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Home » Recipes » Cocktails

Cranberry Moscow Mule

Published: Dec 7, 2021 by Lexi

20 shares
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This Cranberry Moscow Mule cocktail combines the tartness of cranberry with the spicy sweetness of a homemade cinnamon simple syrup to create the perfect holiday cocktail. Topped with fizzy ginger beer, this mule is perfect for enjoying with friends and family.

Front view of a cranberry moscow mule cocktail with a sprig of rosemary and cranberry.
Our cranberry moscow mule is the perfect cocktail for the holidays!
Jump to:
  • 🥃 Why We Love This Recipe
  • 🍶 Ingredients
  • 📋 Ingredient Notes
  • 🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
  • 💭 Expert Tips and FAQs
  • 🍽 Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe

🥃 Why We Love This Recipe

  • Perfect for fall/winter holidays: this cranberry Moscow mule is the perfect Christmas or Thanksgiving cocktail. Especially garnished with rosemary, it's super festive and makes for an impressive holiday drink!
  • Quick and easy: With just a few easy-to-find ingredients, this cocktail is super easy to whip up. We especially like to make the simple syrup ahead of time to cut down on prep.
  • Well balanced: This mule combines the tartness of cranberry with the spice of ginger beer and cinnamon, and is rounded out with a hint of sweetness from the simple syrup. Lime juice adds the perfect amount of acidity, and of course vodka is the main act when it comes to liquor!

🍶 Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this cranberry moscow mule:

Front view of moscow mule ingredients, including ginger beer and cranberry juice.
This recipe is super simple, with just a few ingredients.

📋 Ingredient Notes

  • Cranberry juice: This should be fairly easy to find in your grocery store, likely right next to the apple juice. We typically opt for unsweetened in this cranberry Moscow mule. If you don't like the tartness, you can either just use sweetened cranberry juice, or cut it with a little extra simple syrup.
  • Lime juice: Freshly squeezed will always taste best in a cocktail – trust us!
  • Ginger beer: Using a high quality ginger beer (like Goslings) will elevate the quality and flavor of this Moscow mule. Lower quality ginger beer can be super sweet and lacking in flavor. Some ginger beer contains alcohol, but we use nonalcoholic version. Either is fine for this recipe.
  • Vodka: you don't have to use a super high quality vodka since it's masked by so many other ingredients. That being said, don't use something super low quality – you'll be able to taste it!
  • Cinnamon simple syrup: sure, regular simple syrup is fine, but this cinnamon simple syrup is only 3 ingredients (water, sugar, cinnamon sticks), SO easy to make, and adds so much to these cranberry moscow mules. Cinnamon has such a delicious spicy/sweet flavor that really elevates your drink, and you can use leftover syrup in just about any other fall/winter cocktail!

🔪 Step-by-step Instructions

These cranberry Moscow mules couldn't be any easier to make:

(1) In a small saucepan, stir together sugar and water, then add a cinnamon stick and bring to a boil for 4-5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the simple syrup sit for 30 minutes, then remove the cinnamon stick.


(2) In a cocktail shaker half filled with ice, add vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and cinnamon simple syrup.

on the left: cinnamon simple syrup in pan. on the right: cranberry moscow mule ingredients in cocktail shaker.
Make a double or triple batch of cinnamon simple syrup (like we did) and save for later!

(3) Shake well and pour into a glass/copper mug filled with ice, then top with 2-3 oz of ginger beer.

before and after pouring ginger beer into cranberry moscow mule cocktail.
The better quality ginger beer, the more delicious this Cranberry Moscow Mule will taste.

