Festive cocktails are a must at this time of year and cranberries couldn’t be more perfect for using in all sort of drink recipes. I happen to love making margaritas with cranberries because their tart flavor goes perfectly with lime juice, tequila, and a few sugared cranberries. The color is a vibrant reddish pink and its perfect for holiday entertaining. This recipe for my delicious cranberry margaritas is one that you will be making all holiday season long.

I don’t know about you but from Thanksgiving on I always find myself with a half opened bag of cranberries just hanging out in the fridge and cocktails are the perfect solution for using up those leftover cranberries. I like to make a cranberry simple syrup by simmering cranberries, sugar, and water until it’s nice and syrupy and then I strain out the cranberries and chill the syrup thoroughly. This syrup can be made and kept in your fridge for up to a month so it’s great to keep on hand for festive cocktails that can be ready when you are! Alternatively you could use a store bought cranberry juice, but the flavor is so much better if made homemade in my opinion.

After the simple syrup is made I simply mix it with tequila, lime juice, a squeeze of orange juice, and then shake it all to combine. I rim a glass with sugar and fill it up with ice and then pour the margarita over top. I garnish with a few sugared cranberries and I’m telling you this drink is beautiful and delicious.

I can’t wait for you to give this one a try for yourself! Cheers!

Ingredients:

2 Cups Fresh Cranberries
2 Cups Water
1 Cup Sugar + extra for rimming
4 Oz. Tequila
1/2 Cup Lime Juice + wedges for garnish
Orange Slices

For the Sugared Cranberries-

1 Cup Fresh Cranberries
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Sugar + more for dusting

Note: You can also add triple sec to the cocktail if desired.

Directions:

Make the cranberry simple syrup by combining cranberries, sugar, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer 5-10 minutes until cranberries burst. Let cool slightly and then strain out the cranberries. Chill the remaining syrup thoroughly.
Make the sugared cranberries by combining water and sugar and bringing to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved and then turn off heat and add cranberries. Toss to coat in sugar water.
Strain the cranberries and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet and let cook completely. Toss in sugar when cool and eat as is or use as garnish.
Combing 4 Oz. of cranberry simple syrup, 4 oz tequila, lime juice, and half of the juice of an orange into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake to chill and combine.
Rim a glass with a lime wedge and then turn upside down on a plate with sugar and coat the rim.
Fill the glass with ice and pour the margarita over top.
Garnish with lime wedges and sugared cranberries and serve immediately.

Didn’t I tell y’all that these cocktails are so beautiful? I hope you will add them to your holiday entertaining menu this year! Cheers friends!

Delicious Cranberry Margaritas