Cranberry Margarita Recipe: How to Make a Cranberry Margarita

A Cranberry Margarita is a tasty variation on the classic Margarita cocktail. With the addition of tart, bright-red cranberry juice (and a couple of cranberries for garnish), you get a drink that celebrates tradition and innovation at the same time—with an added dose of vitamin C. It’s an especially good choice for the fall and winter holiday season when cranberries have been freshly harvested.

This cocktail is made unique by its distinct flavor and eye-catching color, both of which come from the addition of cranberry juice.

1. 1. Tequila: Great cocktails need a foundation of quality liquor. Tequila, made from the agave plant, has a distinct, somewhat herbaceous flavor that goes well with a sweet, fruity liqueur. For this recipe, choose a nice silver tequila, which will balance well with the bright, tart cranberry flavor. For a mocktail version that your kids can sip as they ring in the New Year, simply swap out the tequila with ginger ale or soda water.
2. 2. Lime: Skip the Margarita mix. Freshly squeezed lime juice is the key to making the best Margarita. Keep extra limes on hand for garnish.
3. 3. Cranberry juice: This is where the distinctive flavor and color will come from, so try to find a bottle of unsweetened cranberry juice without the added sweeteners that come in a can labeled “cranberry juice cocktail.”
4. 4. Fresh or frozen cranberries: If they’re in season, it’s fun to garnish your cocktail with a few fresh cranberries, but frozen cranberries will also work provided they’re thawed first.
5. 5. Simple syrup: An even mixture of one cup sugar and one cup water, this will give your Cranberry Margarita the right amount of sweetness.
6. 6. Rosemary sprig: This will underscore the holiday festiveness and impart a slightly savory, herbal flavor to the cocktail.
7. 7. Orange juice: Orange juice can add a bit of additional sweetness, and it makes a good partner to cranberry juice.