Cranberry Margarita
The tartness of the cranberries pairs beautifully with the classic margarita trifecta: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
Serves1
Prep5 minutes
Try every delicious, festive drink in our 24 Days of Holiday Cocktails countdown! This content is presented by Wisconsin Cheese; it was created independently by our editorial team.
Whenever I’m out for a drink, I will almost always order a margarita. Tequila is hands-down my liquor of choice, and there’s something timeless about the classic three-ingredient cocktail. Plus, there are no shortage of varieties to try, from frozen to flavored.
Today, I’m sharing my latest favorite flavor: cranberry! The tartness of the cranberries pairs beautifully with the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, and you avoid the overly sweet taste that often plagues a flavored marg. This result is a simple, straightforward, and incredibly festive cocktail — the perfect addition to any holiday spread.
Why You’ll Love It
- It’s the easiest way to add festive flair. All you need is a splash of cranberry juice blend to give a classic margarita a fun holiday twist. Though it’s not necessary, fresh cranberries make it extra pretty.
- It couldn’t be easier. Once you measure out the ingredients and fill your cup and shaker with ice, your chilled cranberry margarita will come together in just about 20 seconds.
Key Ingredients in a Cranberry Margarita
- No-sugar-added cranberry juice blend: This is typically a blend of four different juices from concentrate (cranberry, grape, apple, and pear juice). The tart cranberry juice is the most prominent, while the other juices lend a natural sweetness that balances it all out. If you can’t find it, you can sub in an equal amount of cranberry juice cocktail. Or use less of 100% unsweetened cranberry juice plus some simple syrup. (You can find this variation in the Recipe Notes below).
- Silver tequila: It packs more of a punch than gold tequila, which has aged for longer and has more of a mellow taste. My general rule is to use silver tequila in mixed drinks and gold tequila when I’m taking a shot.
- Lime juice: Freshly squeeze your own! It makes a difference.
- Orange liqueur: Like Cointreau. It’ll give your margarita a deeper flavor. Plus, the orange flavor pairs really nicely with the cranberry juice.
How to Serve a Cranberry Margarita
To make this drink look and feel extra special, I like to line the rim of each glass with salt and garnish with fresh cranberries.
Cranberry Margarita Recipe
The tartness of the cranberries pairs beautifully with the classic margarita trifecta: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
Prep time 5 minutes
Serves 1
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
Salt rim (optional):
- 1 tablespoon
kosher salt
- 1
lime wedge
For the cocktail:
Ice
- 3 ounces
- 1 1/2 ounces
tequila blanco
- 3/4 ounce
freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1 medium lime)
- 1/2 ounce
orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
Fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
For the salt rim:
Cut a wedge from 1 medium lime, reserving the rest of the lime for the cocktail. Pour 1 tablespoon kosher salt into a small dish. Moisten the rim of a 12-ounce glass with the lime wedge. Invert the glass into the salt, turning it as needed, to coat the rim.
For the cocktail:
Fill a 10- or 12-ounce Old-Fashioned glass with ice. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add 3 ounces cranberry juice, 1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco, 3/4 ounce lime juice, and 1/2 ounces orange liqueur. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into the glass. Garnish with cranberries if desired.
Recipe Notes
Unsweetened Cranberry Juice variation:
1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco
1 ounce 100% unsweetened cranberry juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1/2 medium lime)
1/2 ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
Fresh or frozen cranberries, for garnish (optional)