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A Super Festive Margarita Recipe
Once cranberries start showing up in the grocery store, I cannot help but bring them home. They always remind me of holiday dinners at my grandparents’ home (my house now), where there was always some kind of cranberry dish on the table.
This margarita takes that same tart cranberry flavor and turns it into a cocktail that feels both special and totally approachable. It is everything I love in a drink, since you know how much I love a margarita, but with a twist.
The homemade cranberry simple syrup gives it that bright-red color, the lime and orange keep it bright and citrus-forward, and the splash of ginger beer on top adds just enough fizz to make it feel like a holiday celebration.
Here’s why you’ll love this cranberry margarita recipe:
- Festive and seasonal with real cranberry flavor.
- Perfect balance of lime, cranberry syrup, and orange.
- Ginger beer topper adds some bubbles and a bit of additional spice.
- Easy to batch for a party or make as a single cocktail.
Cranberry Margarita Ingredients
A combination of ingredients makes this the best cranberry margarita recipe:
- Tequila – The necessary base for a margarita! I always opt for a blanco version so that all of the color comes from the syrup.
- Cointreau – Adds a sweet orange note that plays off the orange juice.
- Cranberry simple syrup – Brings in cranberry flavor and gorgeous color. Make sure to make my cranberry simple syrup recipe.
- Lime juice – Adds bright acidity and that classic margarita tang that keeps the drink refreshing.
- Orange juice – Softens the tartness with a little natural sweetness and echoes the Cointreau flavor.
- Ginger beer – Finishes the margarita with bubbles and a bit of ginger warmth that pairs so well with cranberry.
- To garnish: granulated sugar, flaky salt, and a lime wedge (or cranberries) – A sweet and salty mixture for the rim and optional garnishes.
The full amount of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Make a Cranberry Margarita
Mix – In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the tequila, Cointreau, and cranberry simple syrup. Juice in the fresh lime and orange juice. Shake vigorously until the shaker is frosty.
Assemble – On a small plate, combine the granulated sugar and flaky salt. Use the lime or orange juice to wet the rim of the serving glass, then dip the rim into the sugar and salt mixture until evenly coated. Fill the glass with fresh ice cubes so the drink stays cold without over-diluting the shaken mixture. Strain the shaken margarita into the prepared glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime slice or cranberries.
Recipe Tips
- Use a good tequila – Choose a tequila you would happily sip on its own, usually a blanco, for the cleanest, brightest flavor. Personally, I prefer Lalo tequila.
- Shake until frosty – Do not rush the shaking; make sure the shaker feels very cold, which means the drink is chilled and lightly diluted.
- Balance the sweetness – You can always add in more cranberry simple syrup to make the drink your preferred sweetness level.
- Chill your glass – For an extra crisp cocktail, chill the serving glass in the freezer for about 10 minutes before adding the sugar and salt rim.
Follow These Tips
Serving
Pour the margarita into the sugar and salt-rimmed glass filled with ice and serve immediately while it’s icy cold. Garnish with a lime slice or even sugared cranberries to showcase the flavors.
Storage
Refrigerate for a batch margarita – Mix the tequila, Cointreau, cranberry simple syrup, lime juice, and orange juice together without ice. Store in a covered container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, shake the chilled mixture with ice, then strain into prepared glasses and top with ginger beer.
More Drink Recipes
- Aperol margarita
- Spiked apple cider
- Aperol spritz
- Grapefruit gin punch
- Pineapple slush – another holiday option!
Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!
Cranberry Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila blanco
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 3 oz cranberry simple syrup
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz fresh orange juice
- ice
- ginger beer to top
For the rim (optional)
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Make the margarita: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the tequila, Cointreau, cranberry simple syrup, lime juice, and orange juice. Shake for about 30 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosty.2 oz tequila blanco, 1 oz Cointreau, 3 oz cranberry simple syrup, 1 oz fresh lime juice, ice, ½ oz fresh orange juice
- Assemble the drink: On a small plate, combine the sugar and salt. Using some lime or orange juice, wet the rim of a glass. Dip into the sugar and salt mixture. Add ice to the glass and pour in the margarita. Top off with ginger beer and garnish with a slice of lime (or cranberries), if desired.ginger beer, 1 tsp granulated sugar, 1 tsp flaky sea salt
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below!
Styling: Addelyn Evans | Photography: Dera Burreson
Looking forward to trying these at Christmas! You always have the best margarita recipes!