This cranberry Moscow mule recipe is made with vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice and ginger beer, all mixed together to create a refreshing and festive cocktail. A quick and easy drink that’s perfect for holiday parties!
You can never go wrong with festive drink recipes for the winter months. Some of my favorites include a cranberry mimosa, Grinch cocktail, Christmas margarita, slow cooker hot chocolate, Christmas sangria and this elegant cranberry mule.
I love a good Moscow mule, and this cranberry version is a fun twist on the classic recipe.
Table of Contents
Cranberry Moscow Mule Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need cranberry juice cocktail, vodka, fresh lime juice and ginger beer. You can also garnish your drink with fresh cranberries, lime wedges and sprigs of mint.
How Do You Make A Cranberry Moscow Mule?
Fill a copper mug 2/3 of the way full of ice. Pour vodka over the ice, then add the cranberry juice cocktail and lime juice. Pour in the ginger beer. Stir gently to combine, then garnish the drink with fresh cranberries, lime and mint, and serve.
Tips For The Perfect Drink
- Use a high quality vodka for the best cranberry moscow mule. A good vodka is one that has a nice mouthfeel without a harsh aftertaste.
- Ginger beer is a sweet fizzy drink with a pronounced ginger flavor. You can buy it in small bottles in the mixers area near the alcohol, or sometimes you will see it in the soda aisle.
- I prefer the flavor of sweetened cranberry juice cocktail in this drink. If you prefer a less sweet drink, use 100% cranberry juice. If you go the unsweetened cranberry juice route, you may need to add a little simple syrup too.
- This recipe makes one drink. You can easily adjust the number of servings in the recipe card to fit your occasion and the ingredient amounts will automatically scale up.
- This recipe does not use a cocktail shaker because many home cooks do not have them on hand. If you do prefer to shake your mule, you can place the vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice in cocktail shaker or sealed mason jar. Shake the ingredients together, then pour them over the ice and add the ginger beer.
- Copper mugs come in many sizes. This recipe makes 8 ounces of cocktail, which works well in a 16 ounce mug once you add the ice.
Quick Tip
It’s really best to use fresh lime juice, as bottled lime juice does not have the same flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Moscow mule drinks are served in a copper cup because the copper helps to keep the drink cold, and some believe there are interactions between the copper and alcohol that enhance the flavor of the drink.
You can use ginger ale in a moscow mule if you can’t find ginger beer. That said, the ginger beer really does add a lot of extra flavor, so it’s worth seeking it out.
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Flavor Variations
While this cranberry Moscow mule recipe is delicious as-is, you can change up some of the flavors to suit your tastes.
- Juice: Swap out the cranberry juice for pomegranate juice, apple cider or cherry juice to make a drink with a different flavor profile.
- Flavorings: You can add extra ingredients to enhance the flavors of the drink. Some great options include grenadine or a dash of cinnamon.
- Garnishes: Try some different garnishes such as a sprig of rosemary or some crystallized ginger.
- Alcohol: Use whiskey instead of vodka to make a version of an Irish mule.
You simply can’t go wrong with a cranberry Moscow mule. It’s a must-try drink when cranberries are in season!
More Drinks To Try
Cranberry Margarita
10 mins
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
2 hrs 5 mins
Thanksgiving Punch
15 mins
Poinsettia Cocktail
5 mins
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Cranberry Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce cranberry juice cocktail
- ½ ounce lime juice
- 3½ ounces ginger beer
- garnishes such as lime slices, fresh cranberries and mint sprigs
Instructions
- Fill a 16 ounce copper mug 2/3 of the way full of ice.
- Pour the vodka over the ice.
- Add the cranberry juice and lime juice.
- Pour in the ginger beer and gently stir everything together.
- Add garnishes of your choice, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Ginger beer is a sweet fizzy drink with a pronounced ginger flavor. You can buy it in small bottles in the mixers area near the alcohol.
- This recipe makes one drink. You can easily adjust the number of servings in the recipe card to fit your occasion and the ingredient amounts will automatically scale up.
- This recipe does not use a cocktail shaker because many home cooks do not have them on hand. If you do prefer to shake your mule, you can place the vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice in cocktail shaker or sealed mason jar. Shake the ingredients together, then pour them over the ice and add the ginger beer.
I love a good Moscow mule. So refreshing. And the cranberry juice takes it to a whole new level.
What a delicious and refreshing flavor combination! The ginger beer adds a nice fizzy quality to the drink, but it’s probably the vodka and cranberry juice that really makes this drink tops.
My older kids love this cocktail. They’ve requested it again when they visit for the holidays. I can’t wait to make it again.
This was so refreshing and festive, it’s perfect for this time of year. Everyone loved it at our Christmas party over the weekend!
I am otherwise not a huge fan of cocktails, but this one is so special! Looks spectacular and festive.