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Home » Recipes » Drink Recipes

Mistletoe Margarita 

Published: Dec 9, 2022 by Colleen 23 Comments

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Two glasses of mistletoe margarita

Try a mistletoe margarita this holiday season for a festive, frosty, and colorful tequila cocktail! Silver tequila, Cointreau, and cranberry juice provide tart, sweet, and spiced flavors. Paired with a salt rim, sugared cranberries, and rosemary sprigs, each sip is perfectly balanced.  These Christmas margaritas are sure to get you into the holiday spirit!

A cranberry mistletoe margarita drink in  a clear glass with a sprig of rosemary.
Jump to:
  • Why you're going to love this festive drink
  • What is a mistletoe margarita? 
  • Ingredient notes
  • How to make a mistletoe margarita
  • Storage & making ahead
  • Variations
  • Helpful tips
  • Common questions
  • Serving suggestions
  • Related recipes
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Why you're going to love this festive drink

  • Crowd-pleaser: Who’s going to turn down a mistletoe margarita? This cocktail is a nice change from traditional drinks served at Christmas, and it’s a great way to get the party started!
  • Customizable: Whether sweet, stiff, or virgin, you can make this margarita to suit the preferred taste and style of you or your guests.
  • Presentation: Once you’re seen carrying around this drink, everyone will be asking for the recipe! From the vibrant red hue to the rosemary sprig and sugared cranberries, mistletoe margaritas are a head-turner.
Two glasses of mistletoe margaritas garnished with sugared cranberris and rosemary.
A Merry Mistletoe Margarita

What is a mistletoe margarita? 

While it’s not entirely known where the name “mistletoe margarita” comes from, this twist on a Mexican classic is starting to become a popular cocktail to serve during the holidays.

Using the same base ingredients as a traditional margarita (tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice), a mistletoe margarita contains the addition of cranberry juice and festive garnishes. The final result is a bright red drink with a pop of green.

Flavored with hints of evergreen from rosemary, this simple drink is sweet, tart, and woodsy. If margaritas aren’t the first thing you think of when it comes to Christmas drinks, you and your family may think twice after trying a sip!

Ingredient notes

Full ingredient quantities and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Kosher salt: For the salt rim. You can also make a sugar rim with granulated sugar if you prefer. Or, use a mixture!
  • Ice: To shake the margaritas and serve them over. If you want, try making a frozen mistletoe margarita by blending the ice with the other ingredients!
  • Cranberry juice: Use sweetened or unsweetened cranberry juice — the choice is yours. If you use unsweetened cranberry juice, add simple syrup to taste.
  • Lime juice: I recommend freshly squeezed lime juice. Stay away from lime juice concentrate for this recipe.
  • Silver tequila: Also known as tequila blanco or tequila plata, I recommend splurging on a small-batch, good tequila. Think 123 Organic Blanco Tequila, Herradura Silver, ​​Don Abraham Organic Blanco, or Espolòn Blanco. Don Julio Blanco or Patrón Silver also make good choices as they are more widely available.
  • Cointreau: Made using the triple sec method, Cointreau is a slightly drier orange liqueur than Grand Marnier with notes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. This makes it the perfect choice for mistletoe margaritas. If you don’t have Cointreau, use another brand like Triple Sec.
  • Sugared cranberries: For a frosted berry garnish, add sugared cranberries. To make them, squeeze lime juice over the cranberries, then roll them in granulated sugar.
  • Rosemary sprigs: To emulate mistletoe branches, pair the sugared cranberries with fresh rosemary sprigs.
The Ingredients you need to make this drink, on a wooden board.

How to make a mistletoe margarita

Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  1. First, rub a lime wedge around the rim of your serving glass. Invert the glass into a shallow, wide bowl of kosher salt to rim it.
  2. Fill the glass with ice, then set it aside for now.
  3. Add more ice to a cocktail shaker followed by cranberry juice, lime juice, silver tequila, and Cointreau.
  4. Close the cocktail shaker, and shake it well to combine the cranberry margarita ingredients. Strain the mixture over ice into the prepared glass.
  5. Finish the margarita off with a garnish of sugared fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
A glass of cranberry mistletoe margarita on a marble countertop.

Storage & making ahead

To prevent yourself from having to play bartender all night, here are a few simple make-ahead and storage tips for you to try:

  • Prep ahead: Make the sugar-coated cranberries and pick out the best rosemary spring ahead of time. Store them separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to a day. Squeeze the limes, and keep them in a mason jar in the fridge up to a few hours ahead of time.
  • Alcohol: Measure enough alcohol for the number of guests coming to the party or gathering. You can mix the tequila and Cointreau together and keep the mixture in the fridge. This will keep it chilled and make it quicker to measure when you’re preparing drinks.
  • Note: I don’t suggest fully making any drinks prior to your guests' arrival. This cocktail looks and tastes the best when it’s freshly mixed.

