Cranberry Margarita

Give your tastebuds a treat with a delicious Cranberry Margarita! This sweet and tangy pitcher cocktail is simple to make from scratch and is sure to get the party started!

Why We Love This Cranberry Margarita Recipe

This fun twist on a classic margarita is zesty, salty, and with just a little bit of heat. It’s delicious when served cold.

Tart. Cranberry and lemon juice make this cocktail mouth-puckeringly delicious.
Tasty. With notes of honey, ginger, and citrus, this margarita is more than meets the eye.
Versatile. The simple syrup mixture comes together in just 10 minutes and can be used in this recipe and many others.

Variations on a Cranberry Margarita Pitcher

For a sweeter margarita, use cranberry juice cocktail or swap out half of the cranberry juice for apple juice. To amp up the orange flavor, you could swap half of the cranberry juice for freshly squeezed orange juice, or try pomegranate juice! For a spicy margarita, try adding a few slices of jalapeño, and for a herbaceous margarita, add some fresh rosemary or basil.

a red beverage in a pitcher with lemon slices and ice.

How to Store

This cranberry margarita recipe is a great make-ahead pitcher cocktail. Make the whole drink in the pitcher, but omit the ice. Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and it will keep well in the fridge for up to 2 days.

The simple syrup will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. Simply let cool and transfer it to a resealable container.

Serving Suggestions

No margarita is complete without a salt rim, it works so well with the tangy flavors from the cranberry and lemon juice. Rub a lemon wedge around each glass’s top, then dip into salt. I also like to finish it with a sprig of mint for some color and freshness.

I love these festive margaritas with Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas ham, cranberry meatballs, or orange cranberry pork loin.

Is tequila good with cranberry juice?

Yes! I know it may sound surprising, but the subtle sweetness of tequila perfectly balances tart cranberry juice. A cranberry margarita is the perfect cocktail for your next holiday party.

What kind of cranberry juice do bars use?

Bars typically use 100% cranberry juice because it allows them to control the sweetness with things like simple syrup. I recommend this as well, since we’re using a delicious homemade simple syrup in this recipe.

Are Triple Sec and Cointreau the same thing?

Cointreau is a brand of Triple Sec, so technically yes. Cointreau is a trusted brand from France and their Orange Liqueur is delicious! I find some Triple Sec has a bitter or fake taste, but not Cointreau.

a red margarita in a cup with a salt rim.

More Margarita Recipes To Try

Cranberry Margarita Recipe

This pitcher cocktail is so easy to make and bursting with vibrant and fresh flavors.

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings cups

Calories 246kcal

Author Becky Hardin

Ingredients

For the Cranberry Margaritas

⅓ cup honey ginger simple syrup (see recipe below)
4½ cups cranberry juice
1 cup lemon juice
1½ cups tequila
½ cup Cointreau
1 lemon sliced
Ice

For the Honey Lemon Ginger Simple Syrup

½ cup honey
1 cup water
2 lemon peels around 2 inches each
1 inch fresh ginger

Instructions

For the Cranberry Margaritas

In a pitcher stir together the simple syrup, cranberry juice and lemon juice. Add the tequila and cointreau and stir to incorporate. Add the lemon slices and fill with ice.

⅓ cup honey ginger simple syrup, 4½ cups cranberry juice, 1 cup lemon juice, 1½ cups tequila, ½ cup Cointreau, Ice, 1 lemon
To assemble each margarita. Rub the glass rim with lemon and dip into salt. Once the glasses are rimmed fill with the margarita and decorate with lemon wedges and mint sprigs.

For the Simple Syrup

In a small saucepan over low heat, stir together the honey, water, lemon peels and ginger.

½ cup honey, 2 lemon peels, 1 inch fresh ginger, 1 cup water
Cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Discard the lemon peel and the ginger and let it cool down completely before using it.

Notes

Yield: This recipe yields 8 cocktails. A serving is approx. 1 cup (8 ounces).

Don’t add ice to your pitcher until you are ready to serve the cocktail. Adding ice too early will dilute the drink. Alternatively, you can pour the cocktail over ice.
I like to make these cranberry margaritas with Cointreau for a stronger orange flavor, but you can use triple sec if that’s what you have.
Let the simple syrup cool completely before adding it to the other ingredients.

Storage: Store your cranberry margarita pitcher (without ice) covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Store the simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

How to Make Cranberry Margaritas Step by Step

Make the Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan set over low heat, stir together ½ cup of honey, 1 cup of water, 2 lemon peels, and 1 inch of fresh ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Discard the lemon peel and the ginger and let it cool down completely before using it.

Make the Margaritas: In a pitcher, stir together ⅓ cup of the simple syrup, 4½ cups of cranberry juice, and 1 cup of lemon juice. Add 1½ cups of tequila and ½ cup of Cointreau and stir to incorporate. Add 1 sliced lemon and fill with ice.

A pitcher of ginger lemonade with slices of lemon and ginger, served alongside a refreshing cranberry margarita.

Serve the Drinks: To assemble each margarita. Rub the glass rim with lemon and dip into salt. Once the glasses are rimmed fill with the margarita and decorate with lemon wedges and mint sprigs.