For me there is nothing like a refreshing margarita on the rocks. It maybe that I am from Texas where Tex-Mex food and margaritas go hand in hand. Or the fact that it is two days before Christmas and it is in the 80’s here. But whatever it is, I love them. To make my go-to drink a little more festive and help me get in the holiday spirit, I decided to whip up a twist on the classic margarita with a splash of cranberry simple syrup. And let me tell you, this from scratch cranberry margarita is festive and refreshing and perfect for this El Nino winter we are having!

Cranberry Margarita on the Rocks


2 ounces tequila
splash of orange liqueur
2 ounces fresh lime juice
2 -3 ounces of cranberry simple syrup (recipe below) depending on how sweet you want your drink
Ice
Salt and Sugar rim (optional)
Fresh cranberries and lime slices for garnish (optional)

Mix your ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and strain into a rimmed glass filled with ice. Add your fresh cranberries and lime slice to garnish.

Cranberry Simple Syrup

1 cup pure cranberry juice (NOT cranberry juice cocktail)
1 cup sugar

Dissolve the sugar in the cranberry juice in a sauce pan over med-low heat until the sugar is all incorporated. Cool and store in the refrigerator for all your cranberry margarita needs.

Doesn’t it just make your mouth water looking at it? I love the tartness of the cranberry juice and how it works perfectly with the lime and orange flavors of the margarita. Not to mention that the red and green of the cranberries and lime are totally Christmas colors!

How about my fancy new gold dot glasses too?! I picked these up at Home Goods a few weeks back and am totally in love!