You have your sweet margaritas and tart margaritas, but how about a margarita with the best of both worlds? Enter the cranberry margarita — the bright berry concoction mixed with our good friend, tequila. This cocktail brings a pop of color and a delicious, refreshing flavor.
How to Make a Cranberry Margarita
You can certainly think pink for this margarita and use traditional cranberry juice. Or you can give your cranberry margarita a frosty look by using white cranberry juice.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1½ ounces blanco tequila
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce raspberry liqueur
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry juice, blanco tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and raspberry liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a highball or rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
For a blended version of this recipe, add 1 to 1½ cups of ice. To avoid a diluted cocktail, freeze cranberry juice in an ice tray and use it as ice for your margarita.
Variations and Substitutions
The cranberry margarita can be simplified or ornate as you choose, with an array of options to make it the best one for you.
- Use lemon juice instead of lime juice or both for a tarter margarita.
- Shake in a half-ounce of agave or simple syrup for a sweeter taste.
- Use cranberry liqueur instead of raspberry liqueur.
- Drop the raspberry liqueur if you want a more focused cranberry flavor.
- Use mezcal for a smokier flavor.
- Add a few drops of cranberry bitters for a more complex margarita.
Related: Sweet-Tart Cranberry Martini Recipe That's Fruity & Fabulous
Garnishes
Don't skip out on the granishes for your cocktail. They add visual appeal and also an extra layer of flavor.
- Add a salt or sugar rim.
- Use a dehydrated lime, lemon, or orange wheel.
- Pierce three whole cranberries on a cocktail skewer.
- Instead of a lime wheel, use an orange slice.
- Consider a citrus peel, either lemon, lime, or orange.
- Add a rosemary sprig for an herbaceous feel.
A Tart Surprise
Margaritas are often considered sour, but the cranberry juice spins this classic into a juicy and tart flavor. This cocktail could easily be your next favorite. Whether you're sitting down in the spring to enjoy a drink or mixing up drinks for the winter holidays, the cranberry margarita is the answer for any season.
