Cranberry Moscow Mule Cocktail for the Holidays
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This Cranberry Moscow Mule is a festive version of the classic cocktail and is perfect for Christmas and the holidays!
A bright splash of seasonal color transforms this vodka drink into a new holiday favorite.
If you enjoy the warm gingery flavor of a traditional Moscow Mule, you will definitely want to give this version a try!
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Cranberry Moscow Mule
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions and to ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required as well as understand the steps and timings involved.
A Moscow Mule is a cocktail made with vodka, spicy ginger beer, and lime juice, garnished with a slice or wedge of lime and mint.
For a festive twist, we’ve added cranberry juice to create a Cranberry Moscow Mule that is perfect for drinking during the holiday season and serving at parties and get-togethers.
If you can source cranberry vodka, you could even use that in place of regular vodka.
Whichever you use, if you love the spicy flavor of ginger beer, you are going to love this cocktail!
Make sure you check out our list of amazing Christmas Cocktail Recipes to get you in the spirit! Right-click and open a new tab to read next.
Ingredients Used In This Cocktail
For your convenience, I’ve linked any specialized ingredients needed for this recipe to Amazon below.
- Vodka – use your preferred brand, or why not try a cranberry vodka if you can find this flavor where you live.
- Cranberry Juice – use 100% cranberry juice, and not a cranberry juice “drink” which is diluted juice.
- Fresh Lime Juice – you’ll also need fresh lime wedges for garnish.
- Ginger Beer – a non-alcoholic carbonated beverage, despite its name! It was once an alcoholic drink, back in the 1800s, but modern ginger beer is not fermented, so it is classed as a soft drink. That said, there is Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer available, which makes it clear that it contains alcohol. I mention all of this should you wish to make the mocktail version (see the cocktail alternatives in this post).
- An optional garnish is made using fresh rosemary and fresh cranberries.
Moscow Mules are often served in copper mugs, which take on the cold temperature of the liquid. Our cocktail recipe may be a twist on the traditional, but you can still serve them in the traditional mugs!
This cocktail is shaken, but don’t worry if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you could just use a container with a tight-fitting lid – like a mason jar or even the cup on a blender or smoothie maker.
More Cocktails To Make
Want to make more cocktails? I think you’re going to love these ones:
- Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail with Citrus Vodka & Lime
- Super Easy Eggnog Recipe
- Skittles Vodka Cocktail + How To Infuse Vodka with Skittles Candy
Cranberry Moscow Mule Variations
I like to try and give variations on the cocktails shared on The Purple Pumpkin Blog, and especially turning the cocktail into a mocktail so that non-drinkers (and kids if suitable) can enjoy the drink too!
Virgin Cranberry Moscow Mule Mocktail (non-alcoholic)
So that non-drinkers can enjoy a mug of this beverage, it is really very simple – leave out the alcohol!
The classic hallmark of a Moscow Mule is the ginger beer, which is non-alcoholic, so by omitting the vodka, you’re just leaving out the alcoholic element and none of the classic ginger flavor.
To make a Moscow Mule Mocktail, follow the recipe card, but replace the vodka with more cranberry juice and/or ginger beer.
Frozen Mule
Want to turn this Cranberry Moscow Mule into a frozen slushie? Easy! Put all the ingredients in a blender with a generous amount of crushed ice – then blend till smooth. Serve with a straw, and watch out for brain freeze! You could do the same with the mocktail version too.
Worldwide Moscow Mule Variations
I’m always learning new things as I share recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog, and one of those is that a Moscow Mule is a buck cocktail. A buck is made with ginger ale or ginger beer, citrus juice, and any of a number of base liquors. Buck cocktails are sometimes called “mules” due to the popularity of a vodka buck that is known as a Moscow Mule. And vice versa! (Thanks Wiki!)
So here are some variations you might like to try. Just replace the vodka in the recipe card with the other liquors below:
- Kentucky Mule – Bourbon
- New Orleans Mule – Bourbon and Coffee Liqueur
- London Mule – Gin
- Mexican Mule – Tequila
- Jamaican Mule – Spiced Rum
- Aussie Mule – Bundaberg Rum
- Irish Mule – Irish Whiskey
- Glasgow Mule – Blended Scotch whisky and St-Germain Liqueur
- French Mule – Cognac and dash of Angostura Bitters
- Southern Mule – Southern Comfort
Cranberry Moscow Mule Party Punch
Want to make this cranberry cocktail for a crowd? It’s so easy! Here’s how to do it!
As long as you use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.,) for the “1 part”, the ratios will be correct and you can make as much as you need to.
Serve the large batch cocktail in drinks dispensers, pitchers, or go really retro and serve it from a punch bowl! Whichever container best suits your event (and the drink!).
Make sure you add plenty of ice to your serving receptacle of choice to keep the cocktail chilled. You could add lime slices and fresh cranberries in there too if you like.
For garnish, provide lime wedges, and fresh rosemary stems skewered with cranberries.
Provide copper cups and/or cocktail glasses in the bar/serving area along with a filled ice bucket, stirrers, straws, and cocktail decorations if suitable!
To make a big batch of Cranberry Moscow Mule Party Punch, mix together:
- 5 parts Vodka
- 2 parts Cranberry Juice
- 1 part Lime Juice
- 12 parts Ginger Beer
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
How Do I Make Cranberry Moscow Mule?
Just check out the recipe card below with full ingredients and instructions. You can print the card out too (don’t worry, any pics don’t print to save your ink!).
Cranberry Moscow Mule
A festive twist on a classic Moscow Mule cocktail
Ingredients
- 5 oz vodka
- 2 oz 100% cranberry juice
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 12 oz ginger beer
Optional Garnish
- Fresh rosemary sprigs, bottom leaves removed, approximately 2-3"/5-7cm long
- Fresh cranberries
- Fresh lime wedges
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
- Shake well and pour into ice-filled copper mugs.
- Top off mug with ginger beer and stir to combine.
- If using, make the cranberry sprig garnish, carefully thread 3 fresh cranberries onto the bottom of each rosemary stem.
- Garnish with rosemary sprigs and/or lime wedges, if desired, before serving. Enjoy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 308Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 18mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 3gSugar: 30gProtein: 1g
This site uses Nutritionix to provide estimated nutrition. Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Meal!
The beverage is covered, but what about other dishes to make this recipe into a full meal? Here are my suggestions!
- Appetizer: Brie and Cherry Appetizers with Phyllo Pastry Cups
- Main Dish: Pecan Crusted Pork Chops with a Fresh Plum Sauce
- Side Dish: Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Dessert: Pumpkin Spice Baileys Cupcakes Recipe
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy! Please feel free to check them out too.
The Create the Holidays series on The Purple Pumpkin Blog features free printables, crafts, recipes, and more for Christmas and the Winter Holidays. Check out Create the Holidays (formerly Create Christmas) from 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.