- Lime Juice: Brightens the drink and keeps it balanced.
- Triple Sec (or Orange Liqueur): Adds citrus sweetness and rounds out the sharp cranberry notes.
- Simple Syrup: Optional, but great for adjusting sweetness if you prefer a softer finish.
- Salt or Sugar for the Rim: Enhances flavor and adds a festive touch. Sometimes I like to make up a bunch of glasses with sugared rims ahead of time for my guests, but it's also fun to lay out a variety of different Holiday colors of sprinkles and sugars and let them make their own. Check out my Cauldron Cocktail and Witches Brew Cocktail to see colored sugar rims!
- Garnishes: I love to use candied cranberries, rosemary sprigs, or lime wedges!
- Cocktail Shaker: Shake or stir everything together in a cup.
Cranberries are one of my favorite holiday ingredients. I love making cranberry relish, cranberry jalapeno cream cheese dip, cranberry sauce, cranberry orange muffins, and now these margaritas!
Substitutions
- Tequila: Swap for vodka if you prefer a smoother, less bold flavor.
- Triple Sec: Use Cointreau or Grand Marnier for a richer citrus profile.
- Cranberry Juice: Use cranberry cocktail for a sweeter drink or 100% juice for extra tartness.
How to Make a Cranberry Margarita?
- Step 1: Swipe the inside and outside rim of your glass with a sugary liquid. A little bit of simple syrup or a swipe of lime works too.
- Step 2: Place sugar on a plate and gently spin the glass rim around in it.
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- Step 3: If using a shaker, fill it with ice, then add the juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Shake, then pour over ice in a cup. Garnish and enjoy!
- Step 4: If not using a shaker, combine the juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a cup/mason jar/measuring glass. Then pour that mixture over your ice-filled cup. Garnish and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Shake your margarita vigorously-this chills it fast and gives the best texture.
- Chill your glasses ahead of time to keep the drink frosty longer.
- For a sweeter-flavored rim, mix sugar with a little orange zest before dipping.
- For a sweeter margarita, add simple syrup. To make simple syrup, add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then add to your favorite drinks!
- Use leftover syrup in mint juleps or lemonade!
Variations
- Sparkling Cranberry Margarita: Top with sparkling water for a fizzy finish.
- Frozen Cranberry Margarita: Blend with ice for a slushy, party-perfect version.
- Spiced Margarita: Add a pinch of cinnamon or a splash of spiced simple syrup for a cozy holiday vibe.
- Non-Alcoholic Version: Try my kid-friendly cranberry mint julep or easy Christmas drink!
Frequently Asked Questions
A cranberry margarita is a holiday twist on the classic margarita, using cranberry juice for tart, festive flavor.
Can I Make a Cranberry Margarita Ahead of Time?
Silver tequila provides a cleaner, brighter flavor that pairs beautifully with citrus and cranberry.
Absolutely-just add simple syrup or use cranberry cocktail instead of pure cranberry juice.
Yes! Swap tequila for sparkling water or a zero-proof spirit and triple sec for orange juice.
Definitely-just scale the ingredients and keep it chilled until serving. I reccomend starting with 5 cups cranberry juice, 3 cups tequila, 2 cups orange liqueur, and 1 cup lime juice. Mix everyting together and refrigerate.
More Related Recipes
I love pairing this margarita with some Fajitas Tacos, Chicken Street Tacos, or my Cranberry Molasses Smoked Spatchcock Turkey. It really makes every dish a festive one!
For more Christmas recipes, check out my Chewy Gingerbread Cookies, Christmas Tree Cupcakes, Peppermint Marshmallow Wands, Snowman Oreo Balls, Christmas Holiday Popcorn, or my Christmas Tree Appetizer!
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Video
Cranberry Margarita
Ingredients
Single Cranberry Margarita
- 4 ounces pure cranberry juice (use a brand the is 100% cranberry juice- not a mix of juices and sugar)
- 1 ½ ounces blanco/silver Tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice (~half a lime)
- Optional Sweetener: Simple Syrup*, or Agave to taste
- Ice
- Candied Cranberries & Rosemary Sprigs for Garnish
- Coarse Salt and Sugar Mix for Rimming Glasses
Pitcher of Margarita
- 5 cups pure cranberry juice use a brand that is 100% cranberry juice
- 3 cups blanco/silver Tequila
- 2 cup orange liqueur Contreou or Triple Sec
- 1 cup lime juice
- Optional Sweetener: Simple Syrup or Agave to taste
- Ice
- Candied Cranberries & Rosemary Sprigs for Garnish
- Coarse Salt and Sugar Mix for Rimming Glasses
Instructions
Single Margarita
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass.
- Make 1:1 mix of sugar and salt and place on a shallow plate. Then dip glass rim in it and fill with ice.Coarse Salt and Sugar Mix
- Fill your cocktail shaker with ice, then add in the cranberry juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.4 ounces pure cranberry juice, 1 ½ ounces blanco/silver Tequila, 1 ounce orange liqueur, ½ ounce fresh lime juice, Ice
- Shake to combine all the ingredients, then strain over your ice-filled glass. Garnish with sugared cranberries and sprigs of fresh rosemary. Add simple syrup to make sweeter.Ice, Candied Cranberries & Rosemary Sprigs, Optional Sweetener: Simple Syrup*, or Agave
Pitcher of Margarita
- In a gallon pitcher* stir together the cranberry juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.5 cups pure cranberry juice, 3 cups blanco/silver Tequila, 2 cup orange liqueur, 1 cup lime juice
- Add ice and serve with salt and sugar rimmed glasses and garnishes. Add simple syrup to make it sweeter.Ice, Candied Cranberries & Rosemary Sprigs, Coarse Salt and Sugar Mix, Optional Sweetener: Simple Syrup
Notes
- * Simple syrup is a a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar heated to combine and then cooled and added to drinks. To make it, add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Then remove from heat and allow to cool, then add to your favorite drinks!
- *If you don't have a cocktail shaker, stir all the ingredients together in a cup!
- *I reduced the amount of cranberry juice for the pitcher size so you can it ice into the pitcher along with the margarita. However, add more if you want a stronger cranberry flavor.
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