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Festive Frozen Holiday Cocktail

Category: Sweet Moments, Made Easy

This festive frozen cocktail combines silver tequila with unsweetened cranberry juice, Cointreau, fresh lime, and honey, all blended with ice for a slushy consistency. The glasses are rimmed with a salty-sugar mixture that adds a delightful contrast to the tangy-sweet drink. Garnished with fresh rosemary sprigs and sugared cranberries, this beautiful crimson cocktail makes a stunning presentation for holiday gatherings.

The pitcher serves approximately 8 guests, but there's also a single-serving option. For those who prefer their margaritas non-frozen, an on-the-rocks variation is included. The liquid components can be mixed up to 24 hours ahead, making party preparation easier.

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Last updated on Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:58:32 GMT
Two frosted margaritas with a sprig of mistletoe. Bookmark
Two frosted margaritas with a sprig of mistletoe. | quicklish.com

This frosted mistletoe margarita is the ultimate Christmas cocktail for holiday entertaining. The festive frozen blend combines the bright tartness of cranberry with smooth tequila and fresh citrus for a drink that's both beautiful and delicious. I've perfected this recipe over several holiday seasons, and it's now requested at every December gathering.

I created this recipe when hosting my first Christmas cocktail party. Everyone was so impressed with the gorgeous color and festive presentation that it's become my signature holiday drink. Even friends who don't typically enjoy tequila ask for seconds.

Ingredients

  • Silver tequila blanco the clean, crisp flavor works perfectly with cranberry without overpowering
  • 100% unsweetened cranberry juice delivers authentic tart cranberry flavor far superior to sweetened versions
  • Cointreau or orange liqueur adds balanced citrus sweetness and depth
  • Fresh lime juice provides essential brightness and acidity
  • Fresh or frozen cranberries intensifies the color and adds texture
  • Honey or agave nectar natural sweetener that balances tartness without being cloying
  • Orange zest introduces aromatic citrus oils for complexity
  • Granulated sugar and kosher salt creates the perfect sweet-salty rim that enhances each sip

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the glasses
Combine granulated sugar and kosher salt on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around each glass rim, then dip into the mixture for an even coating. The moisture from the lime helps the mixture adhere perfectly, creating a festive rim that enhances every sip.
Blend the margarita
Add tequila, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, lime juice, cranberries, and honey to a high-powered blender. The order matters for proper blending. Pour in 4 cups of ice and blend on high until completely smooth and slushy. The texture should be thick enough to hold a spoon upright but still pourable. Add orange zest and pulse briefly to incorporate the aromatic oils without overpowering.
Serve with style
Pour the vibrant mixture into rimmed glasses immediately after blending for optimal texture. Add a sprig of fresh rosemary and a few sugared cranberries to each glass. The rosemary resembles a tiny Christmas tree branch and releases a wonderful aroma with each sip. Serve promptly while the mixture maintains its perfect frozen consistency.
Two glasses of frosted mistletoe margarita. Bookmark
Two glasses of frosted mistletoe margarita. | Quicklish.com

The real star of this recipe is the 100% unsweetened cranberry juice. I discovered its importance after making this with cranberry cocktail the first time. The pure cranberry juice creates a brighter color and more authentic flavor that transforms this from good to unforgettable. My grandmother always had a bog of cranberries on her property in Massachusetts, so using real cranberry juice feels like a connection to family heritage during the holidays.

How to Create Perfect Sugared Cranberries

The sugared cranberries aren't just a pretty garnish they're a delicious edible treat your guests will love. The maple syrup coating creates the perfect sticky base for the sugar to adhere to. Let the cranberries dry completely after coating with sugar for a crystallized appearance that resembles frost covered berries. Make these a day ahead and store in an airtight container to save time on party day. The contrast between the tart cranberry center and sweet sugar coating creates an irresistible flavor combination.

Single Serving Option

Not hosting a crowd? The single serving version is perfect for a cozy night in. Use the exact same technique but with scaled down proportions. For best results, use a small personal blender rather than a full size one to ensure proper blending of the smaller ingredient amounts. The single serving maintains the same gorgeous color and flavor profile as the pitcher version. This smaller batch is perfect when you want to treat yourself to something special without making a full pitcher.

