Cranberry Moscow Mule (Quick Recipe)

Easy to make as a single drink, or in a large batch (use the tools on my recipe card to get the measurements!), this festive cranberry Moscow mule is the perfect drink to serve when you don't want to spend all night making cocktails. 

I love serving this sweet/tart cocktail with my Honey Goat Cheese Phyllo Cups and Bacon Wrapped Dates.

Ingredients for Christmas Mules

• Vodka - Choose your favorite plain vodka or play up the lime flavor in this drink by using citrus vodka. 
• Cranberry juice - Use 100% pure cranberry juice instead of cranberry juice cocktail for the best flavor. Chill it before using in your cocktail to keep your drinks extra cold while serving. 
• Fresh limes - Use only fresh limes in this drink. They taste much better than bottled lime juice and double as easy garnish.  
• Ginger beer - Choose your favorite ginger beer for this cocktail. Not a huge fan of ginger? You can use ginger ale instead to maintain the sweet fizz of the soda but reduce the ginger flavor. 
• Fresh cranberries - The easiest holiday garnish ever is whole cranberries. I toss a bag of fresh cranberries in my freezer the day before my party so I can use the frozen berries to both garnish my cocktails and keep the drinks cold. 

How to Make a Cranberry Moscow Mule

Combine vodka, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice in a cold copper mug or rocks glass. 

Fill the glass with ice. 

Gently stir. Sip and Enjoy!

Why Copper Mugs for Moscow Mules?

Copper mugs began as a marketing tool when Moscow mules were introduced back in the 1940s as a way to encourage Americans to drink more vodka. (People would order them in bars just to get a drink served in a copper mug!)

Now they’re the traditional way to serve a Moscow Mule, and while they’re still super fun, they’re not necessary for serving this delicious drink. You can use any non-stemmed cocktail glasses, instead, such as large rocks glasses. 

Copper cups - along with any metal cup - do an excellent job of keeping drinks cold. So if that’s your concern, you could even use metal julep cups to serve your Moscow mules if you don’t have a copper cup on hand. 

Don't Miss These Moscow Mule Recipes  

Two of the easiest ways to change up a traditional Moscow mule and create variation is by changing the type of vodka used and/or adding in juice or simple syrups.

I especially love doing this to create a fruity variation. For my three ingredient apple Moscow mules, I use apple vodka to add in fall flavor. Or try these strawberry Moscow mules made with homemade strawberry simple syrup. 

Don't drink alcohol? Make my non-alcoholic Moscow Mule Mocktail!

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