Cranberry Margarita Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Cranberry Margarita Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Give your tastebuds a treat with a delicious Cranberry Margarita! This sweet and tangy pitcher co*cktail is simple to make from scratch and is sure to get the party started!

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Table of Contents

Why We Love This Cranberry Margarita Recipe

This fun twist on a classic margarita is zesty, salty, and with just a little bit of heat. It’s delicious when served cold.

  • Tart. Cranberry and lemon juice make this co*cktail mouth-puckeringly delicious.
  • Tasty. With notes of honey, ginger, and citrus, this margarita is more than meets the eye.
  • Versatile. The simple syrup mixture comes together in just 10 minutes and can be used in this recipe and many others.

Variations on a Cranberry Margarita Pitcher

For a sweeter margarita, use cranberry juice co*cktail or swap out half of the cranberry juice for apple juice. To amp up the orange flavor, you could swap half of the cranberry juice for freshly squeezed orange juice, or try pomegranate juice! For a spicy margarita, try adding a few slices of jalapeño, and for a herbaceous margarita, add some fresh rosemary or basil.

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How to Store

This cranberry margarita recipe is a great make-ahead pitcher co*cktail. Make the whole drink in the pitcher, but omit the ice. Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and it will keep well in the fridge for up to 2 days.

The simple syrup will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. Simply let cool and transfer it to a resealable container.

Serving Suggestions

No margarita is complete without a salt rim, it works so well with the tangy flavors from the cranberry and lemon juice. Rub a lemon wedge around each glass’s top, then dip into salt. I also like to finish it with a sprig of mint for some color and freshness.

I love these festive margaritas with Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas ham, cranberry meatballs, or orange cranberry pork loin.

Is tequila good with cranberry juice?

Yes! I know it may sound surprising, but the subtle sweetness of tequila perfectly balances tart cranberry juice. A cranberry margarita is the perfect co*cktail for your next holiday party.

What kind of cranberry juice do bars use?

Bars typically use 100% cranberry juice because it allows them to control the sweetness with things like simple syrup. I recommend this as well, since we’re using a delicious homemade simple syrup in this recipe.

Are Triple Sec and Cointreau the same thing?

Cointreau is a brand of Triple Sec, so technically yes. Cointreau is a trusted brand from France and their Orange Liqueur is delicious! I find some Triple Sec has a bitter or fake taste, but not Cointreau.

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More Margarita Recipes To Try

  • Apple Cider Margaritas
  • Frozen Strawberry Margarita
  • Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita
  • Frozen Watermelon Margarita
  • Try all of our Best Margarita Recipes!

Recipe

Cranberry Margarita Recipe

4.66 from 20 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

Total: 15 minutes minutes

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Serves8 cups

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This pitcher co*cktail is so easy to make and bursting with vibrant and fresh flavors.

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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Ingredients

For the Cranberry Margaritas

  • cup honey ginger simple syrup (see recipe below)
  • cups cranberry juice
  • 1 cup lemon juice
  • cups tequila
  • ½ cup Cointreau
  • 1 lemon sliced
  • Ice

For the Honey Lemon Ginger Simple Syrup

  • ½ cup honey
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 lemon peels around 2 inches each
  • 1 inch fresh ginger

Instructions

For the Cranberry Margaritas

  • In a pitcher stir together the simple syrup, cranberry juice and lemon juice. Add the tequila and cointreau and stir to incorporate. Add the lemon slices and fill with ice.

    ⅓ cup honey ginger simple syrup, 4½ cups cranberry juice, 1 cup lemon juice, 1½ cups tequila, ½ cup Cointreau, Ice, 1 lemon

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  • To assemble each margarita. Rub the glass rim with lemon and dip into salt. Once the glasses are rimmed fill with the margarita and decorate with lemon wedges and mint sprigs.

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For the Simple Syrup

  • In a small saucepan over low heat, stir together the honey, water, lemon peels and ginger.

    ½ cup honey, 2 lemon peels, 1 inch fresh ginger, 1 cup water

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  • Cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

  • Discard the lemon peel and the ginger and let it cool down completely before using it.

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Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

Yield:This recipe yields 8 co*cktails. A serving is approx. 1 cup (8 ounces).

  • Don’t add ice to your pitcher until you are ready to serve the co*cktail. Adding ice too early will dilute the drink. Alternatively, you can pour the co*cktail over ice.
  • I like to make these cranberry margaritas with Cointreau for a stronger orange flavor, but you can use triple sec if that’s what you have.
  • Let the simple syrup cool completely before adding it to the other ingredients.

    Storage:Store your cranberry margarita pitcher (without ice) covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Store the simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 246kcal (12%) Carbohydrates: 31g (10%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 0.3g Saturated Fat: 0.05g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g Sodium: 6mg Potassium: 162mg (5%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 29g (32%) Vitamin A: 68IU (1%) Vitamin C: 30mg (36%) Calcium: 17mg (2%) Iron: 0.5mg (3%)

    Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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    Cranberry Margarita Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

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    How to Make Cranberry Margaritas Step by Step

    Make the Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan set over low heat, stir together ½ cup of honey, 1 cup of water, 2 lemon peels, and 1 inch of fresh ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Discard the lemon peel and the ginger and let it cool down completely before using it.

