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    Home » Recipes » Drink Recipes

    Christmas Moscow Mule (Cranberry)

    Published: Dec 2, 2023 by Kathleen Hansen · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This Christmas Moscow Mule is a fun cocktail for the holiday season! A fun spin on the classic cocktail, it's so easy to make with ginger beer, vodka, lime juice, and cranberry juice.

    cranberry Moscow mule in copper mug

    Moscow mules are traditionally made with vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. They were originally invented in the 1940's and are popular today served in a copper mug. Adding cranberry juice to make a Christmas Moscow Mule and topping with fresh cranberries is a fun holiday spin!

    Serve alongside other holiday appetizers like this Cranberry Jalapeño Dip, Candied Pecans, or Puff Pastry Brie Bites.

    Jump to:
    • ⭐Why I Love It:
    • 🥘Ingredients:
    • 📖Variations
    • 🔪Step by Step Instructions
    • 💭Recipe Tips
    • 👩‍🍳Recipe FAQs
    • 🍹Related Drink Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    ⭐Why I Love It:

    • Spin on the Classic Moscow Mule - I love a regular Moscow Mule so adding a festive flair for Christmas with cranberry just makes it even better! Another festive favorite is this Slow Cooker Mulled Wine with Apple Cider.
    • Easy to Make - You only need a few, easy to find, ingredients.
    • Cranberry Flavor - Adding cranberry juice adds flavor and I love to garnish with cranberries as well. For other cranberry favorites, try this Cranberry Jalapeño Dip, Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce, or Cranberry Gin Cocktail recipe.
    Christmas Moscow Mules with cranberry and rosemary.

    🥘Ingredients:

    Here's what you need to make a Christmas Moscow Mule:

    • Vodka
    • Ginger Beer - Ginger beer is non-alcoholic. You can find it at liquor stores or even grocery stores in the drink aisle.
    • Lime Juice - I prefer the flavor of fresh, but you can use bottled as well
    • Cranberry Juice Cocktail - for a less sweet, tarter, cocktail you can use 100% cranberry juice instead
    • Garnishes - Lime wedges, fresh cranberries, fresh rosemary

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    📖Variations

    A simple Moscow mule is just vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice but there are so many spins you can make on it!

    • Other Fruit Juices - Instead of the cranberry juice, try another fruit juice!
    • Garnishes - Garnishing each mug makes them presentation worthy for your next holiday party! I love fresh cranberries (or other berries), lime wedges, or sprigs of fresh rosemary.
    • Non-Alcoholic - To make a cocktail, you can omit the vodka and add extra ginger beer (which is non-alcoholic) or a splash of club soda
    • Another Liquor - While vodka is the classic choice, rum is a great swap! I also like using gin or making this Cranberry Gin Cocktail instead.

    🔪Step by Step Instructions

    This Cranberry Christmas Cocktail recipe is fun, festive, and easy to make! You can mix up one drink in a mug or make a whole batch in a pitcher.

    1. Mix Cocktail - Add the vodka, lime juice, cranberry juice, and ginger beer to a mug. Stir. You can give it a taste and adjust to your taste. I like to use a shot glass to measure all of the ingredients. If you're making a big batch, you can use a measuring cup to measure out the ingredients into a pitcher.
    2. Taste and Adjust - I like to give it a taste. Not strong enough? Add a little more vodka. Too strong? Add more ginger beer or cranberry juice.
    3. Garnish and Serve - Add ice to the mug and top with garnishes of your choice.
    cranberry vodka cocktail in mug

    💭Recipe Tips

    • Stir don't shake - No need to shake up this cocktail. Just give it a quick stir.
    • Easily make just 1 or a whole pitcher - The recipe is written using 'part' as the unit of measure. So you can use a shot glass to measure if you're making one at a time, or use a larger measuring cup to make a whole batch.
    • Mix in Ginger Beer or Top Off in Glasses - If you're making a big batch in a pitcher, you can either mix everything in the pitcher or you can hold the ginger beer and instead top if off when pouring into individual mugs or glasses.

    👩‍🍳Recipe FAQs

    Why are Moscow Mules served in copper mugs?

    Moscow mules have traditionally been served in copper mugs. Not only are copper mugs fun for serving, but they also add to the experience due to the frostiness of the cold mug. The copper mug helps keep the mule frosty and chilled longer than a glass.

    Can you substitute ginger ale for the ginger beer?

    Although they both have ginger flavors, I do not recommend substituting ginger ale. Ginger beer gives a stronger finish and flavor to cocktails. But don't worry, ginger beer is non-alcoholic so you can easily find it at most grocery stores!

    What's the difference between a Moscow Mule and a London Mule?

    The difference between a Moscow Mule and the London Mule is that a London Mule uses gin instead of vodka.

    What is the difference between cranberry juice and cranberry cocktail?

    Cranberry juice is typically labeled as being "100% juice" while a cranberry juice cocktail has added sugars to the cranberry juice to make it extra sweet. Cranberry juice is more tart than cranberry cocktail.

    What is a Tennessee Mule made of?

    A Tennessee Mule uses whiskey instead of the vodka in a Moscow Mule. To make a Tennessee Mule, combine whiskey, lime juice, and ginger beer over ice.

    two Christmas Moscow mules with cranberries.

    🍹Related Drink Recipes

    • raspberry tequila cooler cocktails with basil
      Raspberry Tequila Cooler
      ★★★★★
    • mango orange smoothie with chia seeds
      Mango Orange Smoothie
      ★★★★★
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    Print

    Recipe

    Christmas Moscow Mule

    Moscow mules with cranberry and rosemary
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    This Christmas Moscow Mule is a fun cocktail for the holiday season! A fun spin on the classic cocktail, it's so easy to make with ginger beer, vodka, lime juice, and cranberry juice.

    • Author: Kathleen
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: 1 drink
    • Category: Drinks
    • Method: No Cook
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegan

    Ingredients

    • 1 part vodka
    • 1 part cranberry juice cocktail
    • 3 parts ginger beer
    • ½ part lime juice
    • Lime Wedges, Fresh Cranberries, Rosemary Sprigs, for garnishing

    Instructions

    1. Mix Cocktail - To make one mule, add the cocktail ingredients to a mug. You can use a shot glass to measure everything (one shot glass = one part). Stir and taste - adjusting to suit your tastes.
    2. Garnish and Serve - Top the mug with ice and garnishes of choice. Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    When mixing just one or two cocktails, it's easy to just use a shot glass for measuring. 1 shot glass (1.5 ounces)  = 1 part. If you're making a big batch, then you can use a different measuring cup (such as a ½ cup) to add the ingredients to a pitcher.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cocktail
    • Calories: 199
    • Sugar: 23.5 g
    • Sodium: 15.8 mg
    • Fat: 0.1 g
    • Carbohydrates: 25.9 g
    • Fiber: 0.1 g
    • Protein: 0.1 g
    • Cholesterol: 0 mg

    Keywords: Cranberry Moscow Mule, Moscow Mule Recipe, Holiday Cocktail Recipe, Cranberry Cocktail recipe

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    1. Katie says

      February 23, 2023 at 8:33 am

      Love this spin on the regular moscow mule.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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