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Ok, I think it’s time for a toast.
First of all, TGIF! I don’t know about you all, but my week has been bonkers busy with work, and I have been counting down to the weekend. Looking forward to some much-needed hang out time with friends, officially starting the move into my new loft (with my new kitchen!!), and a little pie baking (of course, with my favorite homemade pie crust) for a Hallmark shoot. Cheers to the weekend!
Finally, shall we toast with one of my new favorite drink recipes? You all know how obsessed I am with margaritas. So the only reasonable thing to do for the holiday season was to — of course — whip up a cranberry margaritas recipe! Cheers to that!
I happen to have also been on a bit of a cranberry juice kick lately. I somehow rediscovered Grape Nuts this year, and my favorite thing to pair with them for breakfast is a nice iced glass of cranberry juice. (And for what it’s worth, I highly recommend the 100% not-from-concentrate Simply Cranberry Cocktail. Delish!)
So when happy hour arrived yesterday, I decided to take a shortcut and just whip up a batch of cranberry margaritas using store-bought cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed lime juice. If you want to get fancy and make your own homemade cranberry juice, I’ve included a little tutorial in the recipe. But I won’t judge you if you take the shortcut. It’s quick, and easy, and GOOD.
I got a little creative with the garnishing. You can use fresh cranberries, limes (wedges, slices, curls, you name it!), ice (cubed, crushed, blended), or whatever your cranberry-margarita-loving-heart desires.
But bottom line, this cranberry margarita recipe is quick and easy and tasty, and perfect for toasting during the holidays or just any happy hour.
So cheers to all of you out there! May your weekend, or whenever this finds you, be “berry” merry and bright…
Sweet and tart cranberry juice makes for extra festive margaritas!
Ingredients
Scale
1 1/2 cups cranberry juice (I recommend using a brand that is 100% juice)
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup orange-flavored liqueur, such as Cointreau or Triple Sec
ice cubes
Instructions
Stir all ingredients together until blended. Serve over ice in sugar- or salt-rimmed glasses, garnished with fresh cranberries and lime wedges if desired.
OK, seriously, this was AmAzing and so easy! The hardest part was squeezing the limes. I rimmed the glasses with turbinado sugar. Delicious, thank you for sharing!
We think you would be fine to use another flavor of vodka as a basic substitute (if you don’t care for orange), otherwise we can’t really think of a substitute for this. We hope this helps!
molly mocktail —
you can substitute with Agave nectar/syrup! i would personally recommend starting with 1/4 cup and tasting it so it is sweetened to your liking.
After having pinned for a while I finally got around to making these. I cut in half and made in a shaker. These are delicious. I had mostly given up on margaritas. They are so icky sweet I get a headache almost every time I have one. I bought 100% organic juice and these were perfect. Not too sweet and yet not too tart. I will make a pitcher next time! Thank you for getting me back in the margaritas game!
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Doubled the recipe and made a pitcher for Christmas Eve. A fabulous holiday or anytime cocktail. Used Cointreau and high quality tequila, Tres Generaciones.
Kerry —
Made a double batch, way to much lime had to add more cranberry juice.
Did you use 100% pure cranberry juice or the juice that’s listed as cranberry-100% juice that has different juices like apple mixed in? Looks soooo good!
These are AMAZING! Beautiful on your holiday bar or buffet! I had an afternoon party so I cut back on the tequila. A wonderful holiday find for my party!!
Great holiday cocktail! Used 100% cranberry/raspberry juice-all I could get at the time, & garnished with individually frozen fresh raspberries & a lime wedge. Very pretty in a stem glass.
These came out delicious! Very easy to make. Perfect for a galantine’s or winter holiday gathering. I personally added jalapeño to mine for a kick but other guests liked them as-is!
OK, seriously, this was AmAzing and so easy! The hardest part was squeezing the limes. I rimmed the glasses with turbinado sugar. Delicious, thank you for sharing!
Thanks Nikky, we’re so happy you enjoyed them! :D
I made this the other night (after pinning from pinterest). Such a great & easy recipe! Thanks!
You’re very welcome Jessica, we’re glad you enjoyed it! :)
YUM..love that it is not sweet!
Thanks — we’re glad you enjoyed it!
Can recipe be doubled or tripled?
Yes, definitely!
Hi! For making this in bulk, what would you recommend for the amount of alcohol to buy? I’m serving about 30 people!
Hi Marissa! We would suggest (as a rough estimate) making 4-5x this recipe if you want to have enough to serve 30 people. We hope this helps!
So easy to make, even though I didnt have fresh limes it came out fantastic. Whoo! My first cranberry margarita and I love it
Yay! We’re so happy you enjoyed it!
Is there any substitute for the orange liqueur?
We think you would be fine to use another flavor of vodka as a basic substitute (if you don’t care for orange), otherwise we can’t really think of a substitute for this. We hope this helps!
you can substitute with Agave nectar/syrup! i would personally recommend starting with 1/4 cup and tasting it so it is sweetened to your liking.
After having pinned for a while I finally got around to making these. I cut in half and made in a shaker. These are delicious. I had mostly given up on margaritas. They are so icky sweet I get a headache almost every time I have one. I bought 100% organic juice and these were perfect. Not too sweet and yet not too tart. I will make a pitcher next time! Thank you for getting me back in the margaritas game!
I know I’m late to the party ;) BUT I found these in the recipe archive and made them for Christmas this year – HUGE HIT! Thanks, Ali!
As a result, they produce new dash cams that specialize & target those specific needs and wants. With so many options it’s hard to decide which camera is a …
Doubled the recipe and made a pitcher for Christmas Eve. A fabulous holiday or anytime cocktail. Used Cointreau and high quality tequila, Tres Generaciones.
Made a double batch, way to much lime had to add more cranberry juice.
These are fabulous. I recommend using a high quality silver tequila and Cointreau.
It was fantastic
Did you use 100% pure cranberry juice or the juice that’s listed as cranberry-100% juice that has different juices like apple mixed in? Looks soooo good!
Easy recipe and tastes great! I tried blending in traditional margaritas style but stirred is even better!
Should this be sweetened or unsweetened cranberry juice?
These are AMAZING! Beautiful on your holiday bar or buffet! I had an afternoon party so I cut back on the tequila. A wonderful holiday find for my party!!
OMG, I’ve been craving a good marg and this is perfect for the fall!! Thank you!! I added a little salt to get that restaurant marg flavor ?
Sugar free cranberry juice or the sweetened kind?
Great holiday cocktail! Used 100% cranberry/raspberry juice-all I could get at the time, & garnished with individually frozen fresh raspberries & a lime wedge. Very pretty in a stem glass.
It was very tart and as I like my margaritas sweeter, I added simple syrup. It came out great!
Waaaay too tart!! This recipe obviously calls for too much lime juice.i thought the measurements looked odd and it tasted pretty awful.
These came out delicious! Very easy to make. Perfect for a galantine’s or winter holiday gathering. I personally added jalapeño to mine for a kick but other guests liked them as-is!