Mistletoe Margarita

This Mistletoe Margarita is a festive cocktail made with cranberry juice, orange liquor, fresh lime juice and tequila for the perfect sip. Make it ahead in a pitcher or single serve – just be sure to garnish this margarita with fresh rosemary and sugared cranberries for that extra pop!

Why You’ll Love This Mistletoe Margarita

One of my husband’s favorite drinks is a margarita. So I’ve become a margarita expert. I’m always thinking of ways to make them festive while keeping them fresh, crisp and vibrant. Case and point is my White Christmas Margarita – it looks like Christmas in a cup but tastes like a tropical drink with hints of coconut and zesty lime juice. This Mistletoe Margarita is no different!

• Balanced: This margarita is the perfect balance of tart and sweet with hints of cranberry in every sip, which makes it super smooth.
• Festive: What better reason to make a drink look super fancy than the holidays. This margarita is beautiful garnished with a sugar rim, sugared glistening cranberries and pops of green from lime slices and rosemary!
• Pitcher Recipe: There are two different recipes, a solo cocktail recipe if you just want to make one serving or a pitcher recipe if you’re hosting and want to make enough for a crowd.
• Foolproof: Nothing complicated in this margarita. Just pour and stir or shake! It’s that easy!

What You’ll Need

You don’t need a laundry list of ingredients to make a good cocktail. Simple is best and this mistletoe margarita only have 5 ingredients + plus those fun and must-have garnishes. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.

• Tequila: I like to use a reposado for this margarita.
• Cointreau: This is a type of orange liquor that adds sweetness and a nice orange hint.
• Lime juice: Fresh is always best.
• Cranberry Juice: This is what gives your margarita that fun redish hue and a pop are tartness!
• Agave Nectar: If the margarita is not sweet enough for you, just add a little agave to sweeten it up more.

Mistletoe Margarita Garnishes:

None of these are mandatory. I just find we eat and drink with our eyes first so I like to make things look pretty.

• Rosemary Sprig: This adds no flavor, but gives a fun Christmas flare.
• Lime Slices: For color and additional lime flavor.
• Sugared Cranberries: You’ll just roll the frozen cranberries in granulated white sugar to make them glisten and add them to the margarita for a fun sparkle. There is no flavor from the cranberry, though you might get a slightly sweeter margarita from the sugar melting into the cocktail.

What’s the Best Tequila for This Mistletoe Margarita

Reposado is my favorite to use this margarita. It has a smooth taste and not as much of a bite so it pairs perfectly with the cranberry and lime juice and really let’s those flavors shine through. Here are my favorite brands of reposado:

• Don Julio
• Casa Amigos
• Espolon

How to Make a Mistletoe Margarita

This recipe is so easy it can be made in one step! But I’m going to break it down for you in both the single serve option as well as the pitcher version! Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact directions.

Single Serve Version:

• Sugared Cranberries: To a small bowl, add frozen cranberries and sugar. Mix with a spoon. Set aside.
• Coat Rim with Sugar: This is an optional step, but it makes the drink look fancy. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass. Dunk it in a plate or small bowl filled with sugar until the rim is coated. Set aside.
• Fill the Shaker: Add ice cubes along with liquid ingredients to the cocktail shaker. Put the top on and secure tight.
• Shake it: Shake the margarita really well, until the cocktail shaker is slightly frosted and cold.
• Serve: Fill your sugar-rimmed glass with ice. Pour the mistletoe margarita over top and garnish with rosemary sprig, lime slices and sugared cranberries.

Pitcher Version:

• Fill the Pitcher: Add all the liquid ingredients to your pitcher and mix with a wooden spoon. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Sugared Cranberries: To a small bowl, add frozen cranberries and sugar. Mix with a spoon. Set aside.
• Coat Rim with Sugar: This is an optional step, but it makes the drink look fancy. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass. Dunk it in a plate or small bowl filled with sugar until the rim is coated. Set aside.
• Serve: Fill your sugar-rimmed glass with ice. Pour the mistletoe margarita over top and garnish with rosemary sprig, lime slices and sugared cranberries.

Tips & Variations

One of the best things about cocktails is you can be creative and make it your own!

• Add a Rim: Dip the rim of your glass in lime juice or water. Then dip it in salt, tajin, sugar or make a fun lime sugar mixture.
• Amp up the Rosemary: Light the tip of the rosemary with a match or lighter and let burn for 5 seconds and blow out. Add that to your cocktail for a smoky version of this Mistletoe Margarita.
• Make it Bubbly: Top your margarita with sparkling water to make the drink go a little further and to give it some bubbles.
• Subout the Alcohol: You could use Anejo tequila instead of the Reposada. Likewise, you could use triple sec or Grand Marnier in place of the Cointreau.
• Make a Mojito-Margarita: Add 2-3 fresh lime leaves and muddles them in the glass for a mistletoe mojito-margarita!
• Make it Frozen: Pour the cocktail into a blender and add 1 cup of ice. Blend it until smooth to make a frozen margarita!

Serving Suggestions

This Mistletoe Margarita is great on its own. But if you’re having a holiday party and want the perfect pairings you can serve it with some delicious festive appetizers! Keep the cranberry theme alive with my Cranberry BBQ Meatballs or take a turn to the savory with my Bacon Wrapped Figs. You also can’t go wrong with a Festive Antipasto Skewer Christmas Wreath or these Assorted Holiday Goat Cheese Balls!

More Easy Margarita Recipes:

• Pomegranate Margarita
• Blood Orange Margarita
• Classic Cadillac Margarita
• Spicy Margarita

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