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Shake up a Cranberry Moscow Mule and serve this festive holiday cocktail at your next dinner party or holiday celebration! It’s the perfect drink for holiday entertaining.
Today I’m sharing another recipe made with cranberries! I absolutely love the tart flavor of cranberries, so I try to use them as often as possible. As soon as I see fresh cranberries at my local store, I stock up and enjoy them all season long. And I always try to sneak them into as many recipes as possible this time of the year! If you want to explore cooking with cranberries, check out a few of my favorite cranberry recipes like this cranberry, blueberry and goat cheese salad or these gingerbread cupcakes with cranberry buttercream frosting. This cranberry moscow mule is going to be the perfect drink for entertaining during the holiday season.
Because I love any excuse to eat more cranberries, I added cranberries to one of my favorite cocktails – the moscow mule! The cranberry flavor pairs well with the the fresh lime and tart ginger flavors of the traditional moscow mule drink. This holiday drink makes a regular appearance as the signature cocktail for holiday parties and celebrations. Make a large batch beforehand, and as guests arrive, pour over ice and garnish with fresh or frozen cranberries. It’s a simple drink packed with fresh seasonal flavor.
For holiday entertaining, keep it simple by serving water, tea, beer, wine and a signature cocktail. The cranberry moscow mule is the perfect signature drink. It combines the best flavors of the season with a classic drink that everyone will love. Serve the drink alongside a few holiday appetizers like these rosemary turkey meatballs or cranberry brie bites.
What is a cranberry moscow mule?
A cranberry mule is a fun, festive take on the traditional moscow mule. A traditional moscow mule is made with vodka, ginger beer, lime juice and a lime wedge for garnish. It has a bit of a spicy, ginger flavor that is both refreshing during the summer months or warming for during the winter. To make a cranberry moscow mule, combine the traditional mule ingredients with cranberry juice cocktail. You can also use rum instead of vodka which helps bring out the cranberry flavor in the drink.
Can I substitute another fruit for the cranberry juice flavor?
Yes, you can substitute another seasonal fruit juice for the cranberry juice cranberry flavors in this cocktail. You can add more lime juice or try orange juice, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries or grapefruit to change up the flavors. I love adding fresh berries to make it a fun summer cocktail for the warmer months
How to Garnish a Moscow Mule
With endless flavor combinations, there are endless ways to garnish a moscow mule. Below are suggested garnishes.
- cranberries
- lime wedge
- sprig of fresh rosemary
- fresh mint leaves
- fresh berries
- a colorful straw (not edible)
For a festive holiday garnish, I would suggest topping with fresh cranberries on top with a lime wedge! You can put a sprig of fresh rosemary or mint leaves on top as well. A colorful straw works well as a garnish, too.
Moscow Mule Tips
- To make a moscow mule non alcoholic, substitute club soda instead of the alcohol.
- Ginger beer, an ingredients used in a moscow mule, is non-alcoholic, despite having beer in the name.
- Substitute another liquor for the rum. We like rum in this drink for the holidays, but voldka or gin works well too.
- Serve the moscow mule in copper mugs which helps keep the drink cold.
- We love using Fever Tree ginger beer, but you can use whatever ginger beer you prefer.
Other cranberry recipes for the holidays
- Crockpot meatballs with cranberry sauce and orange
- Spiked cranberry cream cheese spread
- Cranberry crumb cake
- Pistachio Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Any of these recipes would taste great served with this drink at a holiday party. Impress your guests with a beautiful holiday cocktail and some tasty snacks and desserts!
Cranberry Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- 4 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
- 2 ounces dark rum or vodka
- 1 lime, cut in half
- crushed ice cubes
- fresh or frozen cranberries
Instructions
- Place 1 cup crushed ice into a copper mug.
- Add ginger beer, cranberry juice, rum, and the juice of a squeezed ½ lime in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Stir or very gently shake, then pour into the copper mug.
- Top with cranberries and garnish with a lime wheel and serve.
Notes
- Do not overshake the mixture as there is ginger beer in the drink. Gently shake for a second or two or stir. You can also omit the ginger beer in step 2 and pour over just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Kitchen Tools needed to make this moscow mule
- Shaker – this is the cocktail shaker we have. It’s inexpensive and works well.
- Copper Mugs – it’s not a moscow mule without the copper mugs! You can find an assortment of copper mugs available online and in stores.
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Does it have to be dark rum or will silver rum work.
Either works fine. Enjoy!
Is there a flavor or vodka you recommend? We have Berry and I am wondering if that would be ok, but I could run out to get plain if need be.
Sorry, meant flavor of vodka
Hi, Danielle! I just use plain vodka. I haven’t tried it with berry vodka, but that might work depending on how much flavor it has. If it’s like a cranberry or strawberry flavor then it would probably work fine. However, if it’s sweeter or something different than a strawberry or cranberry flavor, then I would go with plain vodka. Rum works too, if you don’t have vodka. Enjoy!
What brand of ginger beer do you recommend?
I use Fever Tree because it’s a good quality ginger beer that is easy to find at any large retailer. But, you can use any of kind of ginger beer if you are unable to find it. Enjoy!
Can you make these more than one at a time and keep in a pitcher for a group? Does it affect the drink at all?
You can, although the ginger beer may go a little flat. To prevent this, I would prep the drinks without the ginger beer. Add the mixture (without ginger beer) to a pitcher and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Right before serving, add the ginger beer to the pitcher and stir. Enjoy!
Tried these over new years and they were a hit! Everyone loved them
Very tasty and easy…I ended up making a big batch in a pitcher for ease when hosting a party.
Thanks so much for your feedback, Suzi! I’m glad to hear you loved this moscow mule. It’s great for the holidays!
love all of the ingredient combinations that you suggest, but also the cranberries, perfect for entertaining this time of year as you write, so thank you for this lovely mule!
Thank you for the comment! Cranberries are not only packed with antioxidants but great taste and flavor too.
Yum. I can’t wait to make these for Christmas Eve. I am sure everyone will enjoy. I did a trial run this weekend and the cranberry moscow mules turned out amazing.
How could it not be amazing with some vodka or rum, ginger beer, lime and cranberry juice? Try serving this mule with a tasty holiday appetizer and you will definitely impress your guests! Thanks for your comment, Nick!