Cranberry Moscow Mule

For a sweet and festive cocktail this holiday season, make a delicious Cranberry Moscow Mule!

This fun cranberry mule combines vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice for a tart and refreshing beverage that’s perfect for enjoying around Christmastime!

Just like our Cranberry Apple Mimosas, this cocktail is a beautiful red color and provides a festive spin on the traditional Moscow Mule drink. Serve in pretty copper mugs like these for an authentic mule experience!

Why You’ll Love this Cranberry Mule

Whether you need a festive red cocktail for a Christmas party or you’re just looking for a new spin on the classic Moscow Mule, this light and fizzy cocktail will get the job done!

It’s great as a holiday cocktail with its combination of cranberry juice and ginger beer. And like all of our cocktail recipes, it’s so easy to make and only requires a few ingredients!

Break out a Moscow Mule mug for this beautiful drink featuring fresh cranberries. You can also make a Cranberry Moscow Mule pitcher if you need a large batch for a party or celebration.

Enjoy this holiday drink alongside your favorite appetizers to make the end of the year feel special!

Ingredients for Cranberry Moscow Mule Cocktail

• Vodka – any vodka works fine; I like to choose something with a slightly higher price point for a really smooth cocktail.
• Lime Juice – a staple mule ingredient, this will add a pop of sharp citrus flavor.
• Cranberry Juice – provides a gorgeous red color and a sweet and tart cranberry flavor that makes this drink so perfect to serve around the holidays.
• Ginger Beer – another essential for any mule cocktail, this will add some fizziness and a subtle but spicy ginger flavor.
• Lime Wedge – for garnish.
• Cranberries – another garnish that emphasizes the festive cranberry flavor. I prefer fresh over frozen cranberries, but either should work just fine!
• Rosemary Sprig – adds color contrast and and aromatic flavor.
• Ice Cubes – even in the winter, this cranberry mule is best enjoyed cold!

How to make a Cranberry Moscow Mule

1. Add ice cubes to a copper mug.
   

   Serving your cranberry mule in a copper mug ensures that it stays colder much longer.

2. Pour in the vodka and cranberry juice, then top with ginger beer.
   

   Ginger beer is the crucial ingredient for Moscow Mule cocktails that gives them a bubbly lift and a kick of yummy ginger flavor.

3. Squeeze in the lime juice.
   

   Fresh lime juice provides a distinct and sharp punch of citrus flavor!

4. Add lime wedge, cranberries and rosemary for garnish. 

FAQs

Absolutely! This recipe can be made in much larger portions, as long as the proportions of the ingredients are kept relatively the same.

Making a mule pitcher is a great way to easily prepare lots of drinks at once for a party or to pass and serve at a holiday meal.

Is there a difference between cranberry juice and cranberry juice cocktail?

There is, and it could make or break your cocktail! 100% cranberry juice has no additional sweeteners and is labeled with “100% juice.” Cranberry cocktail, on the other hand, is sweetened artificially, typically with added sugars or corn syrup.

Aside from not being as good for you, it may actually be too sweet for this cranberry mule cocktail. Go for the 100% juice for best results.

 

Popular Moscow Mule Variations and Substitutions

• Make this an Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule by including a splash of apple juice and an apple wedge as garnish.
• For some other fun garnishes, try mint leaves, other berries, or some colorful holiday straws or other festive paper decorations.
• Club soda can be substituted for vodka to make this cranberry mule non-alcoholic. You could also just omit the vodka.
• Rum is a great vodka substitute that pairs well with the flavors of this cocktail, but you could also try it with gin.
• To keep your drink colder for even longer, use frozen cranberries instead of fresh ones!
• Bottled lime juice can be used in a pinch, but the best flavor will come from freshly squeezed juice.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Cranberry Brie Bites – This handheld appetizer combines sweet and tart cranberry with creamy brie inside a crispy phyllo dough shell for the ideal holiday appetizer!
• Caprese Bites – Channel the classic caprese salad into a bite sized appetizer with these adorable cups.
• White Chocolate Bark – You’ll love serving this simple but stunning chocolate bark that includes coffee beans for an extra boost of flavor and energy.
• Crown Royal Apple Cranberry Ginger Ale – Another delicious cocktail that features cranberry flavor paired with sweet and warm spiced Apple Crown Royal.
• Pine Cone Cheese Ball – This delicious appetizer is a great centerpiece for any party, and it looks just like a pinecone!
• Cranberry Christmas Cake – Have leftover cranberries that you don’t want to go to waste? Make this yummy and buttery cake from Barefeet in the Kitchen!

Holiday Cranberry Mule Cocktail