Description

This stunning Mistletoe Margarita Holiday Drink combines tart cranberry juice, fresh lime, rosemary simple syrup, and sparkling water for a sophisticated mocktail everyone can enjoy. Garnished with sugared cranberries and fresh rosemary, it’s festive, refreshing, and ready in just 2 minutes!

Ingredients

Scale

3 oz pure cranberry juice (unsweetened)

1 oz fresh lime juice (about 1/2 large lime)

1 oz rosemary simple syrup

4 oz sparkling water, chilled

Ice cubes

For Rosemary Simple Syrup:

1 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

4 fresh rosemary sprigs

For Sugared Cranberry Garnish:

1/4 cup fresh cranberries

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

For Glass Rim:

2 tablespoons coarse sugar

1 tablespoon lime zest

1 lime wedge

Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish

Lime wheels for garnish

Instructions

1. Make rosemary simple syrup: Combine water and sugar in small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves (3 minutes). Add rosemary sprigs, remove from heat, steep 30 minutes. Strain and refrigerate.

2. Prepare sugared cranberries: Simmer cranberries in 1/4 cup water for 2 minutes until skins just split. Drain and roll in sugar while damp. Let dry on parchment 1 hour.

3. Rim the glass: Mix coarse sugar with lime zest on plate. Run lime wedge around rim of glass, then dip in sugar mixture to coat.

4. Build the drink: Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup.

5. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until shaker feels cold.

6. Strain into prepared glass filled with fresh ice.

7. Slowly top with chilled sparkling water, pouring down side of glass. Stir once gently.

8. Garnish with skewered sugared cranberries, fresh rosemary sprig, and lime wheel. Serve immediately.

Notes

For batch serving (10 drinks): Combine 30 oz cranberry juice, 10 oz lime juice, 10 oz simple syrup in pitcher. Add 40 oz sparkling water just before serving.

Simple syrup keeps refrigerated for 2 weeks in sealed jar.

Use large ice cubes to prevent dilution.

Always add sparkling water last—never shake carbonated beverages.

Fresh lime juice is essential; bottled juice tastes flat.

Freeze cranberry juice into ice cubes for extra flavor without dilution.

For sweeter version, use cranberry juice cocktail instead of pure cranberry juice.

Prep Time: 10 (plus 1 hour for garnishes)
Category: Beverage, Mocktail, Holiday Drink
Method: Shaking, Mixing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 drink (10 oz)
Calories: 125
Sugar: 28g
Sodium: 15mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 32g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: mistletoe margarita, holiday mocktail, cranberry lime drink, non alcoholic margarita, festive drink, christmas mocktail