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The most festive Frosted Mistletoe Margarita. Tis’ the season. Mixed simply with fresh winter citrus, cranberry juice, orange liquor, and a good splash of tequila. Then blend with ice and top off with fresh rosemary and sweet sugared cranberries. This frosty drink is so easy to create. Simply mix everything together in a blender for a festive holiday cocktail that’s perfectly icy, sweet, and so delicious! A sweet and salty rim keeps everyone coming back for a second round. Tip? Make the punch version to serve to family and friends! Everyone loves a frosty margarita.
Welcome to the very last Christmas Cocktail Saturday of the holiday season! This year’s drinks have been some of my favorites, but I think I saved the most special for last…the Mistletoe Margarita!
I’ve been wanting to make this margarita for a while, but I hesitated because I wasn’t sure we’d want a frozen margarita on a cold December night. BUT, I’ve changed my mind. I’ve decided an icy drink by the fire is actually the best. So, here we are! My favorite cocktail yet! I’ve never done anything like this frosty margarita, so I’m excited…and let’s be honest, everyone loves a darn good tequila cocktail.
And this one? It’s all done up for the holidays…and just in time for Christmas Eve too!
Here are the quick and simple details.
This is such a simple drink. First, gather your ingredients. Good tequila, cranberry juice, Cointreau (orange liquor), fresh lime juice, cranberries, honey, and a bit of orange zest. You’ll also need some sugar and salt for the rim.
Now, mix that sugar and salt, and rim each glass with the salty-sweet mix. Trust me, this is the extra-special holiday touch your drink needs.
Find yourself a cocktail blender. Grab lots of ice and add everything in, then blend, blend, blend.
Pour into your pretty salty sugar-rimmed glass. And drink up! SIMPLE, super festive, and, so very GOOD.
A little holiday tip…
During the holiday season always keep the essentials for a few good cocktails on hand. I like to keep bourbon, vodka, and tequila stocked this time of year. These are my family’s alcohols of choice.
Then I always have cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, limes, and ginger beer in the fridge. These are my go-to mixers. You never know when you’ll need to mix up a quick drink…it’s always a good idea to be prepared!
To make this frosty margarita sparkle.
For a sweet and festive touch, I love finishing with sugared cranberries. Completely optional, but they add a nice “sparkle” to each drink. I make mine using maple syrup instead of just sugar. The maple syrup provides a delicious flavor and makes these festive cranberries super easy to make.
The best part about this drink? It takes only minutes to make but always turns out looking so impressive and extra pretty with its dark red color. I’m planning to make the pitcher next week for Christmas break. My family is already looking forward to this one…they’ve been sent photos are and very, very excited. This frosted margarita is a mix up of all of their favorites.
And with that, let’s kick off the holiday week in the best way possible, with a cocktail in hand. The only way to do it up!
Looking for other Christmas drinks? Here are my favorites:
The Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail
Lastly, if you make this Frosted Mistletoe Margarita, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Frosted Mistletoe Margarita Punch
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 207 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups silver tequila
- 2 cups no sugar added cranberry juice
- 3/4 cup Cointreau (orange liquor)
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 3/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/4-1/2 cup honey, use more or less to your taste
- zest from 1 orange
- 3-4 cups ice
- rosemary and sugared cranberries, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Combine the sugar and salt on a shallow plate. Rim each glass in salted sugar.2. In a blender, combine the tequila, cranberry juice, orange liquor, lime juice, cranberries, and honey. Add the ice and blend until slushy. Add the orange zest and blend to combine. Pour into your prepared glasses. Garnish with rosemary and sugared cranberries, if desired. Drink!
SUGARED CRANBERRIES
- 1. In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups fresh cranberries with 1/2 cup pure maple syrup. Let sit 10-15 minutes. Strain the cranberries, then add them to a parchment lined baking sheet.2. Toss the cranberries with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until all the cranberries are coated. Allow the cranberries to dry, in a single layer, for at least one hour.
Frosted Mistletoe Margarita
Servings: 1
Calories Per Serving: 462 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) no sugar added cranberry juice
- 3/4 ounce Cointreau (orange liquor)
- juice from 1/2 a lime
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2-3 teaspoons honey, use more or less to your taste
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 cup ice
- rosemary and sugared cranberries, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Combine the sugar and salt on a shallow plate. Rim each glass in salted sugar.2. In a blender, combine the tequila, cranberry juice, orange liquor, lime juice, cranberries, and honey. Add the ice and blend until slushy. Add the orange zest and blend to combine. Pour into your prepared glasses. Garnish with rosemary and sugared cranberries, if desired. Drink!
