Celebrate the holidays with a Cranberry Margarita! This festive cocktail combines cranberry juice, orange juice, and a hint of fresh rosemary in a delicious margarita that’s perfect for any celebration!

Margaritas. We know them, we love them, and they’re about to become our new favorite holiday cocktail! Now… I know what you’re thinking. Margaritas for Thanksgiving? Margaritas for Christmas? It doesn’t sound quite right. But trust me… this Cranberry Margarita is EXACTLY what your holiday season needs.

Why? Because it’s a whole new twist on a margarita! It combines the delicious flavors of cranberry, orange, and rosemary… the quintessential holiday flavors… in a delicious, festive cocktail. THE cocktail we’ve all been waiting for.

And just like the holidays… these drinks are fully decorated, too! They start with a gold sugared rim and end with fresh whole cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary. They’re easy to make individually or by the pitcherful… and they’re GUARANTEED to be a hit wherever you serve them!

What’s in a Cranberry Margarita?

Tequila – The base for this margarita is, of course, tequila! I used silver tequila for a milder flavor and because I wanted the color of the juice to shine. You can feel free to substitute any tequila you prefer.

Cranberry juice – Cranberry juice is the next key ingredient, and I used 100% cranberry juice. This means there are no other juices or sugars added, which is exactly what I wanted to balance out the sweetness of the simple syrup. 100% cranberry juice can be found in large bottles or mini bottles, which are convenient for a recipe like this which doesn’t use a large amount.

Orange juice – In addition to the cranberry juice, I added orange juice for both flavor and color. I love the cranberry orange flavor combo, and I really love the gorgeous color the two created in this cocktail!

Triple sec – Triple sec is an orange flavored liqueur that’s a common ingredient in any margarita. It pairs well with the cranberry flavor and also adds an extra boost of orange flavor to the juice. Feel free to substitute Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or any type of orange liqueur.

Rosemary simple syrup – Rosemary simple syrup is an optional yet delicious addition to this drink. Not only does it add a nice level of sweetness, but it definitely gives this margarita a festive feel which was exactly my goal. If you’re not a fan of rosemary, feel free to substitute regular simple syrup.

Garnishes – For garnishes, I kept it simple with fresh cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary. You could also add an orange slice if you’d like.

How to make a Cranberry Margarita

Prepare the glass – Prepare the glass by dipping your finger in the simple syrup and running it along any part of the glass you’d like to coat with sugar. Then roll the glass in coarse colored sugar (I used gold) to stick. Carefully fill the glass 2/3 full with ice.

Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker – In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, cranberry juice, orange juice, triple sec, and rosemary simple syrup.

Pour over ice – Shake the mixture well, then pour it over ice in the prepared glass.

Garnish & enjoy – Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary as desired. Enjoy!

How to make rosemary simple syrup

Rosemary Simple Syrup is a simple combination of water, sugar, and fresh rosemary. To make it, you simply boil equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves, add 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, cover with a lid, and remove it from the heat. Once the mixture cools, you have a deliciously sweet rosemary-infused syrup that’s perfect for adding to any of your favorite cocktails!

Recipe variations

Use any type of tequila you prefer
Substitute cranberry juice cocktail OR low sugar cranberry juice
Omit the orange juice
Substitute Cointreau or Grand Marnier for the Triple Sec
Substitute regular simple syrup for rosemary flavored simple syrup
Substitute lime juice for the orange juice for a completely different twist!

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