This recipe is meant for people over 21 years old. Please drink responsibly.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Spicy ginger beer pairs perfectly with yummy, tart cranberries.
- Beautiful, delicious, festive cocktail for holiday parties and all winter long.
- Easy recipe can be made by the glass or pitcher!
This cranberry Moscow mule recipe is one of my favorite things to sip on while gathered around the Christmas tree-and, really, throughout the whole holiday season.
The classic drink takes a fun twist, one that fills even the most Scrooge-like party guests with holiday cheer.
🥫 Storage
As most cocktail recipes will tell you, cranberry Moscow mules are best served as soon as they're poured.
If you made a large batch in a pitcher (ice on the side, of course) and have leftovers, you can put it in the fridge in an airtight container.
However, consume it as soon as possible (within a day or so) because the ginger beer starts to go flat once it's poured.
Of course, your taste buds probably won't complain either way. Mine never do.
📖 Variations
- Don't be afraid of flavors-I like orange vodka in this cranberry cocktail.
- You can use fresh cranberries or buy frozen ones. However, if you opt for fresh berries, be sure to give them time to freeze, first.
- Cranberry juice cocktail is sweeter than cranberry juice. You can use unsweetened cranberry juice, but you'll want to also follow the next tip...
- For a sweeter cocktail, you can add a bit of simple syrup. Make it in a small saucepan (one cup of water and one cup of sugar) or buy some near the liquor aisle in your local grocery store.
- You can swap in ginger ale, but either way, use a good brand for the best ginger flavor-you want it to come through!
- In addition to an orange and lime wedge, garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary. It complements the festive red drink beautifully!
- Some people like to use a few fresh mint leaves as a garnish for a different flavor spin.
- Don't knock it 'til you try it, but for an extra spicy signature drink, add a few drops of hot sauce and thank me later!
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: If you have some gorgeous copper mugs, now is their time to shine! Just chill the mugs before serving-the classic cocktail tastes best out of a cold copper mug. If not, any cocktail glasses will do the job.
- Don't forget to buy extra limes so you don't run out. You'll use some for fresh lime juice and the others, unsqueezed, for garnish.
- Given a choice, only the Grinch would serve cheap vodka at a holiday gathering. In this festive cranberry Moscow mule, you'll be able to taste the quality-so splurge a little, if you can.
- Did you know, you're actually supposed to store vodka in the freezer? It gets a little thicker and tastes soo deliciously smooth that way.
- My favorite ginger beer is Reeds extra spicy. Big-brand ginger ale just doesn't do this simple cocktail justice.
- Frozen cranberries are a great way to chill your drink without watering it down. You can also use cocktail "ice" cubes if you have them.
- Bartender Hack: twist a lime or orange peel over the cocktail glass to release the deliciously aromatic citrus oil.
👩🍳 FAQs
It's pretty close, with a fun seasonal twist. The original Moscow mules, served in frosty copper mugs, are made with vodka, lime, and ginger beer. Our cranberry mule just adds a little cranberry flavor and some garnish to make your holiday party more festive!
I wouldn't. Your mule will taste bland that way. The gingery flavor really goes well with the other ingredients in the recipe.
If you've got it, good for you! Go ahead. However, you may need to adjust the sweetness to taste.
📚 Related recipes
- Cream soda and peppermint schnapps give this vodka-based Candy Cane Martini an authentic, yet nostalgic holiday feel. Cheers!
- If you like Whiskey sours, this Cranberry Whiskey Sour will be the Christmas gift you didn't have to ask for-don't wait 'til New Year's!
- Warm up with this Copycat Salted Caramel Brulee Latte. It's creamy, sweet, and decadent, and will make you feel like it's a white Christmas-no matter where you live! (Add Bailey's to keep the cocktail fun going!)
🍽️ Serve with...
Baked Brie Cheese Appetizer looks complicated and elegant but it's so easy!
I have it on good authority that Santa's Whiskers Cookies are the jolly old elf's favorites.
Homemade Gingerbread is always popular at our house.
📞 The last word
Beautiful and sparkly, this Cranberry Moscow Mule has enough holiday cheer to make Ebineezer Scrooge throw a party for the three Spirits of Christmas.
Orange, lime, and cranberry flavors blend with an extra spicy ginger beer that gives you a cocktail your guests will rave about!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Moscow Mule
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 ounces vodka, orange vodka can be used.
- 2 ounces cranberry cocktail
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- cracked ice
- 4 ounces spicy ginger beer, ginger ale can be substituted
- 2 tablespoons cranberries, frozen
- lime wedges
- orange wedges
Instructions
- Mix the vodka, cranberry cocktail, lime juice, and cracked ice in a shaker.
- Shake until the shaker is icy cold and frosty.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
- Squeeze a little of the orange into the glass.
- Add the ginger beer.
- Add the cranberries and lime wedges to garnish.
Notes
- Don't use cheap vodka - it makes drinks taste like rubbing alcohol.
- Keep vodka in the freezer.
- Use a spicy, high quality ginger beer. I like Reeds Extra Spicy. If you've only ever used bland, big-corporation ginger ale you really haven't tasted a mule.
- Use fresh limes.
- Shake everything except the ginger beer with cracked ice and strain into a frosted glass or chilled copper mule cup.
- Add ginger beer to taste.
- If you like it extra spicy a few drops of hot sauce works wonders.
- Frozen cranberries add color and chill the drink without diluting it.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published November 13, 2019. Last updated December 12, 2023 for editorial updates.
Debbie Decker says
Freeze fresh cranberries?
Marye says
Yes. Just pop them right in the freezer.
Sue Lau says
There is a Jamaican restaurant not too far which makes excellent ginger beer fresh and on site. It does pack heat. I think I'll have to run down and grab a few to make this. Ordinary ginger ale in a supermarket can tastes nothing like it.
Carrie C. says
Great idea! If I throw cranberries in my freezer right now, they'll be ready in time for my "Walking Dead" viewing tonight. (I sure as heck won't watch that sober!)
Marye Audet says
I don't think I could watch it drunk OR sober!