With tart cranberry juice, fresh orange and lime juice, as well as tequila and triple sec, served over frosty crushed ice, and topped off with a sweet orange sugar rim, this Frosted Cranberry Margarita is the perfect holiday cocktail to have you feeling festive.
Coming up with this Frosted Cranberry Margarita I wanted a cocktail that was festive and bright for the holidays, but was also super quick and easy to make. With just 5 ingredients, these margaritas are super easy to mix up by the cocktail or by the pitcher.
With tart cranberry juice, tangy lime, sweet orange juice, fruity triple sec, and silver tequila, all served over crushed ice, these Frosted Cranberry Margaritas are super frosty with a delicious balance of sweet and tart. Plus, these drinks are even more festive served rimmed with a sweet and floral orange sugar and beautiful sugared cranberries. Just look at that festive cranberry red color paired with the sugared rim – it just screams Christmas to me!
How Do You Make Sugared Cranberries?
While the sugared cranberries are basically optional for these Frosted Cranberry Margaritas, they really do make them that much more festive. Plus they are so easy to make, so if you have the time (and the cranberries!), I definitely recommend it.
To make the sugared cranberries for garnishing these margaritas, you just need a couple of things:
- Make the Simple Syrup: Mix equal parts water and sugar (1 cup each) in a sauce pan. Bring to boil, and stir just until sugar is dissolved, then remove from heat.
- Add Cranberries: I like to add the cranberries in while the syrup is still warm as it cooks and softens the cranberries just a bit. Just add the cranberries directly to the pot, stir to coat each one, and then remove using a slotted spoon. Spread the cranberries out on a baking sheet and let sit 1 hour.
- Coat in Sugar: After the cranberries have rested, they should be sticky. Toss them in a bowl with ¼ cup of the orange sugar (recipe below), and coat each one. Refrigerate uncovered until ready to use.
Can I Make These Frosted Cranberry Margaritas By the Pitcher?
Yes, absolutely, this Frosted Cranberry Margarita cocktail, would be a perfect cocktail recipe to scale up for a party. To make the margaritas by the pitcher, just increase the quantities proportionally for your needs. For example, to make about 8 cocktails just measure the following quantities into a large 64 oz (8 cup) pitcher.
Pitcher of Frosted Cranberry Margaritas:
- 2 cups tequila
- 3 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup lime juice
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 cup triple sec
Wait to add the ice until serving, by filling each sugar rimmed glass with crushed ice and topping with Frosted Cranberry Margarita so that these are extra frosty and chilly.
Looking for More Margarita Recipes?
These Frosted Cranberry Margaritas are sure to brighten up any holiday gathering or cocktail party. Looking for more festive margarita and cocktail recipes to get you in the holiday spirit? Check out some of my favorites:
- Strawberry Blood Orange Margarita Pitcher
- Frozen Orange Sherbet Margarita
- Spicy Blood Orange Margarita
- Raspberry Lemon Champagne Cocktail
What’s your favorite holiday cocktail recipe?
Frosted Cranberry Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz triple sec
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
- 3 oz 100% cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail)
Orange Sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- zest of 1 orange
Sugared Cranberries
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
To Make the Frosted Cranberry Margarita:
- Twirl a cut lime around the edge of cocktail glass. Dip in orange sugar to coat the rim.
- In a cocktail shaker, add tequila, triple sec, cranberry, lime, and orange juice with a couple of ice cubes. Shake until chilled.
- Fill rimmed glass with crushed ice, pour cocktail over ice. Garnish with sugared cranberries and serve.
To Make the Orange Sugar:
- Mix sugar and zest of 1 orange in a small food processor. Pulse a couple of times until equally combined.
To Make the Sugared Cranberries:
- Mix sugar and water in a sauce pan. Bring to boil, and stir just until sugar is dissolved, then remove from heat.
- Add the cranberries directly to the pot while syrup is still warm, stir to coat each one, and then remove immediately using a slotted spoon. Spread the cranberries out on a baking sheet and let sit 1 hour.
- Toss cranberries in batches in a large bowl with ¼ cup of the orange sugar, and coat each one.
- Refrigerate uncovered until ready to use.
Notes
If you prefer the drink a little sweeter, reserve the simple syrup from making the sugared cranberries, and add a splash to the cocktail to your desired sweetness.