This Cranberry Moscow Mule is the ultimate holiday cocktail … so festive and easy to make, plus super delicious!
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I don’t know about you, but looove a good Moscow Mule. Nice and spicy, please … I want my nose to tingle on that first sip!
While the classic will always be a fave, there are so many ways to have fun with this cocktail. I have a few Mule recipes coming your way soon, but since it’s the holidays, I thought I’d start with this Cranberry Moscow Mule.
You are going to love this drink! Tart cranberries are the perfect counterpart to zesty ginger. It’s just so delicious, and gorgeous, too!
The best thing about this cocktail (besides its wonderful zippy flavor) is that it takes minutes to whip up. Plus, you can make it by the glass or by the pitcher … perfect for a relaxing night at home or a holiday party!
Ready to start sipping? Then keep reading for all the fun details!
About the Drink
This delicious cocktail couldn’t be more perfect for the holidays!
The bright cranberry-ginger flavors are seasonal and festive, and the presentation is beautiful … those pretty copper mugs and the easy garnish are just so cute.
I love a classic-with-a-twist, and this delicious holiday cocktail is exactly that! It has everything you love about a Moscow Mule, but the cranberry juice adds an extra layer of flavor that’s so tasty.
Serve this festive cocktail all throughout the holiday season (and beyond). It makes a wonderful addition to Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any seasonal get together.
Ingredients
Wondering what’s in a Cranberry Mule? If you’ve never made a Moscow Mule before, you might be surprised by how basic they are! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Lime Juice – Fresh juice is a must for this drink! Do not use bottled juice.
- Vodka – Feel free to use your fave vodka for this drink. The vodka is really in the background here, so something basic, but good quality is fine. New Amsterdam is my usual standby, but I also like Tito’s and Deep Eddy.
- Cranberry Juice – Make sure to use sweetened cranberry juice for this recipe, otherwise your drink will be super tart and the flavors will be off. I prefer to use cranberry juice that’s made with 100% juice. It’s sweetened with other juices, rather than added sugar.
- Ginger Beer – It’s important to use a really good quality ginger beer (NOT ginger ale) for this recipe. I love a Moscow Mule that makes my nose tingle with spicy ginger flavor, which is why I used Fever Tree for this recipe. It has that bold ginger flavor that you look for in this cocktail, and it’s not overly sweet.
- Garnish – Serve this cocktail as-is or add an easy garnish, like fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
Simple, right? One of the things I love about this festive holiday Mule is just how quick and easy it is to make.
You’ll Also Need
Here are a few other things you’ll need to make this drink:
- Moscow Mule Mugs – Okay, copper mugs are not required to make this cocktail, but they certainly make the experience more fun! It’s possible to purchase 100% copper mugs, however acids (like lime juice) can cause copper to leach into your drink, and that isn’t good for you. To be on the safe side, I’d recommend getting a set of beautiful lined copper mugs instead.
- Jigger – To measure this drink properly, you’ll need a jigger. If you’re making this Cranberry Mule by the pitcher, then you’ll use a set of liquid measuring cups instead.
- Bar Spoon – A bar spoon is optional, although it will certainly make you feel like a bar tending pro! Use a long, slender spoon (like an iced tea spoon) or a stir stick instead if you don’t have one.
Don’t have cooper mugs? You can use a large rocks glass, highball (or Collins) glass instead.
Want to Make a Non-Alcoholic Cranberry Mule?
Don’t drink? Simply skip the vodka for a festive drink that anyone can enjoy!
If the cranberry-ginger flavor is too strong for you, add a splash of sparkling water or club soda, too.
Can You Substitute Other Spirits for the Vodka?
Vodka is the perfect choice for this Christmas Moscow Mule. It has a neutral taste that let’s the bold flavors of the cranberry juice and ginger beer shine.
That said, you can definitely make this drink with other liquors besides vodka. Try substituting whiskey, rum, or gin, if you’d prefer.
