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Here we go… Christmas drink number TWO!!
Last week was this Christmas Sangria… this week, we’re doing margaritas!! Yess.
I mean, how festive are these?!? Perfect for the holiday season right?!? I kind of love these margarita. They’re quick, easy and such a crowd pleaser…only crazy people don’t like margaritas!!
Before I go, let me just tell you one quick a little tidbit. The first time I made these margaritas, over Thanksgiving, I made them a little on the stiff side. Okay, a lot on the stiff side. So much so that everyone was topping their drink with sparkling water. I know, I know. What a bunch of wimps, right? The good news is that the sparkling water was actually an awesome addition and I have included it in the recipe. I know it’s not typical for a margarita, but who cares, it’s delicious. I’ve also found that with these margs, you need a little sweetness, hence the mass amounts of sugared cranberries. The cranberry juice itself is SUPER tart, so you either need to add a little sugar to your margarita or simply add the sugared cranberries. I personally love the cranberries…hello, so festive!
Also, I gave you both the measurements for a big batch of margaritas as well as for just one drink. If you want to double the big batch, that works great too. Just be sure to adjust the sugar to you taste!
Here is fun little video! It is super short, so check it out!! Happy Christmas Drink Saturday!
Cranberry Orange Margaritas.
Servings: 6 Drinks
Calories Per Serving: 514 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Sugared Cranberries
- 2 cups sugar divided
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
Big Batch Margaritas
- 1 1/2 cups silver tequila 12 ounces
- 2 cups cranberry juice 16 ounces, not cranberry cocktail
- 1/2 cup orange juice 4 ounces
- 1/2 cup orange liquor 4 ounces
- 3/4 cups fresh lime juice
- 2-4 tablespoons sugar or to taste * or use sugared cranberries OPTIONAL
- salt for the rim
- sparkling water to top the drinks with (OPTIONAL)
- slices lime + orange for serving
To make just ONE drink
- 1 1/2 - 2 ounces silver tequila
- 2 1/2 ounces cranberry juice not cranberry cocktail
- 1/2 ounce orange juice
- 1/2 ounce orange liquor
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/2-1 tablespoon sugar or to taste (OPTIONAL)* or use sugared cranberries
- sparkling water to top the drink with (OPTIONAL)
Instructions
Sugared Cranberries
- Bring 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil until the sugar is dissolved, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Stir in the cranberries and let the cranberries sit in the sugar water for 1-2 hour or over night.
- Strain the cranberries thoroughly, then add them to a parchment lined cookie sheet with sides. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and gently toss until all the cranberries are coated in sugar. Allow the cranberries to dry, in a single layer for at least one hour.
Big Batch Margarita
- Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher and stir to combine. Keep chilled in the fridge until ready to serve. When ready to serve, salt the rims of 4-6 glasses. Add ice to each glass and pour the margaritas over the ice. Top off with sparkling water if desired. Add the sugared cranberries and a lime wedge.
To make just ONE drink
- Salt the rim of your glass. Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until combined and then strain into your prepared glass. Top with sparkling water if desired. Add the sugared cranberries and a lime and or orange wedge.
Notes
*If you are not adding the sugared cranberries to your drinks, I recommend adding 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar into the margarita mix. Without any sugar the drinks are very tart.
Cheers to tree decorating…and margaritas with the fam!! Clink, clink!
P.S. I am HORRIBLE at rimming glasses with sugar. Someone, please come teach me!
How did you get the drink to look so dark? Mine is much lighter.
Hi Alysn,
My guess is the different brands of cranberry juice? Did they taste okay? Thanks for giving the recipe a try! xT
Hi! Are you using 100%, unsweetened cranberry juice for these?
Hi Cat,
Yes, that’s what I prefer to use! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Hi Tieghan, this looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it! Q for you: how far ahead of time can I get away with making the sugared cranberries? Thanks!
Hey Kavita,
Thanks so much! You could make those a day in advance! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Would the combined sugar-salt for the rim work with this margarita?
Hi Lori,
Sure! I hope you love the recipe, cheers! xTieghan
My husband and I usually make Mexican-ish food for Thanksgiving (pot roast with Mexican spices, and queso fresco scalloped potatoes, among other things!) since it’s usually just the two of us and we don’t like turkey unless someone else is cooking it. These will be perfect for our dinner. I’ve been obsessed with your festive cocktail recipes since I discovered your instagram last week, and I can’t wait make some for my family over Christmas. My mom especially will love anything with cranberries. Thanks for the inspiration, and have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Hey Mallory,
Thanks so much for your kind message and following along! I hope you love this recipe, cheers! xTieghan
Hello! Where are from your cocktail stick (deer antlers)? Thanks
Hey Anabelle,
So sorry I no longer have a link for those, they are old from Anthropologie. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan