Christmas Cranberry Margarita
Sip sip, hooray! A signature Christmas cocktail is a must this time of year! Serve up these Christmas Cranberry Margaritas at all your holiday occasions. This festive holiday cocktail is simple to make, easy to garnish and the perfect holiday red color!
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Cranberry is one of the quintessential Christmas flavors so why not turn your favorite summer margarita into a festive winter cocktail with the help of cranberry juice and a rosemary garnish?
I always love getting together with friends for a Christmas party at least once during the busy holiday season! With a buffet spread of allll the Christmas cookies (these are my fave) and Christmas appetizers, a special signature cocktail is the perfect touch.
I like to have a big batch of these margaritas made so it’s easy to pass out to guests as they arrive! Sometimes I call them “Mistletoe Margaritas” because it’s super cute!
A few simple ingredients!
The full Christmas margarita recipe is in the recipe card at the end of the post, but here are a few extra notes on ingredients that I think are really helpful!
CRANBERRY JUICE: Opt for Cranberry Juice Cocktail (this is what you’ll typical find when you purchase standard “cranberry juice” at the grocery store). Now you can seek out 100% pure cranberry juice, but it will make these margaritas way too sour, trust me on this one! Swap out cranberry for pomegranate juice or even a cranberry pomegranate juice blend if you like!
LIME JUICE: While I do own bottled lime juice, I try to use fresh-squeezed lime juice whenever possible because the flavor is just *much* better!
TRIPLE SEC: You can use any orange liqueur for a similar flavor!
WHITE TEQUILA: Also known as silver tequila or blanco tequila, this is tequila that’s bottled directly after being distilled. It’s clear in color.
CRANBERRIES: The perfect garnish, you can use fresh or frozen cranberries.
ROSEMARY SPRIGS: Add in a sprig of rosemary to each margarita for a touch of festive green!
How to Make a Christmas Margarita
- Start things off by rimming your glasses in salt. If you prefer sugar, go for it! Just pour the salt (or sugar) in a shallow plate or bowl. Cut a lime wedge and rub it around the edge of the glass. Dip the glass in the salt to rim the edge.
- Fill glass with ice.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, cranberry juice, triple sec and lime juice. Shake to combine and pour over ice.
- Garnish your margaritas with cranberries and a rosemary sprig.
For another festive touch, you can use sugared cranberries! They look “frosted” so they’re perfect for the Christmas holidays. Learn how to make them here in my recipe for sugared cranberry baked brie!
Christmas Margaritas for a Crowd (Pitcher Size)
To make a pitcher of these Christmas Margaritas for a crowd, use the quick ingredient notes below to help you scale it up to size for a large batch!
- 4 parts cranberry juice
- 2 parts tequila
- 1 part fresh lime juice
- 1 part triple sec
For example, use 4 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups tequila, 1 cup lime juice and 1 cup triple sec. Add in lots of fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs and you’re ready for the ho ho holidays!
These cranberry margaritas are always a HUGE HIT at holiday gatherings and Christmas parties, so if you’re looking for the perfect festive cocktail for your next holiday party, give this holiday margarita a try!
What to Serve with Cranberry Margaritas:
- Cranberry & Almond Baked Brie
- Christmas Cheese Ball Wreath
- Beef Wellington Bites
- Cranberry & Prosciutto Crostini
More Holiday Cocktails:
I always love a festive twist on a classic cocktail, especially a margarita! This cranberry version is no exception. It’s the perfect way to get in that holiday spirit!
Christmas Cranberry Margarita
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cranberry juice - (cranberry juice cocktail)
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce lime juice - freshly squeezed
- 1 ounce triple sec
Garnish
- cranberries
- rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Rim a cocktail glass with course salt (or sugar). Cut a lime wedge and rub it around the edge of the glass. Dip the glass in the salt to rim the edge.
- Add cranberry juice, tequila, lime juice and triple sec to a cocktail shaker and shake to combine.
- Add ice to glass. Pour margarita over ice.
- Garnish with cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Hi Courtney!
Can you give me a mocktail version of this!
Thanks!
Hi Tami! I’d swap the tequila for sprite or limeade or simply leave out!
You can use Topo Chico it is not sweet . To make mocktail.
Hi Courtney! How do you prepare the cranberries used as garnish & did you use coarse salt or sugar in the picture? Thank you!
Carter
Hi Carter! I just popped fresh cranberries in the margaritas. You *could* sugar the cranberries and I’ve done that, though most of the sugar comes off after they’re put in the drink (still tasty). On my rim, I did a course sea salt, but you could use sugar too.
Love the recipe! But could you tell me where to get the glasses- they are so cute!
Hi Kris! They’re clear mint julep glasses that I got on Amazon awhile ago.