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    Make the Margaritas: In a pitcher, stir together ⅓ cup of the simple syrup, 4½ cups of cranberry juice, and 1 cup of lemon juice. Add 1½ cups of tequila and ½ cup of Cointreau and stir to incorporate. Add 1 sliced lemon and fill with ice.

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    Serve the Drinks: To assemble each margarita. Rub the glass rim with lemon and dip into salt. Once the glasses are rimmed fill with the margarita and decorate with lemon wedges and mint sprigs.

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    Cranberry Margarita Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (17)

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    Cranberry Margarita Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the secret ingredient in margaritas? ›

    We'll just tell you upfront: The secret to a tasty margarita is freshly squeezed lime juice (not the bottled stuff) and—here's the real secret—a splash of fresh OJ. That's right. Fresh-squeezed juice from an actual orange (not an orange-flavored liqueur) will produce a cleaner-tasting, more refreshing margarita.

    What is cranberry margarita made of? ›

    For the co*cktail:

    Fill a co*cktail shaker halfway with ice and add 3 ounces cranberry juice, 1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco, 3/4 ounce lime juice, and 1/2 ounces orange liqueur. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds.

    Do you need triple sec for margaritas? ›

    To balance the co*cktail's acidity, triple sec is absolutely necessary for traditional Margaritas, according to Bailon. “Without triple sec, we fall into a different co*cktail category, which is the sour,” she explains.

    How do you make a sweet potato queen margarita? ›

    1 Can of Sprite. 1 Can of Tequila. 1 Bottle of Corona. Fresh LImes & Crushed Ice.

    Why is it called a dirty margarita? ›

    The dirty margarita takes its inspiration from the dirty martini, a classic libation made with strong liquor and a splash of a little something not-so-clear. We swap olive juice for jalapeno brine, making this a drink that packs the heat–and a punch.

    Why do people add triple sec to margaritas? ›

    Triple sec, a term used interchangeably with curaçao, is a type of orange liqueur that provides fruity flavors as well as sweet and bitter notes — all of which are essential for a well-made Margarita. Popular labels include Cointreau, Combier, Pierre Ferrand Curaçao, and Grand Marnier.

    What is in a skinny girl margarita? ›

    Ice , Lime Juice , Tequila , Triple Sec , Salt . Free from Does Not Contain Declaration Obligatory Allergens.

    What's the difference between cranberry and cranberry co*cktail? ›

    Cranberry juice is usually labeled "100% juice." Other fruits are sometimes added to balance the tart cranberry taste, but that label indicates that the product is made with 100% fruit juices. Cranberry juice co*cktail, meanwhile, has added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup for extra sweetness.

    What alcohol mixes well with cranberry juice? ›

    Other great mixers for cranberry juice are grapefruit juice and pineapple juice. Cranberry juice also goes well with alcohols such as vodka, rum, gin, champagne, or red wine.

    Is Grand Marnier or triple sec better for a Margarita? ›

    Can they replace Triple Sec? Both Grand Marnier and Cointreau are excellent replacements for Triple Sec when making a Margarita. In fact, both of these are significantly more expensive and are considered to be better than inexpensive Triple Sec both in quality and taste.

    What is the formula for a Margarita? ›

    In the end, a good Margarita is a question of proportions. It is a simple formula: 2 – 1 – ½ . 2 parts tequila, 1 part lime juice, ½ part cointreau. I like to measure in ounces, because the correct proportions, measured as 2 ounces, 1 ounce, ½ ounces make the perfect sized drink for the glasses I like to use.

    What can I replace triple sec with? ›

    If you don't have triple sec handy, you can substitute with another good-quality orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau. For a non-alcoholic substitute you can add fresh orange juice, or agave nectar/simple syrup, to add a touch of sweetness.

    How do you make Jamie Oliver margaritas? ›

    Fill the jug of a co*cktail shaker with ice, then pour in the tequila and triple sec. Squeeze in the lime juice, pop on the top part of your shaker, then shake hard for about 30 seconds to mix it all together and chill the liquid really well.

    What is margarita queen? ›

    From the makers of Mojitos Tequila comes Margarita Queen, a lemon lime flavored ready to drink margarita co*cktail that is infused with Mojitos Tequila.

    What is a gold margarita made of? ›

    Fill a co*cktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the tequila, liqueur, lime juice, Simple Syrup and egg whites. Shake for 8 to 10 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.

    How do you enhance a margarita? ›

    Adding fruit like mango can add a lot more flavor to your margaritas. While a classic margarita with lime is certainly tasty, adding other fruits can kick your drinks up a notch. Simply blend diced mango chunks along with the rest of your margarita ingredients, then pour into a glass of ice.

    What is a real margarita made of? ›

    In a co*cktail shaker, combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Fill with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds (the bottom of a metal shaker should frost over). Fill glasses with fresh ice and strain margarita into both glasses. Garnish with lime wheels and serve.

    What are truly margaritas made of? ›

    Made with real lime juice concentrate, agave nectar and sea salt to deliver a unique mix of sweet, sour, salty and refreshing flavor in every sip. Bring a Truly pack to your next tailgate for the win!

    What makes a margarita taste like a margarita? ›

    A Margarita is said to have all five main tasting notes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami, making it a perfectly balanced drink. It has a strong citrus flavour from the presence of lime juice and triple sec - an orange-flavoured liqueur.

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