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Putting a festive spin on a classic fall and winter cocktail, with this Spiced Cranberry Thyme Moscow Mule. Homemade cranberry-thyme syrup, vodka, fresh citrus, and sweet bubbly ginger beer. This drink is so easy to create. Simply mix everything together for a spiced cocktail that’s perfectly sweetened, and so delicious! This drink can easily be made into a mocktail. It’s simple to make ahead of time for easy holiday entertaining. And be sure to mix up a large batch to serve to family and friends!
Happy November! I know it’s the 5th, but today is the first cocktail Saturday of the Thanksgiving holiday month!
I would just love for the days to slow down now, I know they’ll go by so fast! As I said last year, I’m doing my best to enjoy the season and do all things holiday!
Cocktails are an absolute must for Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving tables. The classic Moscow Mule is one of my family’s favorites.
I’m excited to share this fun and festive twist with you all! In true Cocktail Saturday form, I’m jumping right into details and keeping things short!
Details
Most Moscow Mule recipes don’t require a simple syrup, but that’s where this recipe begins, with spiced cranberry simple syrup. I really wanted to add cranberries and spices to give the mule festive color and warm winter flavors!
Simmer together the honey, fresh cranberries, ginger, and cardamom. Then stir in the thyme and let the syrup cool.
I prefer to leave the cranberries in the syrup, then I pick out the ginger, cardamom, and thyme. If you don’t want any of the cranberries in the cocktail, simply strain everything out using a fine mesh sieve.
Now, mix the drink.
Add the vodka, lime juice, and either pomegranate or cranberry juice to a cocktail shaker. Add the cranberry syrup and shake it all up to give everything a good mix.
Strain into your favorite mule mug and top off with ginger beer. The ginger beer is KEY. To me, it’s what makes a really good Moscow Mule.
I love the spicy, sweet, and bubbly element it adds.
I didn’t love the sound of grapefruit juice with these flavors so I swapped in fresh lime juice.
With Thanksgiving ahead of us, I’m planning out my menu and holiday cocktails. This one is definitely on my list. To make this easy for everyone, I gave you recipes for both the single drink and the pitcher version, plus how to turn this into a nonalcoholic mocktail!
Looking for other easy Thanksgiving cocktails?? Here are my favorites:
Lastly, if you make this Spiced Cranberry Thyme Moscow Mule, 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!
Spiced Cranberry Thyme Moscow Mule
Servings: 1 drink
Calories Per Serving: 235 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Spiced Cranberry Syrup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods
Moscow Mule
- 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vodka
- juice from 1/2 of a lime
- 1/4 cup pomegranate or cranberry juice
- 1-2 ounces (2-4 tablespoons) spiced cranberry syrup
- ginger beer, for topping
Instructions
- 1. To make the cranberry syrup. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, cranberries, ginger, and cardamom to a boil over high heat. Boil 5 minutes or until the cranberries begin to burst, then remove from the heat. Stir in the thyme. Let cool. Remove the ginger, cardamom, and thyme. I prefer to leave the cranberries in, but you can strain those out if desired. 3. Fill a cocktail glass with ice.2. Combine the vodka, lime juice, pomegranate juice, and cranberry syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until combined, about 1 minute. Strain into your prepared glass. Top with ginger beer. Enjoy!
Notes
To Make a Mocktail: omit the vodka and use an additional 2 tablespoons of pomegranate juice, plus 1 tablespoon of apple cider.
Spiced Cranberry Thyme Moscow Mule Punch
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 235 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- 1 cup pomegranate or cranberry juice
- spiced cranberry syrup
- 4 cans ginger beer, for topping
Instructions
- 1. To make the cranberry syrup. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, cranberries, ginger, and cardamom to a boil over high heat. Boil 5 minutes or until the cranberries begin to burst, then remove from the heat. Stir in the thyme. Let cool. Remove the ginger, cardamom, and thyme. I prefer to leave the cranberries in but you can strain those out if desired.2. Combine the vodka, lime juice, pomegranate juice, and cranberry syrup in a large pitcher. Stir to combine and chill for 2 hours.3. When ready to serve, fill the pitcher with ice and top off with ginger beer. Or fill glasses with the mix and top each glass off with ginger beer.
Notes
To Make a Mocktail: omit the vodka and use an additional 1/3 cup pomegranate juice, plus 1/4 cup apple cider.
Can the syrup be made in advance? If so how far in advance?
Hi Melissa! You could definitely make that a few days in advance! xT
Any suggestions on how I could use this recipe to make a cranberry infused vodka? Thanks
Is there a way to substitute the cardamom pods for ground cardamom? My grocery store does not carry the pods but I do have ground cardamom.
Hey Kristi,
I would just use 1 teaspoon of the ground cardamom. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xT
Hi, is the cranberry juice pure cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail? Thank you!
LOVED the jam/syrup 😍 I had extra and was putting it on everything lol. The cardamom and thyme were perfect; not too overpowering and not too subtle
Hey Jennifer,
Amazing!! Love to hear that this cocktail turned out well for you, thanks for making it! Cheers! xT
Delicious
Thanks so much Cameron!!
How many cups of syrup should the 6-serving recipe yield? I made this, only got a little over a cup of syrup, but it mostly tasted like cranberries (which I love, but I wasn’t getting any depth from all the other yummies in it). I had a hard time picking out the cardamom pods and thyme – next “thyme” I would put them more contained (not sure how) so I can pull them out easily. It was definitely good and I will play with it some more.
Hey Lissa,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try!! You should get about 1-2 cups of syrup with the punch recipe, giving 6 servings. Was there anything you adjusted in the recipe? Let me know how I can help! xT