This Holiday Cranberry Margarita Recipe is the perfect cocktail to make this holiday season. Tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice, and a homemade cranberry simple syrup make this margarita recipe a holiday cocktail must-have!

I just searched Instagram for the hashtag “margaritamonday” and guess what?! It’s actually a thing! There are over 100 thousand posts for it too so it’s apparently a little popular. I guess I’ve been a little out of the loop over here at the lake.

Had I known about Margarita Mondays prior to this, I would’ve shared my strawberry margaritas on the rocks, spicy mango margaritas, and apple cider margaritas to the hashtag sooner. Oh well, it is what it is. At least I’m aware of it moving forward.

Since I’ve been dropping the ball in terms of the weekly Margarita Monday parties, I knew I had to show up with a margarita recipe that was made to impress. An ordinary margarita recipe is definitely delicious, but not fit for my Margarita Monday debut appearance. I’m sure you agree!

With the holiday season in full swing, I thought a holiday-inspired margarita recipe would be perfect to share for my first Margarita Monday. With that thought in mind, I present to you my Holiday Cranberry Margarita Recipe featuring a homemade cranberry simple syrup. It doesn’t get more scrumptious than that!

How do I make a Cranberry Simple Syrup?

A basic simple syrup recipe that can be used in cocktails as a sweetener is easily made by boiling equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. It’s really as simple as that, hence the name simply syrup!

Making a fruit-infused simple syrup is honestly just as easy though. In addition to equal parts of sugar and water, you’ll just need to add an equal part of the fruit. I’ve actually made strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, and mango simple syrups that I’ve shared on the blog for my other margarita recipes. They are all easy and super yummy!

For a cranberry simple syrup, all you need to do is boil one cup each of sugar, water, and cranberries (fresh or frozen will work) together in a saucepan over medium heat for about 5 minutes. You’re looking for the sugar to dissolve and the cranberries to pop and break down.

Once the simple syrup is done cooking, you’ll want to pour the mixture through a strainer making sure to push lightly to get only the juices left inside your cranberries. You can throw out the extra cranberries that are leftover in the strainer. 

From there you’ll put your cranberry simple syrup into a jar or container and let it cool completely before using. Your cranberry simple syrup will last up to two weeks in the refrigerator. That’s it!

Can I use store-bought cranberry juice in place of the cranberry simple syrup?

If you’re in a hurry, you can always swap out the same measurement of the homemade cranberry simple syrup for cranberry juice. It will still taste delicious with the juice, but I truly think that making the cranberry simple syrup is worth your time and effort for an even better tasting holiday cocktail!

What type of tequila should I use in my Holiday Cranberry Margarita?

My personal preference is to go with a silver/Blanco variety of tequila but if you only have a reposado/dark tequila I’m sure it will still taste lovely. Some of my personal favorite tequilas are Teremana (which I used here), Patron, Don Julio, and Casamigos.

What can I substitute for the Triple Sec?

Triple sec is an orange-flavored liquor. I make so many margaritas that I have a huge bottle of this on hand at all times. For a fancier version of this cranberry margarita, I suggest using Grand Marnier in place of the Triple Sec. If there was ever a time to be a little extra, the holiday season is when you should do it!

Holiday Cranberry Margarita Recipe

⅓ cup of cranberry simple syrup (you can substitute cranberry juice), 1 oz. (2 tbsp) of lime juice, 1 oz. (2 tbsp) of tequila (Blanco/silver preferred), 1 oz. (2 tbsp) Triple Sec (can substitute Grand Marnier), Salt or Sugar to rim glass, lime wedges and fresh cranberries for garnish

Begin by rubbing the rim of your glass with a lime. If you don’t have a lime, you can just dip it in water. With the rim of the glass now wet, gently dip it in sugar or salt. For this cocktail, I prefer dipping it in sugar but this is my personal preference. Do whatever makes you happy!

Next, add ice to your glass and put it to the side. 

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. 

Add the tequila, triple sec, cranberry simple syrup, and lime juice inside the shaker and give it all a good shake.

Pour the cranberry margarita inside your prepared glass making sure to strain the ice from your shaker.

Add a lime wedge to the rim of the glass and throw in some fresh cranberries.  You’re all set! 

This Holiday Cranberry Margarita Recipe is exactly what you need on this beautiful Margarita Monday. Grab your margarita ingredients and get to pouring your holiday spirits. Cheers and Happiest of Holidays to you!

 

Want to remember this? Post this Cranberry Margarita to your favorite Pinterest board!