Cheers to the holidays with this festive Christmas Moscow Mule in less than 5 minutes. Made with 4 simple ingredients, this fun twist on a classic combines traditional ingredients with cranberry flavor. With its vibrant red hue and cozy aroma, this refreshing and zesty holiday moscow mule is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
As the holiday season approaches, I love to add festive cheer to my cocktail game. Some of my favorites are: peppermint espresso martini, apple cider margarita, and creamy biscoff cocktail. Whether you're hosting a holiday party or just looking for a festive drink to enjoy at home, you'll love this Christmas twist on the iconic drink.
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Festive. This Christmas moscow mule uses cranberry flavor, giving it a gorgeous red color as well as a delicious holiday taste. Add sugared cranberries and rosemary to make it look like Christmas in a cup! It’s perfect for spicing up your holiday gatherings.
- Great for gathering. Less time in the kitchen means more time withy our loved ones! Because this winter moscow mule takes only a minute or so to make, it is perfect for a gathering. All you need is to add a few ingredients into a mug and mix, then you are back to the festivities!
- Impressive, yet easy. This cocktail will impress all of your friends due to unique taste and fancy garnishes. You will have your guests thinking you hired a bartender for the night!
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Ginger beer- Ginger beer is the base ingredients of a classic moscow mule. It provides a crisp, bubbly refreshing taste while being slightly spicy. You can find ginger beer in most package stores, as well as the soda aisle of most grocery stores. Some of my favorite ginger beer brands are Fever Tree, Q Mixer or Regatta. If you have any left over ginger beer, use it to make my cucumber moscow mule.
- Cranberry Juice- Cranberry juice provides the holiday flavor to this cocktail! When purchasing cranberry juice, make sure to buy 100% cranberry juice with little to no sugar added. You can find cranberry juice in the juice aisle of grocery stores.
- Plain Vodka- Vodka is the go to liquor in moscow mules due to its tasteless flavor. Use your favorite vodka brand!
- Lime- Fresh lime juice provides a tart flavor to this christmas mule. Use fresh lime juice over pre-bottle juice for the best flavor.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1. Fill a moscow mule mug or glass ¾ full of ice.
Step 2. Add in the vodka, lime juice and cranberry juice then mix.
Step 3. Fill the mug or glass to the rim with ginger beer and mix again.
Optional: A gorgeous garnish for this winter moscow mule is to sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig. Because I like simplicity, I took frozen whole cranberries, thawed them for 10 minutes then rolled them around in a bowl of granulated sugar. It worked really well for this cocktail and also provided extra chilling.
STORAGE
Because of the ginger beer, I do not recommend storing this cocktail It will become flat and not taste as crisp and refreshing.
TIME SAVING HACKS
To save on time, pre-juice the limes and, if you are using sugared cranberries, make them prior.
RECIPE FAQs
While it is traditionally served in a copper mug, it is not necessary to use one. You may use any glass you prefer, just be mindful of the size and try to use one that holds the same volume as a copper mug, such as a highball glass.
Plain vodka is used in moscow mules due to it being virtually tasteless. I prefer to use Prairie Organic Vodka or Titos vodka, but any plain vodka will work.
This is subjective, but to me it is the quality of ingredients that are added. Make sure to try the ginger beer before you add it to the cocktail because they can taste different based on the brand. Some can be sweeter, some can be spicier and some can be more carbonated. Use your favorite, tasteless vodka and fresh squeezed lime juice for best results.
EXPERT TIPS
- Use fresh lime juice. Make sure to use fresh lime juice instead of bottled lime juice for the best, bright flavor. Bottled lime juice is watered down and you'll notice the flavor is not right.
- Try your ginger beer first. Not all ginger beer is made the same. Some are more gingery than others, while some are sweeter or more carbonated. Since the ginger beer is the base of the cocktail, I recommend trying the ginger beer before adding it to your holiday moscow mule to ensure you like it.
MORE HOLIDAY COCKTAILS
Festive Christmas Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz plain vodka
- 1 tbsp lime juice approximately 2 lime slices
- 5-7 oz ginger beer 1 can
- 1.5 oz cranberry juice
- rosemary sprig optional garnish
- sugared cranberries* optional
Instructions
- Fill a moscow mule mug or glass ¾ full of ice.
- Add in the vodka, lime juice and cranberry juice then mix.
- Fill the mug or glass to the rim with ginger beer and mix again.
- Option to garnish with sugared cranberries, lime wedge and rosemary (see notes for sugar cranberry tip!)
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