Cranberry Tequila Cocktail: Christmas Sunrise Margarita
A festive spin on the classic margarita that borrows from the tequila sunrise, too!
Ingredients
Cranberry Simple Syrup (makes about 1-1/4 cups, enough for 20 margaritas)
- 6 ounce fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water
Margarita for One (pitcher instructions in Notes section)
- 1 ounce silver tequila
- ½ ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 3 ounce white cranberry juice
- ½ ounce cranberry simple syrup
Garnishes
- sugar or coarse salt, for rimming glasses
- lime wedges or wheels
- rosemary sprigs
- whole cranberries, fresh or sugared
Instructions
- Cranberry Simple Syrup: Bring cranberries, sugar, and water to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing juice from the cranberries with a silicon spatula. Allow to cool completely before using. (Store in an airtight jar in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks.)
- Margarita: If desired, rub a wedge of lime around the rim of a cocktail glass, then dip the glass in sugar or salt. Fill with ice. Pour tequila, triple sec, lime juice and white cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into the cocktail glass. Slowly pour 1/2 oz of cranberry simple syrup over the back of a spoon into the margarita so it sinks to the bottom. Garnish with cranberries, lime and rosemary.
- To enjoy: include a swizzle stick or cocktail stirrer to stir up the margarita and distribute the cranberry simple syrup. It blends with the tart lime for a perfectly balanced cocktail.
Notes
For a Pitcher of Margaritas (8 servings): Stir together 8 oz. tequila, 4 oz. triple sec, 8 oz. lime juice and 24 oz. white cranberry juice in a 48 oz. or larger cocktail pitcher. (Or, blend the ingredients together with just a few ice cubes to get a frothy finish.) Refrigerate until ready to serve. At serving time, rim cocktail glasses with sugar or salt and fill with ice. Pour the margaritas, then add cranberry simple syrup to create the sunrise effect.
Save the Cranberries: After you've strained the cranberry simple syrup, you've basically got yourself cranberry jam! Add it to sandwiches and wraps, make a cranberry and brie appetizer, add it to holiday desserts or spread it on toast and biscuits.
Nutrition
Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 52IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
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