A cranberry ginger Moscow mule is a great drink of choice when you are tired of eggnog and want something to make your taste buds tingle and your lips pucker. With a splash of red cranberry juice, a slice of green lime, some golden ginger beer and vodka for a little kick, you will have a spicy and sweet happy holidays.
I like my cranberry Moscow Mule to have a balance of sweet and spice but you can always make small tweaks to suit your taste. I love to serve it for both Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings.
This recipe makes one serving, but you can make an entire pitcher of this holiday drink by sliding the servings bar in the recipe card to desired servings.
❤️You might also like my holiday cranberry biscotti and cranberry cake pops that match the theme of this cocktail.
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Ingredients
- ice cubes - Or crushed ice.
- vodka - Opt for high quality vodka. You can make a virgin Moscow mule by leaving out the vodka and adding more ginger beer instead.
- sweetened cranberry juice - Also labeled as cranberry cocktail.
- lime juice - Freshly squeezed.
- ginger beer - Ginger beer is typically non-alcoholic and is more like a soft drink with a strong, spicy ginger flavor.
- optional garnishes - Cranberries, rosemary sprig and a lime slice (check out how to candy limes for an even more stunning drink garnish).
*See ingredient amounts in recipe card.
Recipe Tweaks
Ginger beer - Although there is the word “beer” in ginger beer, it is a non-alcoholic drink, carbonated and sweetened. The traditional brewed version originated from the U.K. and contained about 11 percent alcohol, but non-alcoholic versions showed up later on.
It is often confused with ginger ale since both are sweet, carbonated and golden in color; however, the beer version is spicier than the soothing ale. If you do not want the strong taste to come out, or if you cannot find it in stores, the ale version will work just as well.
Cranberry Garnish - To give the drink more freshness, add some fresh cranberries as a garnish instead of dried. As well as garnishing with cranberries, you can make slices of a red or green apple with the skin on.
The Copper Mug
The recipe calls for a Moscow mule glass, also known as a copper mug. A copper mug is recommended because copper is a good thermal conductor and it is said to intensify the fizziness of the drink. Therefore, the copper mug will keep your drink cold and enhance the flavors of the ginger beer and lime.
Copper is immune to rust, but it is recommended to still wash your copper mug properly: with a soft sponge and warm, soapy water. Dry the mugs thoroughly.
How to Make a Cranberry Ginger Moscow Mule
Step 1: Add Ice. Add some ice to a Moscow mule glass (copper mug).
Step 2: Add Vodka and Juice. Pour the vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice over the ice.
Step 3: Top Up. Top up with the ginger beer.
Step 4: Stir. Stir gently to mix. If you are making the drink in front of guests and want to get fancy, use a bar spoon.
Pro Tip: The ingredients are built into the glass because of the use of fizzy, so make sure you don't use a cocktail shaker with this drink. If you really want to use a shaker, only add the vodka, cranberry and lime. Strain into the mug and top up with the ginger beer afterwards.
Step 5: Garnish. Garnish with cranberries, a rosemary sprig and a lime slice (optional).
Step 6: Serve. Serve the cranberry Moscow Mule!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, cranberry pairs very well with ginger beer! The tart, slightly bitter flavor of cranberry complements the spicy, sweet flavor of ginger beer. It’s a great combination for both casual sipping and more creative, seasonal cocktails like this cranberry Moscow mule.
I like to use sweetened cranberry juice because unsweetened cranberry juice is very tart and bitter. If you prefer more of a dry taste, you can experiment with using the unsweetened kind.
If it's not sweet enough for you, you can try adding a touch of homemade simple syrup, agave nectar or almond orgeat.
If you tried this Cranberry Ginger Moscow Mule Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Cranberry Ginger Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- ice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces sweetened cranberry juice - also called cranberry cocktail
- ½ ounce lime juice - freshly squeezed (1 tablespoon)
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- optional garnishes - cranberries, rosemary sprig and a lime slice
Instructions
- Add some ice to a moscow mule glass.
- Pour the vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice over the ice. Top up with the ginger beer. Stir gently to mix.
- Garnish with cranberries, rosemary and a lime slice (optional).
- Serve!
Equipment
Notes
- The recipe calls for a Moscow mule glass, also known as a copper mug. A copper mug is recommended because copper is a good thermal conductor and it is said to intensify the fizziness of the drink. Therefore, the copper mug will keep your drink cold and enhance the flavors of the ginger beer and lime.
- Copper is immune to rust, but it is recommended to still wash your copper mug properly: with a soft sponge and warm, soapy water. Dry the mugs thoroughly.
- You can make an entire pitcher of this holiday drink by dragging the servings bar to desired number of servings.
- The ingredients are built into the glass because of the use of fizzy, so make sure you don't use a cocktail shaker with this drink. If you really want to use a shaker, only add the vodka, cranberry and lime. Strain into the mug and top up with the ginger beer afterwards.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
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