Cranberry Moscow Mules

This cranberry Moscow mule is the Christmas mule I make every December: vodka, tart cranberry juice, fresh lime and spicy ginger beer over lots of ice. It takes 5 minutes, needs no shaker, and looks like a party in a copper mug.

Below you’ll find the single-drink recipe, a pitcher version for a crowd, a zero-proof Christmas mule mocktail, and a lighter version with less sugar. I’ve also included which cranberry juice and ginger beer to buy, because those two choices make or break this drink.

What you need for a cranberry moscow mule

The ingredients you’ll need to make a classic Moscow mule are vodka, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice. For this cranberry version, we will also use cranberry juice.

• Vodka. A smooth, mid-shelf bottle is all you need. Cranberry or citrus vodka adds extra flavor.
• Cranberry juice. This sets the color and the sweetness. See the table below to pick the right one.
• Fresh lime juice. Bottled lime tastes flat here. One lime gives about 1 ounce of juice, enough for two drinks.
• Ginger beer. Not ginger ale. Ginger beer has the spicy bite that makes a mule a mule.
• Ice. Crushed or pebble ice keeps it coldest, but cubes work fine.
• Garnish. Fresh or sugared cranberries, a rosemary sprig and a lime wheel.

Copper mugs keep the drink icy cold, but any glass works. A clear glass shows off the red color, which is the better choice for photos.

(For the exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions, please scroll down to the recipe at the bottom of this post. Thanks!)

Which Cranberry Juice Is Best for a Christmas Mule?

Cranberry juice cocktail is the easy default, and 100% cranberry juice gives the deepest color with the least sugar. Here’s how the common options compare in this drink.

Juice	Taste in the mule	Color	Adjust
Cranberry juice cocktail	Sweet-tart, crowd-pleasing	Bright red	None needed
Light cranberry juice cocktail	Sweet-tart, fewer calories	Bright red	None needed; best for the lighter version
100% unsweetened cranberry	Very tart, almost puckery	Deep ruby	Add ½ oz simple syrup or maple syrup
White cranberry juice	Mild and floral	Pale blush	Add an extra squeeze of lime
Cranberry-pomegranate blend	Fruity, rounder	Deep red	None needed

Start with the recipe amount, taste, and adjust. Ginger beer brands vary a lot in sweetness, so the juice and the ginger beer balance each other.

The Best Ginger Beer for Moscow Mules

Pick a ginger beer with real spice; it’s two-thirds of the drink. These are easy to find in most US grocery stores.

Ginger beer	Spice	Sweetness	Best for
Fever-Tree Ginger Beer	Medium-high	Medium	All-around pick
Q Mixers Ginger Beer	High	Low	Tart, less-sweet mules
Gosling’s Ginger Beer	Medium	High	Pairs well with unsweetened cranberry
Bundaberg Ginger Beer	Medium	High	Rich, sweeter drinks
Reed’s Ginger Beer	High	Medium	Big fresh-ginger bite
A diet or zero-sugar ginger beer	Varies	Low	The lighter Christmas mule

Ginger beer vs. ginger ale. Ginger ale is a ginger-flavored soda and much milder. It works in a pinch, but the drink will taste like cranberry soda.

Alcoholic ginger beer (like Crabbie’s) has its own alcohol. If you use it, cut the vodka in half or skip it.

How to Make a Cranberry Moscow Mule

1. Fill a copper mug with ice. Fill it to the top so the drink stays cold and doesn’t water down.
2. Add the vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer. Pour it slowly so it keeps its fizz.
4. Stir gently once. Don’t shake a mule; shaking flattens the ginger beer.
5. Garnish and serve. Add cranberries, a rosemary sprig and a lime wheel.

Tip: Chill the vodka, juice and ginger beer ahead of time. Cold ingredients melt less ice and keep the drink crisp.

How to Make a Cranberry Moscow Mule Pitcher

For a Christmas party, mix everything except the ginger beer up to 4 hours ahead, then top each glass with ginger beer as you serve. Adding it at the end keeps every drink fizzy.

