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Made with vodka, fresh lime juice, spicy ginger beer and homemade cranberry syrup, this Cranberry Moscow Mule is a festive twist on the traditional cocktail! Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or enjoying a cozy night in, this simple drink will wow your family and friends and add a touch of seasonal cheer to your menu.
The holidays are a time to celebrate, and what better way to toast to the season than with a cocktail that captures that festive spirit in every sip? The perfect balance of sweet, tart and bubbly, a Cranberry Moscow Mule is as refreshing as it is eye-catching. Garnished with sugar, lime and a few fresh cranberries, this beautiful drink looks like a real live snow globe! Stir up some seasonal cheer with this timeless and celebratory beverage.
Everything You Need to Make a Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Vodka: Any 80-proof vodka will work for this recipe – I usually go with Tito’sor Kirkland!
- Lime: You’ll need the juice of half of a lime for this recipe, as well as an extra slice of lime for an optional garnish!
- Ginger Beer: Any non-alcoholic ginger beer will work for this! (Or you could use alcoholic ginger beer for more of a kick!)
- Cranberry Syrup: You can whip up your own homemade cranberry syrup with cranberries, sugar and water, (recipe below,) or you can use store-bought for this cocktail.
- Ice: If you really want to go above and beyond, you could freeze cranberries and water in the bottom of your glass for a full snow globe effect! I opted to use a whiskey block ice cube that when paired with the sugar garnish and fresh cranberries achieves a similar visual effect!
How to Make a Cranberry Moscow Mule
This cocktail is incredibly simple to whip up, making it a favorite of mine when hosting!
- Prepare Glass: To prepare your glass, run lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then rub the edge of the glass in a bowl of sugar.
- Mix Ingredients: Add ice, followed by vanilla vodka, lime juice, ginger beer and cranberry syrup to the glass.
- Add Garnish: Top your cocktail with lime wheel and a few cranberries for garnish and serve immediately!
Serving A Crowd
These drinks are best served on the spot, but the good news is these drinks are so quick and easy! All you need to do is pour each ingredient into a glass. If you’re planning on serving a crowd, I recommend lining up your glasses and adding each ingredient in assembly line fashion, then allowing your guests to grab their own once they’re done! You could also add your garnish ahead of time, so your glasses are prepared.
Cocktail Tools
The cocktail seen here is served in this hatch double old-fashioned glass! Of course, you can also serve it in a classic copper mule mug. I also have a set of gold bar tools similar to these, which includes a jigger and bar spoon. Check out my full collection of recommended bar tools and glasses.
I hope you enjoy this fun and festive cocktail recipe! Please leave a rating and review if you do try it! If you’re looking for more holiday cocktail ideas, check out my Dirty Chai Martini or Cranberry Aperol Spritz.
Homemade Cranberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 4 oz cranberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup water
Instructions
- Add cranberries, sugar and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, or until sugar has dissolved and cranberries have softened.
- Remove from heat and pour through a mesh strainer into a bowl.
- Transfer syrup into a glass jar or container and store for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Notes
Cranberry Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1/2 lime juiced
- 6 oz ginger beer
- 1 oz cranberry syrup
Garnish
- granulated sugar optional
- cranberries optional
- lime wheel optional
Instructions
- To prepare glass, run lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then rub the edge of the glass in a bowl of sugar.
- Add ice, followed by vanilla vodka, lime juice, ginger beer and cranberry syrup to glass.
- Top with lime wheel and a few cranberries for garnish and serve immediately!
