Move over cranberry sauce and, H-E-L-L-O Cranberry Margarita! Cranberries always remind me that the holidays are right around the corner. One day, while making some cranberry sauce, I decided to blend the berries, add some tequila, and a splash of Grand Marnier.
One sip of this festive potion and I was sold, pure heaven, or close to it.
If you love cranberries like I do and let’s not forget tequila, then you’ll love this spunky blend. One look at this gorgeous red cocktail dressed up with a crystallized cranberry swizzle stick and you’ll say, “H-O-L-A Margarita!”
Salud and Happy Holidays!
Cranberry Margarita
If you love cranberries like I do and let’s not forget tequila, then you’ll love this spunky blend. One look at this gorgeous red cocktail dressed up with a crystallized cranberry swizzle stick and you’ll say, “H-O-L-A Margarita!”
Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, about 4 oranges
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 16 ounce package of fresh cranberries
- 1 ½ ounces favorite tequila
- ½ ounce Grand Marnier
- 2 ounces cranberry puree
Cranberry Swizzle Sticks:
- 10 skewer sticks
- 1 16 ounce package of fresh cranberries
- 1 cup light Karo corn syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar in the orange juice. Add the cranberries and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Set aside and let it cool. Blend cranberries in a blender, then strain to make the puree
- In a shaker add crushed ice, 1 1/2 ounces of tequila, 1/2 ounce of Grand Marnier, 2 ounces of cranberry puree and shake to mix.
- Pour drink into a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Add a cranberry swizzle stick for garnish.
Cranberry Swizzle Sticks:
- Skewer several cranberries onto 10 skewer sticks but leave enough skewer exposed on one end. Lightly brush each cranberry skewer with Karo syrup and then sprinkle granulated sugar over the cranberry skewers. Place the cranberry swizzle sticks on wax paper and place in the freezer to set.
Virgin Cranberry Cider:
- Replace the tequila and Grand Marnier with 2 ounces of sparkling cider.
Notes
Add a twig of rosemary to the cranberries in the first step for a cranberry rosemary margarita.
Nutrition
Calories: 168kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 48mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin C: 8mg
Photography by Jeanine Thurston
I love the cranberry swizzle sticks! What a creative garnish for the holidays. I’m having a holiday kick-off cocktail party tonight and I just might have to whip these up. Thanks for the idea!
Great drink suggestion, love it, can’t wait to try. And those swizzle sticks, awesome, they are so pretty.
This is such a festive, fresh, and delicious-looking holiday cocktail! I’m typically more of a beer and wine girl, but this cranberry margarita sounds absolutely fantastic.
I just made these for a photography project I’m doing… photogenic AND delicious! Will definitely be making these again. Thanks so much for sharing!
That’s great Jeni! We’d LOVE to see your pics! Feel free to post a photo on our FB wall!
two of my favorite things in the world!! will have to test this before I make for friends…..are the swizzle sticks supposed to be edible? I know raw berries are usually bitter
I would not recommend eating them. They are more of a decorative stir stick.