Cranberry Moscow Mule

Cranberry Moscow Mule is the perfect holiday cocktail recipe, be it Thanksgiving, Christmas or 4th of July! Easy to put together, easy to tweak, fun to drink and so delicious! Non-alcoholic version provided.

Moscow Mule is one of my favorite cocktails and what I like the most about it is that it uses ginger beer and cranberries, two of my favorite things!

Those of you who follow my blog might have seen this Moscow Mule recipe coming, since I recently posted homemade ginger beer recipe. Many of you liked the recipe and didn’t expect it to be so easy. And yet it is!

I really recommend you to try my homemade ginger beer recipe since it’s not only easy but also good for you! Unlike store-bought ginger beer, homemade one doesn’t contain any additives, sweeteners or preservatives. You are in control of what you put in it and can be sure that it’s healthy.

If you are in a hurry and can’t afford to spend time on homemade ginger ale, of course you can use store-bought. It’s holiday season after all, so it’s meant to be unhealthy. As Russians say, if something is not allowed but one has a great wish, then it’s allowed 🙂

I made this holiday Moscow Mule both with cranberries and lingonberries. Although it is delicious with cranberries, I urge you to try it with lingonberries. You can find them in your local Russian shop (frozen or juiced) or in IKEA.

I like the sweet and tart flavor they give to the cocktail. Cranberries are totally fine but just in case you want something fancy, try lingonberries.

Cranberry Moscow Mule is super easy to make. The good thing is that you can improvise with it quite a bit.

Want to serve it to kids/pregnant/breastfeeding women? Skip alcohol. It’s so delicious this way! Don’t like vodka? Use gin, tequila or any other spirit you have at hand. Have ginger ale instead of ginger beer? Go ahead!

We also tried it with apple cider instead of vodka and it was absolutely delicious. It’s holidays after all, so use ingredients you and your family really like.

If you don’t have this pretty Moscow Mule copper mugs yet, you have to buy them. Not only they look awesome and make the drink special, they also keep it cool longer. So you can enjoy it in summer too 😉 Somehow the mugs just magically make the Moscow Mule taste better! Don’t ask me why 🙂

Besides, they make such a great Christmas gift! I included them on my ultimate holiday gift guide for foodies last year and they were a hit!

How to Make Cranberry Moscow Mule

To start with, make your ginger beer. It’s very easy but it’ll take you 48 hours to ferment, so I won’t judge you if you will skip this and use store-bought.

Squeeze juice out of your limes and lingonberries (if using). I found that the best way to do it if you don’t have a juicer is to mash them and drain the juice through a sieve covered with a layer of cheesecloth. Squeeze the cheesecloth.

Another option would be to mash them in a mug. That way there will still be juice but the mashed berries will sink to the bottom. Alternatively, use cranberry juice.

Fill your copper mug with ice. Pour ginger beer until the mug is half full (about 1/2 cup or 120 ml). Add 1 tablespoon lime juice, 3-4 tablespoons cranberry or lingonberry juice and 1 oz (30 ml) vodka or any other spirit of your choice. Stir and add grenadine to taste (optional). Garnish with lime wedges, rosemary stalks and cranberries or lingonberries. Enjoy!

Here is the full recipe for you:

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Cranberry Moscow Mule

Cranberry Moscow Mule is the perfect holiday cocktail recipe, be it Thanksgiving, Christmas or 4th of July! Easy to put together, easy to tweak, fun to drink and so delicious! Non-alcoholic version provided.

Course Beverage

Cuisine American

Keyword cocktail, Cranberry Cocktail, Cranberry Moscow Mule, Moscow Mule

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 130kcal

Author Elena Szeliga

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Ice
• 1/2 cup or 120 ml ginger beer
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 3-4 tablespoons cranberry juice or lingonberry juice
• 1 oz or 30 ml vodka or any other spirit of your choice (see notes for non-alcoholic version)
• grenadine to taste to taste (optional)
• cranberries or lingonberries, lime wedges, rosemary stalks to garnish

Instructions

• Fill your copper mug with ice. Pour ginger beer until the mug is half full. Add lime juice, cranberry or lingonberry juice (see notes below) and vodka or any other spirit of your choice. Stir and add grenadine to taste (optional). Garnish with lime wedges, rosemary stalks and cranberries or lingonberries. Enjoy!

Notes

I found that the best way to juice lingonberries if you don't have a juicer is to mash them and drain the juice through a sieve covered with a layer of cheesecloth. Squeeze the cheesecloth.

Another option would be to mash them in a mug. That way there will still be juice but the mashed berries will sink to the bottom. Alternatively, use cranberry juice.

To make alcohol free cranberry Moscow Mule just skip the vodka and add a bit more ginger beer. You can also use apple cider.

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Sodium: 10mg | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin C: 8.7mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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Happy holidays!

Elena