Make It Non-Alcoholic

This festive drink is easily adapted for non-drinkers. Replace the tequila with additional cranberry juice and the orange liqueur with orange juice. Add 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract for complexity that mimics the warmth of alcohol. Increase the honey slightly to balance the additional tartness from extra cranberry juice. The color and presentation remain identical to the alcoholic version, making this perfect for inclusive holiday gatherings where some guests prefer not to drink.

Recipe Q&A

→ Can I make this mistletoe margarita ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare all the liquid ingredients (tequila, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lime juice, and honey) up to 24 hours in advance and store the mixture in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply blend with ice and garnish.

→ What type of cranberry juice works best?

Use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice for the best, most vibrant flavor. Avoid cranberry cocktail or juice blends that contain added sugars, as these will make the drink too sweet and mask the natural cranberry tartness.

→ How do I make sugared cranberries for the garnish?

To make maple sugared cranberries: stir 2 cups of fresh cranberries with 1/2 cup pure maple syrup and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Strain the cranberries, spread them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and toss with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until coated. Allow them to dry for at least one hour before using.

→ Can I serve this margarita on the rocks instead of frozen?

Absolutely! For an on-the-rocks version, simply combine all liquid ingredients in a pitcher and stir well. You can muddle fresh cranberries at the bottom of the pitcher to release their juice. Serve over ice in rimmed glasses with the same festive garnishes.

→ What can I substitute for Cointreau?

Any orange liqueur will work as a substitute for Cointreau. Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, or even a good quality orange curaçao would be excellent alternatives. Each will impart slightly different flavor notes to the final cocktail.

→ How sweet is this margarita?

With unsweetened cranberry juice and fresh lime, this cocktail has a pleasant tartness balanced by honey or agave. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey according to your taste preferences.

Frosted Mistletoe Margarita

A festive frozen cocktail with tequila, cranberry, lime, and orange liqueur, perfect for holiday entertaining.

Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
~
Total Time
10 min
By: Grace

Category: Desserts

Skill Level: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (8 cocktails)

Dietary Preferences: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ For the Salty-Sugar Rim

01 3 tbsp granulated sugar
02 2 tbsp kosher salt

→ For the Margarita Punch (8 servings)

03 1 1/2 cups silver tequila blanco
04 2 cups 100% unsweetened cranberry juice
05 3/4 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur
06 1 cup fresh lime juice
07 3/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
08 1/4 cup honey or agave nectar, to taste
09 Zest from 1 orange
10 4 cups ice

→ For the Festive Garnish

11 Fresh rosemary sprigs
12 Sugared cranberries (optional)

Steps

Step 01

On a small, shallow plate, combine the granulated sugar and kosher salt. Run a lime wedge around the rim of each margarita glass, then dip the rim into the salty-sugar mixture until evenly coated. Set the glasses aside.

Step 02

In a high-powered blender, combine the silver tequila, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, fresh/frozen cranberries, and honey. Add 4 cups of ice to the blender. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and has a slushy consistency. Add the orange zest and pulse once or twice just to combine.

Step 03

Pour the frosted margarita mixture into your prepared glasses. Garnish each drink with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a few sugared cranberries, if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. For maple sugared cranberries: In a bowl, stir 2 cups of fresh cranberries with 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup. Let them sit for 10-15 minutes. Strain the cranberries and spread them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Toss with 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar until coated. Let the cranberries dry for at least one hour.
  2. For a single serving: Combine 2 oz silver tequila, 4 oz (1/2 cup) cranberry juice, 3/4 oz Cointreau, juice from 1/2 a lime, 1-2 tbsp cranberries, 2-3 tsp honey, and 1 cup of ice in a blender. Blend until slushy.
  3. On the rocks variation (no blender): If you prefer your margarita on the rocks, simply combine all liquid ingredients in a pitcher and stir well. Serve over ice in your rimmed glasses and garnish as desired. You can muddle the fresh cranberries in the bottom of the pitcher first to release their juice.
  4. Using 100% unsweetened cranberry juice and fresh lime juice will give you the best, most vibrant flavor. Avoid bottled lime juice and sweetened cranberry cocktail.
  5. Make-ahead tip: You can mix all the liquid ingredients (tequila, juices, liqueur, honey) in a pitcher and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, pour the mixture into a blender with ice and proceed with the recipe.

Required Tools

  • High-powered blender
  • Margarita glasses
  • Shallow plate for rimming glasses
  • Measuring cups and spoons