💭 Expert Tips and FAQs

  • Make ahead for a party: You can make the simple syrup and the base of the cocktail mixture (everything except the ginger beer) ahead of time. When ready to serve, stir/whisk well, pour into each glass and top off with ginger beer.
  • How to store simple syrup: store leftover cinnamon simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. It's delicious in this cranberry orange whiskey cocktail or this hot apple cider cocktail!
  • Keep it fresh: freshly squeezed lime juice makes a huge difference in these cranberry Moscow mules. Bottled citrus juice often contains additives and preservatives, so the flavor isn't nearly as fresh or tart.
  • Garnishes: fresh cranberries add a nice pop of tartness and sweetness to these mules, but they're totally optional. We also love to garnish with an herb sprig. Just about anything will do – we like rosemary, mint, thyme or sage.
  • How to make crushed ice: add ice cubes to a plastic bag, seal, wrap in a clean towel and use a rolling pin or mallet to crush.
Can you make this into a mocktail? (Non-alcoholic cocktail)


Yes! Substitute the vodka with extra pomegranate juice and ginger beer. Alternatively, we recently tried these nonalcoholic spirits and loved them!

Should you add ice to a moscow mule?


YES! These cranberry moscow mule cocktails definitely taste best ice cold. I always refrigerate my ginger beer before adding so it doesn't melt the ice too quickly.

Why are mule cocktails served in copper mugs?


Copper mugs respond to the temperature of what's inside it, so they're great for keeping a tequila or Moscow mule nice and frosty. Some people also think copper mugs enhance the fizziness and flavor of the cocktail.

What's the best way to clean copper mugs?


Copper tarnishes pretty easily, so be sure to wash your mugs in soapy, warm water right after using. Rinse well, then dry completely. Any leftover water spots may cause oxidation and tarnishing.

Close up front view of cranberry moscow mule cocktail.
Cheers! Enjoy this Cranberry Moscow Mule for the holidays with friends and family.

🍽 Related Recipes

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    Pomegranate Moscow Mule
  • close up side view of berry basil moscow mules garnished with basil and raspberries on wood table.
    Berry Basil Moscow Mules
  • Fig Moscow Mule
  • Two tequila mule cocktails in copper mugs with lime and mint garnish on antique blue table.
    Tequila Mule

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or by subscribing to our newsletter.

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📖 Recipe

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Front view of cranberry moscow mule garnished with cranberries and rosemary.

Cranberry Moscow Mule


  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This cranberry moscow mule combines the tartness of cranberry with the spicy sweetness of a homemade cinnamon simple syrup to create the perfect holiday cocktail. Topped with ginger beer, this mule is perfect for enjoying with friends and family.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Cocktail:

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 2 oz cranberry juice (we use unsweetened)
  • ½ oz freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ oz cinnamon simple syrup (recipe below)
  • 2-3 oz ginger beer to top off

Cinnamon Simple Syrup:

  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, stir together sugar and water, then add a cinnamon stick and bring to a boil for 4-5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the simple syrup sit for 30 minutes, then remove the cinnamon stick.
  2. In a cocktail shaker half filled with ice, add vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and cinnamon simple syrup. Shake well and pour into a glass/copper mug, then top with 2-3 oz of ginger beer.

Notes

Make it a mocktail: Substitute the vodka with extra pomegranate juice and ginger beer. Alternatively, we recently tried these nonalcoholic spirits and loved them!

Simple syrup storage: store leftover cinnamon simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. 

Make ahead for a party: You can make the simple syrup and the base of the cocktail mixture (everything except the ginger beer) ahead of time. When ready to serve, stir/whisk well, pour into each glass and top off with ginger beer.

Keep it fresh: freshly squeezed lime juice makes a huge difference in these cranberry Moscow mules. Bottled citrus juice often contains additives and preservatives, so the flavor isn't nearly as fresh or tart.

Garnishes: fresh cranberries add a nice pop of tartness and sweetness to these mules. We also love to garnish with an herb sprig. Just about anything will do – we like rosemary, mint, thyme or sage.

  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cocktail
  • Calories: 759
  • Sugar: 155.1 g
  • Sodium: 83.1 mg
  • Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 158.2 g
  • Fiber: 1.5 g
  • Protein: 0.4 g

Keywords: Cranberry moscow mule

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Lexi and Beth toasting with wine.

Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

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