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Cranberry Margarita in a rocks glass with salt rim and lime wedge and cranberries (AI-generated image)
AI-generated image
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Cranberry Margarita

A festive margarita where tart cranberry juice stands in for most of the lime, sweetened with a quick honey syrup and rimmed with salt. Bright red, easy to batch for a holiday crowd.

Time
10 min
Difficulty
Easy
Method
Shaken
Glass
Rocks glass

Ingredients

Servings

Amounts below make 2 servings (the full recipe).

21+ · Please drink responsibly. Learn more

Garnish: Salt rim, Lime wedge (2 wedges), Cranberries (6)

How to make it

  1. 1

    Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass and dip the rims in salt.

  2. 2

    Add the cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila, triple sec and honey syrup to a shaker with ice.

  3. 3

    Shake for 10 to 20 seconds, until thoroughly chilled.

  4. 4

    Strain into the two glasses, being careful not to splash the rims, and garnish with a lime wedge and a few cranberries.

Swap it: For a crowd, multiply the amounts into a pitcher and chill; stir before pouring over ice. For the best flavor, shake it in batches. A coarse sugar rim is sweeter than salt. Regular simple syrup works in place of the honey syrup.

Make ahead

Honey simple syrup

Bar batch

  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup hot water
  1. Whisk the honey into the hot water until it dissolves.
  2. Let it cool to room temperature.

Up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Bar gear

Equipment for this drink

Tools you'll need

  • Cocktail shakerChills, mixes and dilutes shaken drinks in about 12 seconds. A two-piece Boston shaker is the bartender standard.
  • JiggerA double-sided measure so every drink comes out the same. Look for one marked in ½ and ¼ oz.
  • Hawthorne strainerThe spring-edged strainer that holds back ice when you pour from a shaker.
  • Citrus pressSqueezes fresh lemon and lime fast — fresh juice is the biggest upgrade you can make.
  • PitcherFor batching a round of drinks before guests arrive.

Recommended glassware

  • Rocks glassShort and sturdy — for spirit-forward drinks and sours over ice.

No shaker? A clean jar with a tight lid works. Build your home bar →

Recipe source: The Pioneer Woman — Cranberry Margarita. Quantities and basic method are factual. Description and steps are original Mixistry copy. Last updated 2026-10-11.

Contains alcohol. For adults 21+ (or the legal drinking age where you live). Please enjoy responsibly.

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