Variations

  • White cranberry juice: Swap in white cranberry juice for a slightly smoother version.
  • Pomegranate juice: These easy mistletoe margaritas would be just as festive with pomegrante juice in place of the cranberry juice.
  • Different spirits: Try using different types of tequila like reposado or añejo. For a smoky flavor, opt for mezcal. If you aren't a fan of tequila or mezcal isn’t your thing, you can always use vodka or rum.
  • Blended: Instead of on the rocks, add the ingredients to a blender and mix on high for a frozen mistletoe margarita.
  • Gingery: For something a little different, add a splash of ginger ale to your margaritas.
  • Big Batch

Helpful tips

  • Ice: Make sure the glass is “loaded” with ice. This will ensure it doesn’t melt too quickly and the drink can be enjoyed over a longer period of time. You can also opt for crushed ice for a fancier appearance.
  • Quality tequila: If you’re making a drink like margaritas, opt for quality tequila as this is where most of the flavor comes from.
  • Prep ahead: As noted in the storage section, prepping the ingredients in advance will seriously enhance your drink-making experience and allow you to spend more time with your guests!
  • Glassware: You can use a traditional margarita glass. But really any clear glass will work. You don’t need expensive glassware, but it’s always best to serve fancy cocktails in clear glasses rather than plastic cups.
Christmas margaritas on a marble countertop with gold balls.

Common questions

What can I use to sweeten mistletoe margaritas?

If you’re looking for a sweeter margarita, I suggest using simple syrup. To make it, mix a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water in a pot and heat until the sugar crystals dissolve. Chill until cold, then add ½-1 ounce per drink until you reach your desired sweetness.

Can I make this recipe without alcohol?

If you don’t want your margarita with alcohol, simply omit the tequila and Cointreau and add 2 ounces of water, soda water, or ginger ale instead. 

Can I make this Christmas margarita recipe in a pitcher?

Yes, you can! Just multiply the ingredients by the number of drinks you want to serve. Then combine them, minus the garnish in a pitcher or jug. Garnish the drinks after pouring into glasses.

Serving suggestions

If you’re looking for finger foods to serve alongside these cranberry margaritas, try air fryer stuffed mushrooms, buffalo chicken thighs, bacon-wrapped dates, or merlot meatballs.

For a full dinner spread, try air fryer meatloaf, slow cooker cabbage rolls, sweet potato shepherd’s pie, or air fryer country-style ribs.

Two glasses mistletoe margarita topped with sugared cranberries.
Cheers!

Related recipes

For more cocktails (holiday or not), take a look at out some of my most popular recipes:

  • RumChata Hot Chocolate
  • Winter White Sangria
  • Ginger Snap Cocktail
  • Spiked Iced Tea Rum Cocktail
  • Red Currant Mojito
  • Mexican Mule

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important! Thank you for visiting The Food Blog!

Recipe

A cranberry mistletoe margarita in a glass with a sprig of rosemary.

Mistletoe Cranberry Margarita

A festive cocktail for any time of year, but this delicious mistletoe margarita may become your cocktail of choice for the holiday season. Sip on these Christmas cocktails by the fire, or mix up a big batch of this delicious mistletoe margarita recipe for your next holiday party. It's sure to be a huge hit!
5 from 51 votes
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: North American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Calories: 261kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • cocktail glasses
  • cocktail jigger
  • citrus squeezer

Ingredients

  • Kosher salt for rimming glass
  • Ice
  • 5 ounces cranberry juice
  • 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice
  • 1 ½ ounces silver tequila
  • 1 ounce Cointreau
  • sugared fresh cranberries for garnish *see note
  • rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions

  • Rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then invert the glass into the kosher salt to rim it.
  • Fill the glass with ice.
  • Put more ice in a cocktail shaker and add the cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila and Cointreau.
  • Shake well and strain over the ice in the prepared glass
  • Garnish with a rosemary sprig and sugared cranberries.

Notes

  • Cranberries: To make sugared cranberries, squeeze lime juice over the cranberries and then roll them in sugar. 
  • Ice: Make sure the glass is “loaded” with ice. This will ensure it doesn’t melt too quickly and the drink can be enjoyed over a longer period of time. You can also opt for crushed ice for a fancier appearance.
  • Quality tequila: If you’re making a drink like margaritas, opt for quality tequila as this is where most of the flavor comes from.
  • Prep ahead: As noted in the storage section, prepping the ingredients in advance will seriously enhance your drink-making experience and allow you to spend more time with your guests!
  • Glassware: You can use a traditional margarita glass. But really any clear glass will work. You don’t need expensive glassware, but it’s always best to serve fancy cocktails in clear glasses rather than plastic cups.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristen

    December 20, 2022 at 8:46 am

    Ok I'm not a tequila fan at all, but this looked so good I had to try it. So i did it with gin instead and it was incredible. Definitely serving these on Christmas eve. We're doing an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      December 21, 2022 at 2:15 pm

      Thanks for sharing, Kristen. It's great to know this drink works with gin! Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

      Reply
  2. Erin

    December 18, 2022 at 12:43 pm

    There were so many yummy flavors in here! We loved this margarita and will make again for Christmas. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer

    December 18, 2022 at 12:14 pm

    Now, this is a holiday drink! So festive, fun, and delicious! Loving the addition of the rosemary and the sugared cranberries!

    Reply
  4. Jamie

    December 18, 2022 at 8:54 am

    Wow! This margarita drink looks delicious and tasty! It's overloaded with stuffed which makes it so enticing and tempting! Love to try this at home!

    Reply
  5. Ann

    December 18, 2022 at 6:15 am

    I gave this drink a test run before the holidays. So delicious! The color is perfect for the holidays too! Will definitely be making it for Christmas Eve.

    Reply
  6. Leslie

    December 17, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    I am interested in margaritas in every flavor so a cranberry margarita, for Christmas sounds like the perfect drink!

    Reply
  7. Kim

    December 17, 2022 at 7:47 am

    We made this margarita for our holiday party and it was a huge hit! Easy to make and great flavors.

    Reply
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