Festive Cranberry Margaritas for Christmas Cocktail Parties!
Home » COOK » Recipes » Beverages » Cocktails »If it’s 5 o’clock and you need a Christmas cocktail, then you simply must make these festive Cranberry Margaritas!
This classic drink gets a holiday twist and uses cranberry juice as well as the usual margarita ingredients. Cheers!
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Cranberry Margaritas
While you may prefer to skip to the recipe card, we recommend reading through the blog post to avoid missing valuable tips and substitution suggestions and to ensure you have the necessary ingredients, equipment, and understanding of the steps and timings.
Traditionally, margaritas are considered a warm-weather drink, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this delicious and popular cocktail all year!
This holiday-friendly version lends a festive twist with its bright splash of color and a fun, seasonal garnish made with fresh cranberries threaded onto rosemary sprigs.
After the year we’ve had, it definitely feels like it should be 5 o’clock all—the—time, right?!
And if margaritas are your favorite cocktail, try this seasonal recipe, just one of the Unique Margarita Recipes we have here on The Purple Pumpkin Blog
Check out our list of amazing Christmas Cocktail Recipes to get you in the spirit!
Ingredients Used In This Cocktail
The ingredients and tools for this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers such as Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart. The quantities are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Tequila
- Cointreau – or other orange liqueur.
- Cranberry Juice – use 100% juice and not a “juice drink,” which is diluted juice.
- Fresh Lime Juice – you can also use fresh lime wedges for garnish.
- The [optional] garnish is made using fresh rosemary and fresh cranberries.
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.
How Do You Salt the Rim of a Margarita Glass?
Traditionally, margaritas are served in the eponymous margarita glass, a stepped-diameter variant of a champagne coupe.
The rim of the glass is often dipped in salt; however, as you can see, we used regular glasses and didn’t dip!
However, there is no reason why you can’t rim your glass with salt. You don’t have to use the margarita-shaped glasses for this cocktail – use any glass you have! The method for adding salt to the rim of a glass is exactly the same!
- Pour some salt (kosher salt/sea salt flakes work well) onto a small plate or saucer.
- Cut a wedge of lime and then cut a notch/sit into the flesh – and run it around the rim of the glass to add juice to the inside and outside edges.
- Dip the glass rim into the salt and give it a twist or two (like you’re cutting cookies from pastry dough).
- And you’re done!
You can buy cocktail-rimming dishes online (there is a gadget for everything!), but a small plate or saucer will work fine.

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
- Reindeer Cocktail – Vodka Cranberry Spritzer
- Naughty Elf Cocktail
We have a collection of 70+ Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes for you to try out! Right-click and open them in a new tab to read next.

Cranberry Margarita 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 Margarita Mocktail (non-alcoholic)
So that non-drinkers can enjoy an alcohol-free version of this festive cocktail, we are removing the alcohol and using a Sun-Dried Orange Syrup to replace the orange liqueur. You can add some extra lime juice for the tequila, or if you’re in the US, you could try Ritual Tequila Alternative – a zero-alcohol tequila!
I love the Monin brand of syrups as there are many flavors and they are a very versatile ingredient that can be used in cocktails, mocktails, coffee, cocoa, shakes, smoothies, and more.
To make a Cranberry Margarita Mocktail, follow the recipe card, but replace the alcoholic elements with the syrups suggested above.
I haven’t made the mocktail version, so I recommend adding the syrups to taste as they may add a sweetness that you may not necessarily get from alcoholic liqueurs.
Frozen Cranberry Margaritas
Want to turn this festive margarita 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.
Cranberry Margarita Party Punch
Want to make this cranberry tequila drink 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, or 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.
Provide margarita glasses and/or other cocktail glasses in the bar/serving area along with a filled ice bucket, stirrers, straws, and festive cocktail decorations if suitable!
You could also prep a bunch of rosemary and cranberry skewers for guests to garnish their drinks.
To make a big batch of Cranberry Margarita Party Punch, mix together:
- 3 parts Tequila
- 2 parts Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
- 2 parts Cranberry Juice
- 1½ parts Lime Juice
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 Margaritas?
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 Margaritas
Ingredients
- 3 oz tequila
- 2 oz Cointreau or other orange liqueur
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 1½ oz fresh lime juice
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 tequila, Cointreau, and both juices.
- Shake well and strain into ice-filled glasses.
- 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 and Happy Holidays!
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: Baked Coconut Shrimp with Avocado-Lime Dip
- Main Dish: Pecan Crusted Pork Chops with a Fresh Plum Sauce
- Side Dish: Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Dessert: Poached Pears with Honey Mascarpone Cream
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy! Please feel free to check them out too.