This post may contain affiliate links. This blog generates income via ads.
Sweet and tart, this cranberry margarita recipe is a festive drink to mix up during the holidays. Combine your favorite tequila with lime juice, orange liqueur, and cranberry simple syrup before pouring over ice and garnishing with rosemary, orange, and cinnamon sticks. You and your guests will love toasting with this holiday margarita!
The cranberry margarita has RSVPed to my Christmas party and I can’t wait! It’s tart, sweet, and refreshing all at the same time. Plus, the citrus cinnamon salt rim puts it right over the top in terms of holiday spirit. Get into it!
I just can’t get enough of holiday drink recipes. It’s such a fun part of entertaining for me!
Normally, I go the brandy route and do a big batch of Brandy Slush, Aged Eggnog, or Tom & Jerry, but to me this Christmas margarita just feels a little classier, a little more elegant, a little more grown-up. Maybe it’s the tequila?!
Here’s what you’ll need
- Tequila – I prefer using a blanco tequila in this recipe.
- Lime Juice – Like in a classic marg.
- Orange Liqueur – It adds more citrus and more sweet, plus orange and cranberry go so well together!
- Cranberry Simple Syrup – My recipe only requires two ingredients!
- Salt or Sugar – For the rim. I’m a salt girl, my husband prefers sugar.
- Orange Zest – For the rim!
- Cinnamon – For the rim!
- Garnishes – I like to use orange slices, rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks, and more.
Once it’s all shaken up, I like to pour mine over holiday cranberry ice cubes. And make sure the glass has a heavily salted rim. Throw in some sugared cranberries if you’re feeling festive! They also look precious in a Poinsettia Cocktail!
Making a cranberry margarita for Christmas
This is just a brief overview, find detailed instructions in the recipe card below.
- Make the salt rim. By combining kosher salt, orange zest, and cinnamon. You can also use sugar if you prefer.
- Add everything to a shaker. Your tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and cranberry syrup.
- Shake and pour. I pour everything over my rimmed glass that’s filled with festive cranberry ice cubes.
- Garnish and enjoy! Half the fun is the garnishes, isn't it? You are going to be so obsessed.
Making a cocktail in a mason jar
I love a cocktail shaker. Because I love a cocktail! But I know not everyone has five different cocktail shakers (it’s a problem…sorry, not sorry!).
If you’re wanting to mix up this Christmas cocktail but don’t have a shaker, you can simply use a mason jar with a sealing lid! No muss, no fuss, no leaking to clean up! Amazing.
This drink is seriously phenomenal! You and your guests will love it all season long…and then some!
Festive Cranberry Margarita (perfect for the holidays!)
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker (or mason jar with leak-proof lid)
- Rocks Glass
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces tequila
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier)
- ½ ounce cranberry simple syrup
Instructions
- Prep your serving glass by creating the citrus cinnamon salt rim. I like to combine 2 tablespoons kosher salt, the zest of one orange, and a pinch of cinnamon. Rub the rim of the glass with an orange wedge and place into the salt mixture, turning to coat the glass. You can also use sugar in place of the salt, if desired.
- Once the glass is rimmed, add cranberry ice cubes to it and set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with regular ice, add 1 ½ ounces tequila, ½ ounce each fresh lime juice, orange liqueur, and cranberry simple syrup. Shake for 10 – 20 seconds or until shaker frosts over.
- Pour over prepared glass and garnish with an orange slice, fresh rosemary sprig, and a cinnamon stick, if desired.
Comments
No Comments