If you’re looking to add a little sparkle and cheer to your holiday gatherings, you’re going to absolutely love this Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe. It’s the perfect blend of tangy cranberries, zesty lime, and smooth tequila that will brighten up any party. I first tried this version during a Christmas get-together, and I have to say, it quickly became the star of the night. Keep reading because I’m going to share tips to make sure your Festive Cranberry Margarita turns out as magical as mine did!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive Flavors: The tart cranberry juice and lime create an irresistible holiday twist on the classic margarita.
Super Easy to Make: Just mix everything in a pitcher — no complicated steps, which means more time to enjoy!
Customizable Strength: You control the tequila and triple sec amounts for a cocktail that suits your taste.
Party Pleaser: My family and friends go crazy for this sharp, refreshing drink every holiday season.

A short glass with a star pattern is filled with a bright red drink, ice cubes, and topped with several sugar-coated cranberries that add a frosty texture on top. The glass rim is lightly dusted with sugar. In the blurred background, another similar glass and a small white bowl of more sugar-coated cranberries can be seen. The scene is set on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Festive Cranberry Margarita, holiday margarita recipe, cranberry margarita, holiday cocktail, easy festive drinks

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe is in how these simple ingredients come together to deliver a well-balanced cocktail that feels both classic and holiday-fresh. When shopping, grab fresh limes and real cranberries for the best bursts of flavor.

Flat lay of fresh whole lime wedges arranged neatly, a small white ceramic bowl filled with bright red fresh cranberries, a small white bowl containing clear simple syrup, a small white bowl of vibrant red cranberry juice, a small white bowl of pale green fresh lime juice, and a small white bowl with clear silver tequila, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Festive Cranberry Margarita, holiday margarita recipe, cranberry margarita, holiday cocktail, easy festive drinks

Silver Tequila: I recommend a good quality blanco tequila for that clean, smooth agave flavor.
Triple Sec: Adds a lovely orange sweetness that balances the tartness perfectly.
Cranberry Juice: Use 100% cranberry juice (not cocktail) for a rich, authentic taste.
Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice makes all the difference — bottled just can’t match its zing.
Simple Syrup: Homemade or store-bought works fine; adjust sweetness to your liking.
Fresh Cranberries: For garnish and a pop of color, plus you can toss a few into the drink for a festive flair.
Lime Wedges: Classic garnish that also lets your guests add extra citrus zing if they want.
Ice: Essential to keep your margarita cold and refreshing.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love how versatile this Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe can be — feel free to tweak it to suit your style or dietary needs. Whether it’s upping the sweetness or going boozy, you can make it yours with a simple swap or two.

Low-Sugar Version: I’ve tried swapping out simple syrup for a sugar-free agave nectar, and it’s a winner for those cutting back on sugar.
Spicy Kick: Adding a few thin slices of jalapeño to the pitcher gives this margarita such a fun, festive heat that my friends rave about.
Frozen Twist: Blend all ingredients with ice to make an icy holiday slush — perfect for a warm winter night or outdoor party.
Mocktail Option: Skip the tequila and triple sec and replace with extra cranberry juice and a splash of sparkling water for a festive, alcohol-free sip.

How to Make Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe

Step 1: Combine Your Liquids

Start by adding the silver tequila, triple sec, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup into a large pitcher. I like to start with the lower end of each measurement and adjust later — that way, you don’t accidentally overdo it. Give everything a good stir so the flavors marry nicely before you taste-test for balance.

Step 2: Chill and Prepare Your Glasses

If you want to get fancy, rim your glasses with some sugar or salt before pouring. Fill each glass with ice to keep your margarita icy cold. I usually prepare this right before serving so it’s super refreshing.

Step 3: Pour, Garnish, and Serve

Pour your festive cranberry margarita over the ice-filled glasses. Garnish with fresh lime wedges and a few whole cranberries for that perfect holiday pop of color. Trust me, the little crispy cranberries bobbing in your glass look as pretty as they taste!

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Pro Tips for Making Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe

Fresh Over Bottled: I learned the hard way that fresh lime juice makes a world of difference in brightness.
Adjust Sweetness Slowly: Add simple syrup little by little and taste as you go to avoid over-sweetening.
Chill Ingredients: Keeping your cranberry juice and tequila cold ahead of time helps your margarita stay icy longer without dilution.
Use Quality Tequila: Choosing a good silver tequila makes the drink smoother and more enjoyable — don’t skip this step.

