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Two Christmas cranberry Moscow mule cocktails on a wooden platter with burlap and sugared cranberries and rosemary around them with lights in the background.
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Christmas Cranberry Moscow Mule

Add some holiday cheer to the most wonderful time of year with this Christmas cranberry Moscow mule! For extra seasonal flavor, this holiday mule gets a double dose of cranberry with both a spiced cranberry simple syrup and cranberry juice. Your holiday celebration will feel extra merry when this cranberry mule is on the cocktail menu.
Course Beverages
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 1 drink
Calories 299kcal
Author Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Fine-mesh sieve
  • Copper mug
  • Jigger or small measuring cup
  • Handheld citrus juicer
  • Bar spoon

Ingredients

Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup

  • 2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg preferably freshly grated
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
  • Pinch of ground cloves

Christmas Cranberry Moscow Mule

  • 2 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce spiced cranberry simple syrup
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • 6 ounces chilled ginger beer
  • Cranberries for garnish, optional
  • Fresh rosemary sprig for garnish, optional

Instructions

Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup

  • In a small saucepan, add the cranberries, water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, orange zest, ground ginger, nutmeg and cloves over medium-high heat.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and allow the mixture to steep for another 10 minutes.
  • Place a bowl under a fine-mesh sieve. Strain the syrup in the fine-mesh sieve. Store the cranberry simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Christmas Cranberry Moscow Mule

  • Add the cranberry juice, vodka, cranberry simple syrup, lime juice and a handful of ice to a copper mug.
  • Using a bar spoon, stir until condensation builds on the copper mug, about 15-20 seconds.
  • Pour in ginger beer. Gently stir to combine.
  • If desired, garnish with cranberries and the rosemary sprig. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Eight-serving pitcher: Add 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, 2 cups vodka, 1 cup spiced cranberry simple syrup, ½ cup lime juice and a handful or two of ice to a large pitcher. Stir for about 15-20 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to remove any remaining ice. Cover and refrigerator up to 24 hours. Right before serving, gently pour 6 cups chilled ginger beer into the pitcher.
  • Store the cranberry simple syrup in an airtight, sterile container in the refrigerator. It should last a few weeks.
  • For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed lime juice, not bottled juice.
  • Use limes that have some give when you press into them to ensure they're ripe and juicy.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg