Description
Christmas Mistletoe Margarita: A festive twist on a classic cocktail with tequila, cranberry juice, and fresh lime. Perfect for holiday parties!
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 oz (120 ml) silver tequila
- 2 oz (60 ml) triple sec or Cointreau
- 2 oz (60 ml) fresh lime juice
- 3 oz (90 ml) cranberry juice (100% juice, not cocktail)
- 1 oz (30 ml) simple syrup
- 15–20 fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar or salt (for rimming)
- Ice cubes
- 2 lime wedges (for garnish and rimming glasses)
- Optional: 2-3 drops green food coloring for the mint layer
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Glasses Start by preparing your margarita glasses at least 10 minutes before serving. Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass to moisten. Pour your rimming sugar or salt onto a small plate, then gently roll the moistened rim through the mixture until evenly coated. For a festive touch, consider using red sugar for a Christmas-themed rim. Place the prepared glasses in the refrigerator to chill while you mix your **Christmas Mistletoe Margarita**.
- Step 2: Create the Cranberry Base In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, triple sec, 1.5 oz of the lime juice, cranberry juice, and 1/2 oz of simple syrup. Add a handful of ice cubes and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the mixture is well-chilled and properly diluted. The shaker should become frosty on the outside—this is your indicator that the cocktail has reached optimal temperature and dilution.
- Step 3: Prepare the Mint Layer In a separate small bowl, muddle the mint leaves with the remaining 0.5 oz of lime juice and 0.5 oz of simple syrup. Press firmly with your muddler to release the essential oils from the mint—you’ll know it’s ready when the aroma becomes pronounced. Strain this mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing gently on the leaves to extract all the liquid. If using, add a tiny drop of green food coloring to enhance the festive appearance.
- Step 4: Assemble Your Christmas Mistletoe Margarita Fill your prepared glasses halfway with ice. Strain the cranberry margarita mixture into each glass, filling about 3/4 full. Using the back of a spoon held just above the cranberry layer, slowly pour the mint mixture over the spoon. This technique allows the mint layer to float on top of the cranberry layer, creating the distinctive Christmas red and green effect.
- Step 5: Garnish and Serve Complete your **Christmas Mistletoe Margarita** with a thoughtful garnish. Float a few fresh cranberries on top and add a sprig of mint slightly tucked into the side of the glass. For an extra festive touch, add a small sprig of rosemary dusted with powdered sugar to mimic a snow-covered pine branch. Serve immediately while the layers are still distinct and the temperature is perfectly chilled.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 296
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 47
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0