Festive Cranberry Moscow Mule Pitcher – Easy Holiday Cocktail
A quick and easy cranberry Moscow mule pitcher recipe perfect for holiday parties, featuring tart cranberry, spicy ginger beer, and fresh lime. This crowd-pleasing cocktail comes together in under 10 minutes and is sure to impress guests.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Beverages
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (about half a lime)
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- 2 cups vodka (recommended: Tito’s or Absolut)
- 4 cups ginger beer (recommended: Fever-Tree or Gosling’s)
- 1 cup cranberry simple syrup (from above)
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4–5 limes)
- Ice cubes (preferably large cubes or a block)
- Fresh cranberries and lime wheels for garnish
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- Make the cranberry simple syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup cranberries, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and the cinnamon stick if using. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, gently mashing the cranberries with the back of a wooden spoon as they soften. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl or jar, pressing on the solids to extract all the syrup. Discard the solids. Le…
- Prepare the garnishes: While the syrup cools, slice 2 limes into thin wheels. Rinse a handful of fresh cranberries and pat dry. If using rosemary, cut 4-5 small sprigs. Set aside.
- Juice the limes: Roll the remaining 4-5 limes on the counter with your palm to release the juice, then cut in half and juice them. You need 1/2 cup of fresh juice. Strain out any seeds.
- Assemble the pitcher: In your large pitcher, combine 2 cups vodka, 1 cup cooled cranberry simple syrup, and 1/2 cup fresh lime juice. Stir gently with a long spoon to combine.
- Add the ginger beer and ice: Just before serving, slowly pour in 4 cups ginger beer. Stir gently once or twice. Add a generous amount of ice cubes.
- Garnish and serve: Float lime wheels, fresh cranberries, and rosemary sprigs on top. Pour into ice-filled copper mugs or glasses. For individual servings, add a few cranberries and a lime wheel to each glass.
Notes
Make the syrup and juice the limes up to 3 days ahead. Store the syrup in the fridge and the lime juice in a sealed container. On party day, just combine everything in the pitcher and add the ginger beer right before serving. The drink stays cold and fizzy for about an hour if you keep the pitcher in the fridge between refills. Always add ginger beer last to preserve carbonation. Use frozen cranberries as ice cubes to keep the drink cold without diluting it.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 ounces
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 10
- Carbohydrates: 22
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