How to Make a Cranberry Moscow Mule
This cocktail is so simple to make, which is why it’s perfect for entertaining guests at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holiday parties!
I’m going to show you how to prepare a single drink first. You should be able to make this Mule in about five minutes.
Once you’ve mastered that, keep reading for the pitcher instructions.
Copper mugs are traditionally used to make Moscow Mules. They don’t really keep the drink any colder than a regular glass, but they do frost up beautifully as you make your drink. Plus, they’re just so dang cute!
Start by filling your copper mug about 3/4 full with ice.
Then, squeeze in 1/2 ounce of lime juice. This is going to be about half a good sized, juicy lime. If you’re serving this drink at a party, cut down on the mess (and make things easier to measure) by squeezing the lime juice ahead of time.
Feel free to throw the lime in the mug when you’re done, or if you prefer, you can discard it.
Tip: if you don’t have copper mugs, use a rocks, highball, or Collins glass instead.
Next, you’re going to add the other liquids. Start with two ounces of vodka.
Top that off with the two ounces of cranberry juice. And finally, you’re going to add four ounces of ginger beer.
The ginger beer is what gives Moscow Mule its signature flavor, so choose something spicy. Like I mentioned above, I really like Fever Tree.
Avoid using ginger ale! It’s easy to mix up ginger beer and ginger ale at the store, but they don’t taste anything alike.
Give your cocktail a good stir with a bar spoon or stir stick. Then, it’s time for the garnishes.
I like to make this Cranberry Mule extra festive by serving it garnished with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary. The rosemary also adds a wonderful, wintery fragrance.
Just a word of wisdom … raw cranberries, while pretty, are not edible. I mean, you can eat them, but they’re pretty unpleasant and bitter.
I think most people know this. But if you see any of your guests going in for a bite, you may want to stop them. Ha!
Isn’t this Cranberry Mule absolutely gorgeous?
The mugs make this cocktail so cute, plus the green and red garnishes really couldn’t get more festive. Right?
And it’s super tasty, too. I plan to sip these throughout the holiday season, and possibly beyond!
Making Mules for a Crowd
Are you throwing a holiday party? Then, this simple cocktail recipe is for you!
It’s really easy to make this Christmas Moscow Mule by the pitcher. Simply use these proportions to scale the recipe:
- 1/4 part lime juice
- 1 part vodka
- 1 part cranberry juice
- 2 parts ginger beer
For example, let’s say you’re starting with 1 cup of vodka. To that, you’d add 1 cup cranberry juice, 2 cups ginger beer, and 1/4 cup lime juice. This would make four drinks, by the way … for eight drinks, you’d start with 2 cups vodka (for 16 drinks, 4 cups, etc.).
If you want make a pitcher of Moscow Mules for a party, I’d recommend mixing everything together ahead of time except the ginger beer, which is carbonated. Stir the ginger beer in right before your guests arrive, so it doesn’t go flat.
Related Recipes
If you enjoyed this festive Mule, here are some other cocktail recipes you’ll like!
- Apple Cider Moscow Mule
- Irish Coffee
- Cuba Libre
- Rum Old Fashioned
- Classic Mojito
- Raspberry French 75
For an easy party, try serving these Mules with my addictive Baked Ricotta Dip, Baked Brie, Gorgonzola Pear Pizza, or Parmesan Pepper Popcorn.
And if it’s cranberries you’re craving, you can find all of my cranberry recipes here!
Cranberry Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 4 ounces ginger beer
For Garnish (Optional)
- fresh cranberries
- rosemary
Equipment
Instructions
- Fill a copper mug about 3/4 full with ice.
- Add lime juice to mug, followed by vodka, cranberry juice, and ginger beer.
- Mix well, then garnish with cranberries and rosemary, if desired.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- 1/4 part lime juice
- 1 part vodka
- 1 part cranberry juice
- 2 parts ginger beer
Nutrition
What is your favorite holiday cocktail?