Frosted Mistletoe Margarita (Pitcher & Single Serving) Recipe
This Frosted Mistletoe Margarita is a festive and refreshing holiday cocktail perfect for parties or cozy gatherings. Combining silver tequila, tart cranberry juice, zesty orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and a touch of honey, it’s blended with ice to create a smooth, slushy margarita. The salt and sugar rim along with garnishes of rosemary sprigs and sugared cranberries evoke a wintery, celebratory vibe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Rim Coating
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
Margarita Mixture
- 1 1/2 cups silver tequila (blanco tequila)
- 2 cups 100% unsweetened cranberry juice
- 3/4 cup Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 3/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/4 cup honey or agave nectar (adjust to taste)
- Zest from 1 orange
- 4 cups ice
Garnish
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Sugared cranberries (see notes)
Instructions
- Prepare the glasses: On a small, shallow plate, combine the granulated sugar and kosher salt. Run a lime wedge around the rim of each margarita glass, then dip the rim into the salty-sugar mixture until evenly coated. Set the glasses aside to let the coating set.
- Blend the margarita: In a high-powered blender, combine the silver tequila, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, fresh or frozen cranberries, and honey or agave nectar. Add 4 cups of ice to the blender. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and achieves a slushy consistency. Add the orange zest and pulse once or twice just to combine without over-blending the zest.
- Serve: Pour the frosted margarita mixture into your prepared glasses. Garnish each drink with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a few sugared cranberries for a festive touch. Serve immediately to enjoy at optimal texture and temperature.
Notes
- Use a high-powered blender for the smoothest, most even texture.
- The sugared cranberries can be prepared by tossing fresh cranberries in sugar and letting them dry until the coating hardens; this adds a sweet, crunchy garnish.
- Adjust the honey or agave nectar to taste depending on desired sweetness.
- If frozen cranberries are used, there is no need to add extra ice unless thicker consistency is preferred.
- For a non-alcoholic version, substitute tequila and orange liqueur with sparkling water and orange juice respectively.
Keywords: frosted mistletoe margarita, holiday margarita, cranberry margarita, tequila cocktail, festive drinks, Christmas cocktail, blended margarita
