We’re not doing boring holiday drinks over here. You know I love a good holiday cocktail, and this Mistletoe Margarita is about to be your new favorite. It’s got that classic margarita vibe but dressed up for Thanksgiving and Christmas with a splash of cranberry and the prettiest garnish. It’s festive, it’s fun, and it looks like something you’d order at a fancy bar, but you can totally shake it up at home.
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Mistletoe Margarita Ingredients
- Cranberry Juice: I love to use 100% pure cranberry juice with no added sugars or artificial sweeteners. If you prefer a slightly sweeter and milder flavor, you can use a cranberry juice cocktail. Keep in mind that cranberry juice cocktails often contain added sugars or other fruit juices for sweetness.
- Tequila: For a classic and refreshing profile, blanco tequila is a popular choice. If you enjoy the nuanced flavors of aged tequilas, reposado or añejo may be more to your liking.
- Lime Juice
- Sugar or Sweetener
How to Make Mistletoe Holiday Margaritas
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Mix the Base: In a cocktail shaker, combine cranberry juice, tequila, lime juice, and sugar or sweetener. Stir or shake until the sugar dissolves.
- Add Ice and Shake: Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for 15–20 seconds until the drink is chilled.
- Serve: Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with lime wedges, cranberries, or even a sprig of rosemary for that holiday touch.
Mistletoe Margarita Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup ice
- 2-4 cups cranberry juice Adjust to suit your taste
- ½-1 cup tequila Adjust to suit your taste
- ¼ cup sweetener or sugar Adjust to suit your taste
- ¼ cup lime juice I use fresh limes, this was 1 ½ small limes for me.
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker or pitcher. Shake or stir.
- Taste repeatedly and make adjustments to suit your taste as needed.
- Serve the drink chilled and over ice if preferred.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
It’s basically a margarita that dressed up for Christmas. The cranberry gives it that tart little kick, the lime keeps it fresh, and the sugar smooths everything out. You still get the tequila bite, but the cranberry makes it feel festive instead of heavy. It’s crisp, light, and honestly way too easy to drink.
If you want to keep it simple, a lime wedge on the rim always works. But since this is a holiday drink, I like to dress it up a little. A few fresh cranberries tossed in the glass look pretty and festive. If you’ve got rosemary, stick a sprig in there, it looks like a little Christmas tree and smells amazing with every sip. You don’t have to go over the top, but those little touches make the drink feel extra special.
Mix the alcoholic and non-alcoholic components just before serving to maintain the freshness of the drink. You can prepare garnishes like sugared cranberries, lime wedges, or rosemary sprigs in advance. Keep them refrigerated or set them up in a garnish station for easy access.
You can use triple, quadruple, etc. the amount of ingredients you need to serve a large group.
You can store leftovers tightly covered and sealed in the fridge for 2-3 days.
The quality of the margaritas will change over time, especially if they contain fresh ingredients. It's a good idea to taste a small amount before serving to ensure that the flavors are still balanced and enjoyable. If the mixture has separated, give it a thorough mix to restore its original consistency.
More Margarita and Cocktail Recipes
Watermelon Margarita on the Rocks
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Bacardi Rum Punch
Hennessy Margarita
Vodka Gimlet
Cranberry Mimosa
Jungle Juice
Erik says
Love the tartness! Really fun drink this time of year.
staysnatched says
Exactly!
Kim says
This was delicious and will be perfect to serve to my friends and family on Thanksgiving.
staysnatched says
Perfect for that!
Casey says
OOH I think this would be great for the holidays. Thanks for sharing!
Chenee says
The perfect balance of flavors in this margarita - I will definitely be enjoying this again!
staysnatched says
So glad to hear it!
Colleen says
This is a perfect cocktail for the holidays. Very simple but festive. Cheers!
Sydney says
The perfect Christmas cocktail!
staysnatched says
Yes!