Servings	Vodka	Cranberry juice	Lime juice	Ginger beer (add at serving)
1	1½ oz	2 oz	½ oz	4 oz
4	¾ cup (6 oz)	1 cup (8 oz)	¼ cup (2 oz)	2 cups (16 oz)
8	1½ cups (12 oz)	2 cups (16 oz)	½ cup (4 oz)	4 cups (32 oz)
12	2¼ cups (18 oz)	3 cups (24 oz)	¾ cup (6 oz)	6 cups (48 oz)

1. Stir the vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice in a large pitcher. Refrigerate until party time.
2. Add a handful of frozen cranberries instead of ice so the pitcher stays cold without watering down.
3. To serve, fill mugs with ice, pour in about 4 oz of the cranberry mix, and top with 4 oz ginger beer.

For a punch bowl: add the ginger beer right before guests arrive, and float lime wheels, cranberries and rosemary on top. Plan to refresh it within an hour, as the fizz fades.

Christmas Mule Mocktail

The zero-proof version keeps everything that makes this drink good: the tart cranberry, fresh lime and ginger heat. It’s perfect for family parties, designated drivers and Dry January.

For one mocktail:

• 3 oz cranberry juice
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 4 oz ginger beer
• 1 oz sparkling water or club soda
• Garnish: cranberries, rosemary, lime wheel

Fill a glass with ice, add the cranberry and lime, top with ginger beer and sparkling water, and stir once. Use ginger beer rather than ginger ale so it still tastes like a grown-up cocktail. For kids, ginger ale is the milder choice.

Mocktail pitcher (8 servings): 3 cups cranberry juice and ½ cup lime juice in the pitcher; top each glass with 4 oz ginger beer and a splash of sparkling water.

Christmas Mule Variations

Swap the spirit and the same cranberry-ginger base becomes a new drink. Use the same 1½ oz in each.

Lighter Christmas Mule

Use light cranberry juice cocktail (or 100% cranberry with a teaspoon of maple syrup) and a diet or zero-sugar ginger beer. You keep the flavor and cut much of the sugar. [Erin: add calories per drink from WPRM once the card is updated.]

Spiced Rum Cranberry Mule

Spiced rum adds warm vanilla and baking-spice notes. It’s a great Thanksgiving cocktail.

Kentucky Cranberry Mule (Bourbon)

Bourbon makes a richer, cozier mule. Add an orange peel instead of lime.

Mexican Cranberry Mule (Tequila)

Blanco tequila plays nicely with lime and cranberry. Rim the mug with sugar and a pinch of salt.

Cranberry Gin Mule

Gin’s botanicals and rosemary are made for each other. Use a London dry gin.

Cranberry Orange Mule

Replace half the lime juice with fresh orange juice and garnish with an orange wheel.

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

Sugared cranberries give the drink a frosted, snowy look and can be made 1–2 days ahead.

1. Simmer ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool until just warm.
2. Stir in 1 cup fresh cranberries and soak them for 10 minutes.
3. Drain and let them dry on a rack for about an hour, until tacky.
4. Roll them in ½ cup granulated sugar. Let them dry for another hour.
5. Dip rosemary sprigs in the leftover syrup and roll in sugar too.

Save the cranberry-tinted syrup to sweeten mules made with 100% cranberry juice.

What to Serve with Cranberry Moscow Mules

This drink is tart and spicy, so it pairs best with rich, savory party bites. Try it with Cranberry Sauce Meatballs, Cranberry Turkey Roll-Ups or Crock Pot Jalapeño Popper Dip, and finish with Christmas Chocolate Bark.

More Moscow Mules

• Strawberry Moscow Mule
• Ginger Peach Moscow Mule
• Pineapple Moscow Mule
• Apple Cider Moscow Mule

More Christmas Cocktails

• Saint Nickarita Christmas Margarita
• Mint Chocolate Martini
• Ginger Snap Cocktail
• Pomegranate Citrus Champagne Cocktail
• Spiked Eggnog

Cranberry Moscow Mule FAQ’s