Nicole RufusAssistant Food Editor
Nicole is the Assistant Food Editor at Kitchn. She writes about recipes as well as developing some of her own. You can usually find her playing around in the kitchen or online “window” shopping. She currently resides in Brooklyn and is getting her master’s in Food Studies.
published Nov 12, 2021
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The tartness of the cranberries pairs beautifully with the classic margarita trifecta: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
Serves1Prep5 minutesJump to Recipe
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Whenever I’m out for a drink, I will almost always order a margarita. Tequila is hands-down my liquor of choice, and there’s something timeless about the classic three-ingredient co*cktail. Plus, there are no shortage of varieties to try, from frozen to flavored.
Today, I’m sharing my latest favorite flavor: cranberry! The tartness of the cranberries pairs beautifully with the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, and you avoid the overly sweet taste that often plagues a flavored marg. This result is a simple, straightforward, and incredibly festive co*cktail — the perfect addition to any holiday spread.
What Type of Cranberry Juice Should I Use?
The best juice for a cranberry margarita is no-sugar-added cranberry juice blend, which is typically a blend of four different juices from concentrate (cranberry, grape, apple, and pear juice). The tart cranberry juice is the most prominent, while the other juices lend a natural sweetness that balances it all out. If you can’t find it, here are a few alternatives.
- 100% unsweetened cranberry juice: This juice is made entirely from cranberries, resulting in a cranberry-forward margarita but also a very, very tart one. If you go this route, you’ll want to use less cranberry juice and add simple syrup to the co*cktail. (You can find this variation in the Recipe Notes below).
- Cranberry juice co*cktail: This juice is also 100% cranberry juice, but with added sugar. It can be used interchangeably with the no-sugar blend.
What Tequila Should I Use?
This recipe calls for silver tequila. Silver tequila packs more of a punch than gold tequila, which has aged for longer and has more of a mellow taste. My general rule is to use silver tequila in mixed drinks and gold tequila when I’m taking a shot.
How to Serve a Cranberry Margarita
To make this drink look and feel extra special, I like to line the rim of each glass with salt and garnish with fresh cranberries.
Cranberry Margarita Recipe
The tartness of the cranberries pairs beautifully with the classic margarita trifecta: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
Prep time 5 minutes
Serves 1
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
Salt rim (optional):
- 1 tablespoon
kosher salt
- 1
lime wedge
For the co*cktail:
Ice
- 3 ounces
- 1 1/2 ounces
tequila blanco
- 3/4 ounce
freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1 medium lime)
- 1/2 ounce
orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
Fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
For the salt rim:
Cut a wedge from 1 medium lime, reserving the rest of the lime for the co*cktail. Pour 1 tablespoon kosher salt into a small dish. Moisten the rim of a 12-ounce glass with the lime wedge. Invert the glass into the salt, turning it as needed, to coat the rim.
For the co*cktail:
Fill a 10- or 12-ounce Old-Fashioned glass with ice. 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. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into the glass. Garnish with cranberries if desired.
Recipe Notes
Unsweetened Cranberry Juice variation:
1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco
1 ounce 100% unsweetened cranberry juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1/2 medium lime)
1/2 ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
Fresh or frozen cranberries, for garnish (optional)
