November 25, 2019

Cranberry Margarita Recipe

Name: Cranberry Margarita Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: kosher salt for rimming glasses; 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice (look for one that is 100% juice); 3/4 cup tequila; 1/2 cup orange liqueur; 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice; 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice; fresh cranberries and orange or lime wedges for garnish, optional

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This cranberry margarita recipe is a festive addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu, but is 100% delicious all year round!

We do a small-ish Thanksgiving; my parents, Ben’s parents, my sister and her family, and us of course. That comes out to 8 adults and 4 kids and it’s always a really relaxed and fun day.

Usually my mom comes over early and helps me cook a little (no surprise there, right?) and then everyone else comes and we snack on cheeseboards and appetizers, and sip on wine until the dinner is ready.

This year, I’m thinking we need to make these margaritas instead of wine for our appetizer hour. They’re fun, festive, and so delicious (maybe too delicious, actually…these are a little dangerous).

About this cranberry margarita recipe

We’re not totally reinventing the wheel here. This margarita still boasts the flavors you’d expect in a classic margarita: lime, orange, and tequila.

The twist is the pretty red cranberry juice. It’s festive, tangy, and oh-so-pretty. Make sure to top with a few fresh cranberries; the pops of dark red make this margarita extra pretty. I love cranberry juice in this Cranberry Gin and Tonic with Rosemary, too.

The great thing about this margarita is that you can make it in advance if you want! Juice the oranges and limes, measure everything out, and keep the mixture in your fridge. You can prepare this the day before you plan to serve the margaritas, perfect if you know you’ll be busy cooking a big meal. All that’s left to do when it’s “margarita time” is rim your glasses in kosher salt and pour the margarita over some ice.

How to make this margarita your own:

This margarita is great just like the recipe is written, but you can make a few minor changes:

Don’t have cranberry juice? Try this with pomegranate juice instead.
Want it a little sweeter? Try adding just a touch of simple syrup.
This margarita is heavy on the orange because I love the way it complements the flavor of the cranberry juice, but you could do more even ratios of lime and orange if you want. If you go this route, you might want to also add a little agave since the orange juice adds a lot of natural sweetness.
Like a frozen margarita? I haven’t tried it that way, but there’s no reason why it wouldn’t work to throw this in a blender with some ice and serve it that way.
Like some bubbles? Try topping this with club soda.

More delicious cocktails

Pomegranate Mojito

Classic Gin and Tonic Recipe, plus tips to make the best G & T!

Cherry Martini with Elderflower and Lime

Hot White Russian

Red Wine and Cherry Spritzer

Frozen Sangria Slushie Recipe