Cranberry Moscow Mule

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 03/15/22
Cranberry Moscow mule
Leah Maroney
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 5 servings
Yield: 5 cocktails
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
317 Calories
0g Fat
58g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories 317
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 16mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 44g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 40mg 201%
Calcium 39mg 3%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 170mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The cranberry Moscow mule is a crisp and refreshing twist on the classic Moscow mule. It's perfectly festive and looks beautiful on a holiday table.

This cranberry cocktail is so easy to whip up in large batches because it has so few ingredients. You can also make it single serve just as easy. Using a ginger beer that is high quality will put this cocktail over the top. Make sure you enjoy the taste of the ginger beer before adding it to the rest of the cocktail as sometimes it may be too sweet or too bitter for your preference.

You can easily make this cocktail virgin as well by just omitting the vodka. It still tastes delicious and is perfect for young ones and anyone you're expecting during the holidays. 

We love making homemade cranberry juice with fresh cranberries, sugar, and water. It's simple to make but does add some time because you have to allow the cranberry juice to cool. While it does provide a tarter flavor and a much prettier color than the store-bought stuff, if you are in a pinch, you can easily replace the homemade juice with bottled juice. Just make sure to choose a brand that is full of flavor and is one that you enjoy. 

We prefer pouring this cocktail to order. Make sure to add ice when you are ready to serve and not before. The ice can dilute the cocktail and take away the magic ginger flavor. Moscow mules traditionally are poured into a copper mug that helps to keep this drink cold.

Enjoy these cocktails alongside your holiday breakfast dishes or any other celebration.

Ingredients

  • 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1 cup water

  • 3/4 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed

  • 1 cup vodka

  • 3 cups ginger beer

  • Lime wedges, for garnish

  • Fresh cranberries, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Add the fresh cranberries to a small saucepan. Turn on the heat and add the granulated sugar and water. Stir to combine and allow to come to a boil. Once the cranberries are soft (about 5 to 10 minutes), turn off the heat. Let cool to lukewarm. Strain the cranberries over a fine-mesh sieve. Allow the cranberry mixture to completely cool before making the cocktails.  

  2. Stir the fresh cranberry juice, lime juice, and vodka in a large pitcher. Slowly add the ginger beer and gently stir. If making a single-serve cocktail, use about 2 ounces of vodka, 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice, and top with ginger beer.

  3. Make sure to serve over ice in copper mugs. They not only look pretty but keep the cocktail super cold. Garnish with lime wedges and fresh cranberries. 

Tips

  • Make a virgin cranberry Moscow mule by omitting the vodka.
  • Serve this drink in a copper mug as it is not only the tradition, it helps keep it cold.
  • Add ice only when ready to serve, so as not to dilute the cocktail.
  • Replace the homemade cranberry juice with bottled cranberry juice if you're tight on time.