How to Serve Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe

A clear tall margarita glass with a salted rim holds a bright red drink with ice cubes floating inside. On the rim, there is a slice of green lime and three small red berries. The glass sits on a white marbled surface, scattered with whole red and dark red berries. Behind the glass, a large clear glass pitcher contains the same red drink with floating lime slices and berries. A stack of plain white plates is placed next to the pitcher. To the left, there is a green pine wreath decorated with pine cones and red berries, resting on a white cloth with red stripes. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Festive Cranberry Margarita, holiday margarita recipe, cranberry margarita, holiday cocktail, easy festive drinks

Garnishes

I always go for fresh lime wedges and pop in a handful of fresh cranberries — they add that festive red hue and a little crunch when you bite one. Sometimes I toss a sprig of rosemary in the glass for an herbal aroma that surprises and delights guests.

Side Dishes

Pair this cocktail with easy party bites like spiced nuts, queso dip with tortilla chips, or stuffed jalapeño poppers. I find the tartness cuts through the richness of these snacks beautifully, making it a crowd favorite combo!

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like serving these margaritas in clear glass mugs or winter-themed glasses. Adding cocktail picks with cranberries and lime chunks on the side looks super festive. And honestly, popping in a cinnamon stick as a stirrer adds a subtle holiday spice and a fun conversation starter.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have any leftover margarita mix, just cover the pitcher tightly and refrigerate. It stays fresh for up to 24 hours, but I suggest giving it a quick stir before serving again since some ingredients can settle.

Freezing

While I haven’t tried freezing the full cocktail, you can freeze the cranberry juice and lime juice separately if you want to prep ahead. This way, mixing fresh when ready is quick and easy.

Reheating

You won’t want to reheat this cocktail — it’s best served cold and fresh. If the mix thickens a bit in the fridge, just stir or give it a quick shake and pour over fresh ice.

FAQs

Can I make the Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe in advance?

Absolutely! You can mix all the liquid ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Just give it a good stir before serving and add ice and garnishes fresh.
What can I use instead of triple sec?

If you don’t have triple sec, Cointreau or any orange liqueur will work beautifully. For a non-alcoholic option, you can substitute orange juice with a splash of orange extract but reduce sweetener accordingly.
How do I rim the glass for this margarita?

Simply rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip it into coarse sugar or salt, depending on your preference. For a festive touch, you can also use crushed candy canes for a sweet, seasonal rim.
Can I make a batch for a large party?

Definitely! This recipe is perfect for scaling up. Just keep the ratios consistent and prepare in a large pitcher so guests can serve themselves easily.

Final Thoughts

I can’t recommend this Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe enough — it’s become my go-to for holiday celebrations because it’s both simple and stunning. Every time I serve it, people ask for the recipe and end up making it their own too. So pour yourself a glass, relax, and enjoy the season with this joyful cocktail in hand!

Festive Cranberry Margarita Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 102 reviews

Author: Jasmine
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Total Time: 5 min
Yield: 10 servings
Category: Cocktail
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Mistletoe Margaritas, a refreshing twist on the classic margarita featuring tart cranberry juice and a perfect balance of tequila, triple sec, and lime. This easy-to-make cocktail is ideal for holiday gatherings, garnished with fresh cranberries and lime wedges for a seasonal touch.

Ingredients

Liquids

2-4 cups silver tequila
1-2 cups triple sec
4-8 cups cranberry juice
1-2 cups lime juice
1-2 cups simple syrup

Garnishes & Extras

1 cup fresh cranberries
Lime wedges for garnish
Ice

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Combine ingredients: In a large pitcher, pour in the silver tequila, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. Adjust quantities based on your desired serving size and taste preference.
Mix well: Stir the mixture thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the simple syrup is fully incorporated.
Prepare glasses: Fill individual glasses with ice to keep the margaritas chilled and refreshing.
Serve: Pour the Christmas margaritas over the ice in each glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and a few fresh cranberries for a festive presentation.

Notes

Get into the holiday spirit with these Christmas Margaritas, featuring cranberry juice for a festive twist on a classic margarita.
Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of simple syrup according to your preference.
For a salt-rimmed glass, rub lime around the rim and dip in coarse salt before pouring the margarita.
These margaritas can be prepped in advance and refrigerated for convenience during holiday parties.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 317 kcal
Sugar: 36 g
Sodium: 20 mg
Fat: 1 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg