Why we love these cranberry margaritas
- These easy cranberry margaritas made from scratch, which means they taste way better than any margarita mix you could ever buy.
- Who’s ready for the weekend? I know I am, and these cranberry margaritas are just the thing to celebrate this summer being almost over. The margaritas are perfect for the heat, but the cranberry reminds you that fall is just around the corner. Yes. The heat will end. Maybe not as soon as I would like it, but there is an end in sight.
- In case you don’t know how to rim a cocktail glass, check out this article. If you do it the right way, it’s super easy.
P.S. We also really love this sparkling cranberry cocktail, if you’re looking for other ways to use your cranberry juice!
Here’s what you’ll need to make it
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Equipment
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- To be honest, I haven’t always been a huge fan of margaritas. I mean, I would get them at Mexican restaurants, but I never, ever ordered one anywhere else. And, I never considered making them. Partly because I never had the ingredients, but also because I wasn’t a huge fan of tequila.
- Well, I had it all wrong. I was drinking the wrong tequila. Turns out, I don’t like gold tequila, and I don’t like margarita mix that much. There are a few that I don’t mind (and adding a squeeze of lime can go a long way), but margaritas from scratch are a totally different experience.
- Anyway, I switched to silver tequila, and I’m officially obsessed. The thing about fresh margaritas is that they require a lot of lime juice, but not these cranberry margaritas. The amount of juicing you need to do is more than cut in half.
How to make cranberry margaritas
Rim a lowball or margarita glass with sugar and fill with ice.
Stir ingredients together in a cocktail shaker and pour into glass.
Garnish with a lime wedge.
Everything you need to know cranberry margaritasc
Is Triple Sec necessary for margaritas?
No triple sec isn’t necessary for margaritas, but it adds a great depth of flavor and a touch of sweetness to your margaritas. If you don’t have triple sec, an orange liqueur, such as Cointreau will work. You can also substitute another fruity liqueur or an equal amount of simple syrup.
What is better in a margarita Cointreau or Triple Sec?
It honestly just depends on what you’re going for. Cointreau has a higher alcohol content, so it won’t be quite as sweet, but I prefer it to triple sec. Triple sec, however, is significantly cheaper (making it a great budget-friendly option) and on the sweeter side for those that prefer their drinks sweet.
What’s the best tequila for margaritas?
I recommend buying the highest quality silver tequila you can afford, but it doesn’t have to be the best tequila on the shelf either. You will be mixing it with sweeteners and lime juice – and in this case cranberry juice. I don’t recommend gold tequila for margaritas, but if you do prefer the flavor, go for it.
More holiday cocktail recipes you’ll love
- Spiked eggnog
- Fig jam whiskey cocktail
- Peppermint white russian
- Brandy slush
- Cranberry bourbon smash
More margarita recipes you should try
- Apple cider margaritas
- Spicy jalapeno margarita
- Easy prickly pear margaritas
- Strawberry margarita on the rocks
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce triple sec or orange liqueur
- 1 1/2 ounces tequila
- Sugar (for garnish)
- Lime wedge (for garnish)
Instructions
- Rim a highball or margarita glass with sugar and fill with ice.
- Stir ingredients together in a cocktail shaker and pour into glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
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