Cranberry Orange Margarita
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Celebrate the holidays with a fun and festive Cranberry Orange Margarita. It combines the tartness of cranberry juice, the citrusy sweetness of orange juice and orange liqueur with silver tequila that’s finished off with a salt or sugar rim on the glass!
You didn’t think that margaritas were just for summer did you? It’s the perfect cocktail to serve during during the holiday season, and always a crowd pleaser!
The combination of cranberry and orange adds a bright and tangy flavor profile to classic margarita ingredients, that’s the perfect festive and colorful drink recipe. Not too tart, not too sweet…it’s just right!
For even more Christmas and Thanksgiving cocktails, check out these recipes too! Holiday Relaxer, Pomegranate Orange Holiday Punch, and Blood Orange Martinis.
What you’ll need
- Silver tequila – A distilled alcoholic beverage made primarily from the blue agave plant, which is primarily grown in the Tequila region of Mexico.
- Cranberry juice – 100% pure, not cranberry juice cocktail
- Orange juice – Fresh squeezed will give you the best flavor, but a good quality, low-pulp juice in a carton will work too.
- Orange liqueur – such as Cointreau or triple sec – A sweet and flavored liqueur with a distinct orange flavor, that’s used to add sweetness and a hint of citrus.
- Simple syrup – A combination of water and granulated sugar that adds a little sweetness (optional)
- Kosher salt or granulated sugar – to rim the glass
- Ice cubes
- Orange slices or wedges – to garnish
- Fresh cranberries (or frozen) to garnish
- Cocktail shaker or mason jar & rocks glass or margarita glass
Please check out the printable recipe card below for complete and detailed instructions.
How to make an easy cranberry orange margarita
Salt the rim: Rim a rocks glass with salt or sugar, if desired. You can do this by running an orange wedge along the rim of a glass and dipping it into a plate of salt or sugar.
Combine: In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, triple sec, fresh orange juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup (if using). Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously until well chilled.
Pour, garnish, and serve: Strain the mixture into the cocktail glass over the fresh ice. Garnish your Cranberry Orange Margarita with an orange and a few cranberries.
Expert tips for cranberry margaritas
- To sweeten, or not to sweeten: I always use unsweetened fruit juices so I can control the sweetness of the drink, and I gave up sugar 5 years ago. I have included simple syrup in the ingredients for those of you that prefer a sweeter cocktail. Start with a small amount and add more if needed.
- Tequila: the amount used is up to personal preference. Again, start with less if you do not like strong drinks – you can always add more!
- Alcohol-free: Omit the tequila and orange liqueur, and increase the amount of orange juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup.
- Feeling fancy: To add bubbles to your cocktail, top off with a splash of sparkling water.
FAQ’s
You can use a blanco tequila (silver) for a clean and crisp taste or a reposado tequila for a slightly aged and smoother flavor. A high-quality tequila (Casamigos or Cabo Wabo) will generally result in a better-tasting margarita.
It’s best to prepare the Cranberry Orange Margarita just before serving to ensure the freshness of the flavors. You can, however, prepare the mixture (without ice) in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Shake with ice and serve when ready.
Yes, you can absolutely make a big batch of cranberry orange margaritas for a party! For 8 servings: Combine 1.5-cups of tequila, 2-cups cranberry juice, 1-cup orange juice, 1-cup orange liqueur, and 0.5-cup simple syrup (if using) in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Pour into ice filled glasses and garnish with orange slices and cranberries.
Serving Suggestions
Cranberry Orange Margaritas will be a delightful addition to your next party, and pairing them with festive appetizers will take it to the next level!
- Cranberry Brie Bites: Serve small bites of baked brie with cranberry sauce wrapped in puff pastry for a delightful combination of flavors.
- Charcuterie Board: Offer a variety of cheeses, cured meats, crackers, and an assortment of condiments like fig jam, honey, and nuts.
- Savory Finger Foods: Small bites like puff pastry sausage rolls, crab puff pastry appetizers, and Swedish meatballs.
- Dips: Offer an assortment of dips, such as spinach artichoke dip, pizza dip, and southwest black bean dip with tortilla chips and fresh vegetables for dipping.
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Enjoy!!
Cranberry Orange Margarita
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces tequila silver – I used Cabo Wabo
- 2 ounces cranberry juice 100% pure – not cocktail
- 1 ounce orange liqueur triple sec or Cointreau
- 1 ounce orange juice
- 0.5 ounce simple syrup adjust to taste
- ice cubes
- orange wedge and fresh cranberries to garnish – optional
Instructions
- Salt the rim: Rim a rocks glass with salt or sugar, if desired. You can do this by running an orange wedge along the rim of a glass and dipping it into a plate of salt or sugar.
- Combine: In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, triple sec, fresh orange juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup (if using). Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously until well chilled.
- Pour, garnish, and serve: Strain the mixture into the cocktail glass over the fresh ice. Garnish your Cranberry Orange Margarita with an orange and a few cranberries.
Notes
- To sweeten, or not to sweeten: I always use unsweetened fruit juices so I can control the sweetness of the drink. I have included simple syrup in the ingredients for those of you that prefer a sweeter cocktail. Start with a small amount and add more if needed.
- Tequila: the amount used is up to personal preference. Again, start with less if you do not like strong drinks – you can always add more!
- Alcohol-free: Omit the tequila and orange liqueur, and increase the amount of orange juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup.
- Feeling fancy: To add bubbles to your cocktail, top off with a splash of sparkling water.
- Make ahead: It’s best to prepare just before serving to ensure the freshness of the flavors, however you can prepare the mixture (without ice) in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Shake with ice and serve when ready.
