Cranberries make everything more festive! Try our Christmas mimosa with cranberries and our Christmas cranberry mojito! We love a good lime margarita, and we never tire of creating new versions of our favorite drink. This Christmas take on the classic margarita recipe is simple yet full of festive flavor and might be our favorite yet. It’s made with fresh or frozen cranberries, tequila, and an easy-to-make rosemary simple syrup. You can easily make a few of the elements ahead of time so all you have to do when the time comes is mix and serve. It’s the perfect festive sip for Thanksgiving, Christmas parties, and holiday gatherings throughout the season!
Christmas cranberry margarita ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for the cranberry margarita:
White tequila: also called blanco tequila or silver tequila, it’s characterized by its clear appearance. It’s the first spirit produced with distilled agave juice, and is typically not aged like other tequilas. Cranberries: fresh or frozen cranberries work equally well. Rosemary simple syrup: just the right amount of rosemary flavor makes this holiday cocktail extra Christmassy. Lime juice: fresh lime juice is best for that classic margarita tang. Salt: for that classic salt rim.
Rosemary simple syrup ingredients
You only need three simple ingredients for the rosemary simple syrup:
Water: a 2:1 ratio of water to sugar is the standard ratio for simple syrup. Sugar: regular granulated sugar will give this syrup a crisp, clear appearance. Rosemary: find fresh rosemary at the grocery store or snip some sprigs from your garden.
How to make rosemary simple syrup
Rosemary simple syrup adds that sweet festive touch to seasonal cocktails and non-alcohol drinks, like our cranberry lemonade. We’ve even used it to moisten layer cakes and dress fruit salads. Here’s how we make it in just one easy step:
Bring water, sugar, and rosemary to a boil then lower to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Allow it to cool then remove the rosemary, pour it into a jar or container, and store it in your fridge.
How to make the sugared cranberries and rosemary Sugared cranberries and rosemary make a beautiful garnish, and they’re easy to make! Here’s how to make them:
Dip the cranberries and rosemary into some of the rosemary simple syrup, then shake off any excess. Dip them into sugar, then set them aside to dry on a parchment-lined plate.
How to make festive ice cubes If you’d like to serve your Christmas cranberry margarita over ice, make it festive! Here’s how:
Put several cranberries into your ice cube mold and then fill it with water. Once it’s frozen, the cranberries will cling to the ice and look like a Christmas decoration!
This Christmas margarita recipe is easy to scale into a pitcher (aka party) size by using cups instead of ounces. The ratio for a pitcher of Christmas margarita is 2 cups of tequila, 1 cup of cranberries, 1 cup of rosemary simple syrup, and 1 cup of lime juice.
Every holiday needs a special cocktail to serve to guests, and this Christmas margarita is that perfect drink. Serve it at Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or anytime during the holiday season to kick off a festive gathering.
Appetizers that pair well with a Christmas cranberry margarita
Red Wine Chorizo Bites Lemon Whipped Ricotta with Cranberry Honey Bacon Guacamole with Roasted Garlic and Tomatoes
Did you make this?
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