SUGARED CRANBERRIES
- 1. In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups fresh cranberries with 1/2 cup pure maple syrup. Let sit 10-15 minutes. Strain the cranberries, then add them to a parchment lined baking sheet.2. Toss the cranberries with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until all the cranberries are coated. Allow the cranberries to dry, in a single layer, for at least one hour.
Should I substitute anything for the alcohol if I want to make this a mocktail? Thanks!
Hey there,
You can use some ginger beer or sparkling water in place of the alcohol in this recipe. Let me know if you give it a try, I hope you love it! Cheers! xx
Can I make this is big batches?
Hey Courtney,
Totally, that will work well for you! Let me know how this recipe turns out, I hope you love it! Cheers! xx
You make the punch the same way?
Hi Kris,
Yes, the punch is just going to make more:) Let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Could you use pomegranate juice for cranberry, or would it be too sweet?
Thanks!
Shawn
Hey Shawn,
Pomegranate juice would also be great! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Could you make this on the rocks instead of frozen using the same ingredients but omitting blending with ice?
Hey Jen,
Totally, that will work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Where did y’all purchase those lovely glasses? Looks delicious
Hi Nicole,
So sorry, these glasses are old, I no longer have a link. Here are some others you might like:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/shop/shop-holiday/?current_page=tieghans-holiday-items
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Can you use simple syrup in place of the honey? Honey is not my fave. Thanks 😊
Hi Donna,
Sure, that would work for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xT
How far in advance can you make the sugared cranberries?
Hi Victoria,
You could make the cranberries a day or two in advance. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
I am new to your blog and I recently made this cocktail. I didn’t have fresh cranberries but I did have juice so I improvised and made the drinks on the rocks instead if in a blender. They turned out delicious. Thank you!
Hey Annette,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xxTieghan
This was sooooo good! Such a hit for New Years! It’s sweet, but not too sweet like most mixed drinks are. (So my fiancé, who hates sugary mixed drinks, actually loved this too!) For the cranberries—I rushedly just poured on maple syrup and rolled them in sugar and they still turned out great haha. And in place of orange liquor used more tequila + orange juice…still so good! Thank you for another hit, Tieghan!
Hey Kari,
Wonderful! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for making it. Have the best weekend! xT
Any feedback from others on which is better— fresh or frozen cranberries??
Hi Nicole,
Either one works great:) Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, cheers! xTieghan
I served these margaritas this Christmas Eve for a party we hosted, and they were a HIT! Several people asked me to make sure this becomes a traditional offering, they were so good. I used a cocktail shaker and made double batches to order, omitting the honey and orange zest, and served the pretty sugared cranberries and leftover sugar from that process in a decorative bowl so guests could sweeten their drinks if needed. Loved this recipe so much – Thanks Tieghan!
Hey Rhonda,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
This drink is such a winner! The flavors are exquisite & it looks so festive. Will definitely be making this again.
Hey Jenna,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Happy Holidays!? xT
Delicious drink and beautifully festive!
Hi Elisabeth,
Fantastic! Love hearing that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try. xTieghan
This was absolutely divine! There are two recipes showing and the first one (“1 1/2 cups” silver Tequila) was perfect! The 2nd recipe, changeable by serving size, didn’t seem to calculate with same formulations. Anyway, loved this and served it at our Christmas Eve gathering. Yummy!!
Forgot to say, we used 4 Tbsp of pure unsweetened Cranberry juice concentrate (by Dynamic Health) and 16oz of water for the Cranberry juice portion. It was perfect combo with honey and orange liqueur.
Thanks for sharing April!
Hi April,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas!?? xT
I love this recipe! I am a tequila/mezcal girl so am thrilled to try any new recipes that incorporate either. I increased the orange liquor (Patron Citronage is my orange liquor of choice) to 1 oz./1 cup and liked that modification. The tart of the cranberry and the sour of the lime are so nicely complimented by the maple syrup sugared rim (another modification, I omitted the salt on the rim and instead tossed it into the drink, about 1/8 teaspoon, which piques the flavors). Otherwise, the ratio of liquor to non-liquor ingredients is perfect and I can’t wait to add this to my holiday rotation!
Hi there,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas!?? xT
This drink is amazing! I feel reeaaally festive ❄️?
Hi Lori,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas!?? xT