Frozen Cranberry Margarita Recipe

This 5-minute frozen cranberry margarita is the perfect cocktail to serve at all your holiday parties this year. The vibrant red drink looks gorgeous served in salt-rimmed glasses with a nice pop of green from the lime, and its delicious sweet tart taste completes the package. There’s just no way you wouldn’t like this slushy version of a mistletoe margarita – try it once and you’ll see how frosty, festive, and fabulous it is!

Jump to Recipe

Can we talk about how awesome margaritas are? There’s always a new fun flavor to enjoy, plus they’re extremely easy to make. If you have tequila, Triple Sec, and lime juice at home then you’re all set – just add your choice of fruity twist to fit your mood. Whether you’re craving something sweet, tart, or spicy, there’s always a margarita for the moment.

My margarita of choice will always be cranberry when it’s holiday season. It’s tartness gives me a nice break from my other favorite seasonal drinks that are mostly sweet, like eggnog, hot chocolate, and pumpkin spice latte. Its festive colors and presentation also makes a nice addition to my holiday spreads, whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s. 

While I love a cranberry margarita on the rocks, I also enjoy a frozen cranberry margarita because it’s great for holiday entertaining, but it’s also ideal for happy hour any day, casual brunches, dinner parties, or any special occasion.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and fuss-free: Whip up this cocktail in just 5 minutes – just add all the ingredients in your blender and let it do all of the heavy lifting.
• Fun and festive: Frozen cranberry margarita brings a playful holiday vibe to any gathering –  it’s the perfect festive drink to add to your drink lineup!
• Great year-round cocktail: While it’s great for the holidays, frozen cranberry margarita can be enjoyed year-round. Whether you’re relaxing on your patio in the summertime or toasting at a winter gathering, this refresher won’t disappoint!
• Make-ahead friendly: A quick cocktail you can make ahead for convenience. Just prepare the mixture, store in the fridge, and blend right before serving.
• Easily customizable: Easily tweak the flavors by adjusting the sweetness, adding a hint of spice, or trying different garnishes to make it your own.

How to Make Frozen Cranberry Margarita

This refreshing cocktail looks super impressive, but it’s actually one of the easiest drinks you can ever make. Just rim your serving glasses with salt, blend the ingredients together, pour, garnish, and serve. It will take you almost longer to gather the ingredients than to make it!

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients You Need

• Cranberries: Gives the drink a delicious flavor boost and a refreshing, slush-like consistency. I recommend using frozen cranberries because they help thicken the mixture better, but you can also use fresh cranberries.
• Tequila: Choose a brand of tequila that you like to drink. I recommend using silver tequila because it packs more punch but offers a more mellow taste than gold.
• Lime juice: Adds brightness to the drink and helps cut through the sweetness. Freshly-squeezed lime juice is ideal for the best flavor but feel free to use store-bought if you prefer.
• Triple Sec: Triple Sec is an orange-flavored liqueur that adds a sweet, citrusy flavor to the drink and gives it a bright, zesty finish.
• Ice cubes
• Salt: Used in this recipe to rim the serving glasses. Salt is great at rounding out the flavors, too.
• Lime slices: Used as a garnish for this recipe so that drinkers can customize the tartness of the cocktail to their preference.

Step-By-Step Instructions

It only takes 3 simple steps to make a perfect frozen cranberry margarita. Follow the instructions below and you can’t go wrong.

Step 1: Rim

First, let’s rim your serving glasses. Start by pouring the salt into a shallow dish. Run one lime wedge around the rim of the two glasses. Turn them upside down and dip in the salt. Press firmly so the salt covers the inside and out of the rim. Set aside.

Step 2: Mix

Next, add the frozen cranberries, tequila, lime juice, Triple Sec, and ice cubes to the blender cup. Blend until smooth.

Step 3: Garnish

Divide the mixture evenly between the 2 prepared glasses and garnish with the remaining two lime slices.

Substitutions

Missing some of the ingredients or prefer to use alternatives? Here are some ideal substitutions:

• Tequila: If tequila isn’t available, use vodka instead and make a vodkarita. Just make sure to come back and use tequila next time!
• Triple Sec: Substitute Triple Sec with other orange-flavored liqueurs like Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Orange Curacao if it’s not available.
• Salt: Don’t want to rim your glass with salt? Use sugar instead. You can also use half salt and half sugar for a more well-rounded flavor.

Variations

One of my favorite things about frozen margarita is that it’s endlessly customizable. Put your own spin to it and add your favorite flavors, mix-ins, or garnishes and no outcome will be boring.

Try these super fun variations:

• Add a splash of pineapple juice to the mix for a sweet and tropical take, perfect for summertime.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to give your margarita some warmth or a dash of chili powder for some heat. These spices complement the tartness of the cranberries so well.
• Blend in a handful of frozen blueberries or strawberries along with the cranberries for a mixed-berry flavor that also adds a nice blend of colors
• Add a splash of coconut cream or heavy cream to make your frozen cranberry margarita richer and creamier.

Expert Tips

• Freeze the ingredients: Place your ingredients in the freezer about an hour before you make the cocktail so that they will be icy cold when you start. If your Triple Sec is less than 60 proof, leave it out because it will freeze.
• Use a high-speed blender: It’s best to use a high-speed blender for this recipe to get that smooth, consistent texture that you’re aiming for.
• Customize the sweetness: If this isn’t sweet enough for you, start by adding ¼ cup sugar or simple syrup, blend well, and increase to taste.
• Adjust the consistency: If the margarita mix is too watery, add ice gradually. If it’s too thick, add a splash of water to thin it out. The ideal consistency is thick like a slushy, but should still be easily drinkable through a straw. Always check the taste as you adjust to make sure it doesn’t get watered down.
• Serve immediately: Like any frozen treat, this margarita tends to melt quickly and is best served immediately after blending. If you want to prepare in advance, refrigerate the mixture and just re-blend briefly before serving.

How to Store This Recipe

Store leftover frozen margarita in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. The mixture should remain in slushy form because of its alcohol content. Drink as is or re-blend briefly, whichever you prefer.

What to Serve with Frozen Cranberry Margarita

Frozen cranberry margaritas pair well with pretty much anything. Serve them as part of your holiday spread or enjoy casually with your favorite snacks or main dishes. They’re great with a cheese platter, roasted chicken, and grilled meats. 

I especially enjoy it with Mexican food like guacamole and tortillas, fish tacos, beef quesadillas, and chicken enchiladas. The milder flavors of frozen cranberry margaritas complement spicier dishes like fajitas, tamales, and spicy shrimp ceviche well.

If you make this frozen cranberry margarita, please leave a review. I appreciate each 5-star rating and review comment!