Cranberry Moscow Mule Recipe – A Good Cocktail Recipe

What do you get when you combine a traditional Cape Codder and a Moscow Mule? They marry together for a perfect Cranberry Moscow Mule made with only 4 simple ingredients.

Cranberry Moscow Mule Recipe

My cocktail of choice tends to be a Cape Codder, made of cranberry juice, vodka and lime juice. I like Cranberry Vodka cocktails pretty much any way they come. So much so, I even created a spicy version with Jalapenos.

Recently, my three sisters and I had a girls night to see a movie.  It was one of those cool new theaters where you can get wine, cocktails and beer to take inside the movie. The menu had a cranberry version of a Moscow mule that grabbed my attention, and I liked it so much that I decided to recreate it at home.

If you aren’t familiar with Moscow Mules, let me explain.  Moscow mules include ginger beer, vodka and lime juice, and they are served in copper mugs.  Ginger beer is a sparkling, non-alcoholic drink that has a kick of flavor from ginger, and it gives a unique flavor to cocktails including Moscow mules. Ginger beer is found at almost any store these days, even Aldi where I tend to do most of my grocery shopping.

Holiday Cocktail

I love making new cocktails for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Take the classics and make them even more special which is what I did for this recipe.

This cranberry mule is a pretty holiday red which is totally festive. Make it look like garland by adding a sprig of fresh rosemary.

Ingredient List

• Ice
• Cranberry Juice or Cranberry Cocktail
• Vodka
• Ginger Beer
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Optional: Frozen or Fresh Cranberries, Lime wedges

How to Make a Cranberry Moscow Mule

Step by Step Instructions

1. Add ice to a glass or copper mug.
2. Add cranberry juice, vodka, ginger beer and lime juice.
3. Garnish with fresh cranberries, frozen cranberries, or lime wedges if you desire.
4. Stir, drink, repeat.

For the full recipe for Moscow Mules with Cranberries, scroll to the bottom of this post. 

Recipe FAQs

• Use whatever vodka you prefer, but I love Tito’s brand.
• If you want to take down the calories, use a low-calorie cranberry juice cocktail for this cranberry Moscow mule.
• For the lime juice, fresh limes are the most flavorful but nobody is judging you if you buy a carton of lime juice that can be kept in the refrigerator.
• For these cranberry ginger cocktails, start with 1 teaspoon lime juice and add more if desired.
• Traditional copper mule cups can be found almost anywhere like these on Amazon.
• Love cranberry juice? Try our Jalapeno Cape Codders and Hot Cranberry Punch.

Recipe Variations

• Give it a good shake in a cocktail shaker to mix it up before pouring into a mug or cocktail glasses.
• Use tequila or gin instead of vodka.
• Add a splash of apple cider for a whole new drink. Or use apple cider instead of ginger beer.

Which cranberry juice for cocktails?

For cocktails, it is recommended to use cranberry juice cocktail rather than pure cranberry juice. The cranberry juice cocktail has a slightly sweeter taste which balances well with the other ingredients in the cocktail.

Our Favorite Cranberry Cocktail Recipes

Cranberry is a wonderful flavor to incorporate into your cocktails. Here are some of our favorites!

• Jalapeno Cape Codders
• Hot Cranberry Punch
• Bay Breeze for a Crowd
• Orange Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
• Low Carb Cranberry and Vodka
• Cranberry Orange Champagne Cocktail

Our Favorite Cocktail Recipes

Cocktails can come is all varieties, and we love them all. Try some of our other favorite cocktail recipes:

• Jalapeno Pineapple Limeade
• Amaretto Pina Colada
• Bailey’s Milk
• Hot Buttered Rum