Whip up this mouthwatering Christmas Margarita, which is a cranberry-infused Christmas cocktail. This cranberry margarita is made with cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, fresh lime juice, tequila, and Grand Marnier. A twist on a classic margarita for the winter time of year.

This is the perfect cocktail for a Christmas party, holiday gatherings, or to sip on at the end of a long day. Tart, sweet, and a punch of tequila in each sip. You will rim of the glass with a sugar rim that will help balance out the tartness of the cranberry.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Margarita

Tart, sweet, and tangy all-in-one refreshing drink full of holiday spirit.
A festive appearance that is a great holiday margarita or you can call it a mistletoe margarita for your holiday parties.
This festive cocktail has all the seasonal flavors so it is a fitting winter margarita.
You are welcome to change up ingredients or garnish your festive holiday cocktail any way you want.
The perfect holiday cocktail for serving a crowd or just a person or two.

More Holiday Cocktails

Try this Hot Buttered Rum, a classic cocktail that’s a winner for a winter cocktail. It’ll keep you warm on Christmas morning or eve.
This Homemade Eggnog is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays.
Or go for this creamy Peppermint Mudslide where chocolate and Baileys create a delicious drink.
Love coconut? This creamy White Christmas Mojito is a gorgeous drink and tasty too!

Kitchen Equipment Needed

Cocktail Shaker
Margarita Glasses
2 Shallow Plates / Saucers

Simple Ingredients

SIMPLE SYRUP: You will use a simple syrup to coat the rim of the glass for dipping in the sugar as well as add to the mixture.

SUGAR OR COARSE SALT: For the rim of the glass you will roll in sanding sugar or coarse salt. Sanding sugar will bring out the sweetness. If you use salt, the tart and lime flavors will be more prominent.

TEQUILA: Reach for your favorite silver tequila / Blanco tequila or gold tequila. Use the type of tequila you enjoy the most.

GRAND MARNIER: An orange liqueur that adds a bit of citrus. You can use Cointreau or triple sec if that’s what you have on hand.

CRANBERRY JUICE: I used a classic cranberry juice which is a tart flavor. If you want a sweeter cocktail, you an use what is called “cranberry cocktail” juice. Even a white cranberry juice will work for a milder flavor.

POMEGRANATE JUICE: To really bring in the holiday season I find that adding pomegranate juice as well helps to complement the orange liquor and tart cranberry flavor.

LIME: Fresh lime juice is a great punch of citrus to balance out the sweet and tart.

CRANBERRIES: Frozen or fresh cranberries make a great garnish for the best Christmas margaritas recipe you will whip up this year. I added a few sugared cranberries for garnish as well. Here’s how to make sugared cranberries.

SPRIG OF ROSEMARY: For garnish, the rosemary sprigs add the perfect aroma of Christmas with each sip.

How to Make Christmas Margarita

Add simple syrup to a small saucer or plate and wet the rim of your cocktail glass.
Add sanding sugar to a separate small plate and roll the wet rim in the sanding sugar (or margarita salt)
In a cocktail shaker add a handful of ice cubes.
Pour in tequila, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice, simple sugar, and squeeze a half lime. Shake until the cocktail shaker feels chilled.
Fill your cocktail glass with ice.
Strain the margarita mixture into your glass.
Garnish with frozen or fresh cranberries and/or a lime wedge. Then add rosemary garnish.

Tips

Use good quality tequila as it is the base of the cranberry and pomegranate margaritas.
If you don’t own a cocktail shaker use a jar with a lid or glass that is covered. Mixing well is important.
You can salt the rim or add sugar to the rim. I find the combination of cranberry with sugar is a great twist compared to a salted syrup rim.
Use fresh ingredients when you can, like lime juice, and more.

Variations

Swap the pomegranate with orange juice for a twist.
Add all the ingredients into a blender with ice to create a blended margarita.
If you use an aged anejo tequila it will offer a smokey-flavored white Christmas margarita recipe.
Feel free to adjust the amount of tequila to make your drink stronger or less strong.
Add a few pomegranate seeds into the cranberry cocktail as well for added color. This can create a signature cocktail for the Christmas menu at a party or event.
Use a lime wedge to garnish the cocktail or sugared cranberries.

Can I make a Mocktail Version?

If you want a mocktail simply swap out the alcohol with more tart cranberry juice, lime juice, simple syrup or even a splash of coconut water. You can also use a sweet and sour mix to go with the fruit juices.

Any or a mix of these ingredients will truly create a tasty drink. Feel free to pay with the ingredients to create your own custom mocktail.

Can I Make a Large Batch for a Party?

Yes, it’s easy to make a large batch of these margaritas for a crowd. Simply multiply the recipe for how many drinks you want to make. Add to a punch bowl or pitcher and then pour into festive glasses and serve up.

How to Store Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers simply store in the fridge in a sealed container. Store in the fridge for 1-2 days. Then when you want to finish off the rest, give a good shake to re-incorporate the flavors and serve with 3-4 ice cubes and enjoy.

Add this Christmas Margarita to your holiday season! It’s refreshing and always a huge hit for a holiday party.

Merry Christmas!

Yield: 1

Christmas Margarita

Name: Christmas Margarita
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Cocktail Recipes
Ingredients: 1 ½ ounces Silver Tequila or Gold Tequila (use what you like best); 1 ½ ounces 100% Cranberry Juice (not cranberry cocktail juice); 1 ounce Pomegranate Juice; 1 ounce Grand Marnier (can substitute with triple sec or Cointreau); ½ ounce Lime Juice; 1 ounce Simple Syrup (adjust to your tastes for a sweeter cocktail); Sanding Sugar or Kosher Salt for the rim (sanding sugar is my go-to); Garnish: cranberries, sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces Silver Tequila or Gold Tequila (use what you like best)
1 ½ ounces 100% Cranberry Juice (not cranberry cocktail juice)
1 ounce Pomegranate Juice
1 ounce Grand Marnier (can substitute with triple sec or Cointreau)
½ ounce Lime Juice
1 ounce Simple Syrup (adjust to your tastes for a sweeter cocktail)
Sanding Sugar or Kosher Salt for the rim (sanding sugar is my go-to)
Garnish: cranberries, sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig

Instructions

Add simple syrup to a small saucer or plate and wet the rim of your cocktail glass.
Add sanding sugar to a separate small plate and roll the wet rim in the sanding sugar (or margarita salt)
In a cocktail shaker add a handful of ice cubes.
Pour in tequila, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice, simple syrup and lime. Shake until the cocktail shaker feels chilled.
Fill your cocktail glass with ice.
Strain the margarita mixture into your glass.
Garnish with frozen or fresh cranberries and/or a lime wedge, add sugared cranberries on a cocktail pick, then add rosemary garnish.

Notes

See recipe post for tips. Drink Responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 328Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 120mgCarbohydrates: 38gSugar: 28gProtein: 1g

Nutritional values are estimates and not exact.

Tammy Camp

I love easy recipes and delicious desserts and happy to share with you my favorite recipes. My favorite places are tropical, family always comes first and I'm a cocktail enthusiast for sure!
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