This holiday cranberry Moscow mule (aka a Yule Mule or Christmas mule) is the festive cocktail your holiday party needs! Tart cranberry juice meets herbal homemade rosemary syrup and spicy ginger beer for a drink that’s refreshing, seasonal, and absolutely gorgeous in the glass.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, need a signature drink for Thanksgiving, or just want to cozy up with a festive cocktail during your next Hallmark movie marathon, this cranberry mule recipe is one you’ll wanna keep around!
Most Christmas cocktails are garnished with rosemary but don’t actually contain any rosemary which is…weird! A garnish should serve as a hint or a “flavor clue” for what the drinker can expect to taste. By adding in rosemary simple syrup, we can play up the herbaceous, wintery vibes that make this yuletide mule so special!
Try making some cranberry ice cubes to amp up the festive factor and give your nosey aunt something else to ask you about at the dinner table. 😅
👀 the secret sauce…
✨ the flavor: This holiday cocktail hits multiple Flavor Factors at once. The tart cranberry and lime juice bring THE POP, while the rosemary syrup and ginger beer add THE OOMPH. It’s not a one-note drink; it’s layered and interesting.
🎯 the method: Build it right in the glass, no shaker needed! Layer your ingredients, top with ginger beer, and let the bubbles do the mixing. It’s party-friendly because you can prep the base ahead and just add ginger beer when guests arrive.
🏆 the win: Unlike most “holiday cocktails” that just slap a rosemary sprig on top as decoration, this one actually TASTES like rosemary. The garnish isn’t lying to you, it’s a real flavor clue!
🛒 ingredients
For the garnish:
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 how to make a Christmas Moscow mule
Step 1: Prepare the garnish by spearing three cranberries onto a sprig of rosemary. You may need to strip the rosemary of the leaves on the bottom to make room for the cranberries.
Step 2: Fill your glass with ice to chill the glass.
Step 3: Pour in .5 ounce of lime juice to the cocktail glass.
Step 4: Next, add in .5 ounce of rosemary simple syrup into the glass.
Step 5: Add 1 ounce of cranberry juice to the glass, and stir it with a cocktail spoon.
Step 6: Pour in 2 ounces of vodka.
Step 7: Top with 4 ounces of ginger beer, or enough to fill the glass.
Step 8: Garnish with your rosemary and cranberries, and serve immediately.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ how to serve your cranberry mules
- holiday parties – this Christmas mule is perfect for the late autumn and winter holiday season! Serve it with a spread of appetizers like whipped ricotta and a crusty baguette, spiced mixed nuts, or puff pastry bites!
- Christmas movie night – not up to hosting? No worries! Cozy up with a pitcher of mules for your next holiday movie marathon! Drop me a comment if you want my Hallmark Christmas movie bingo cards, too! 🎁
- chill out – chill your glass if you have an extra 15 minutes by popping it in the freezer or filling it with ice while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- get the garnish – A sprig of rosemary spears three cranberries, making the perfect garnish for your cranberry mules! The rosemary gives a clever flavor clue to your guests, while also hinting at the whole “Christmas tree” thing! No rosemary? No problem! Use a lime wedge or dried lime wheel to garnish this drink if you can’t find fresh rosemary and cranberries near you!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- too sweet – if your drink is too sweet, add in more lime juice, cranberry juice, or vodka to balance the sweetness out.
- too tart – if your cocktail is too tart, it’s possible that your limes were very acidic. Citrus varies widely in flavor, depending on when and where your limes were harvested. Use more simple syrup, ginger beer, or a few drops of saline solution to balance things out.
- too weak – not boozy enough for you? Add in more vodka, .5 ounces at a time, until you get the desired balance of booze you’re after!
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
I'll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!
♻️ customize your yuletide mules
- zero-proof version – want all the festive flavor without the booze? Check out my cranberry mule mocktail recipe! It uses cranberry simple syrup and alcohol-free bitters for a drink that looks and tastes just as festive.
- extra gingery – add in .5 – 1 ounce of ginger liqueur for an extra burst of ginger flavor!
- add cranberry liqueur – homemade cranberry liqueur is a fantastic way to play up the flavor of cranberry in this cocktail! Add .5 – 1 ounce of liqueur for an additional blast of berry!
- use another liquor – you can use rum or even silver tequila for this mule! Stick to a clear liquor for a more pure taste. An aged liquor like rum or whiskey will add more depth of flavor! Spiced rum would also be wonderful in this cocktail.
🎉 Make a Pitcher of Christmas Mules
Wanna make a BIG BATCH of mules? This is the perfect recipe to make in a pitcher for a holiday party!
For 8 servings:
- 16 oz vodka (2 cups)
- 4 oz fresh lime juice (½ cup)
- 4 oz rosemary simple syrup (½ cup)
- 8 oz cranberry juice (1 cup)
- 32 oz ginger beer (4 cups) add this just before serving!
👩🏻🍳 pro tip: Mix everything except the ginger beer and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve, pour 4 oz of the base into each ice-filled glass and then top with ginger beer.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 can you store leftover mules?
If you have any leftovers (or if you made a big batch and need to stash it) be sure to drink it within 24-48 hours max. Any longer in the fridge and the lime juice can get bitter. 🫢
💬 q+a
What is the difference between cranberry juice and cranberry juice cocktail?
Cranberry juice cocktail is cranberry juice mixed with water and sugar. Cranberry juice is usually 100% pure unsweetened cranberry juice, so it’s tart just like a cranberry is!
What if I don’t want to make rosemary simple syrup for this cocktail?
I won’t force you to, I promise! It is worthwhile to take the extra 15 minutes to mix it up, but I understand not wanting to dirty any additional pots and pans. If you want to skip making the syrup, but you still want the rosemary flavor, you can muddle a sprig of fresh rosemary with the vodka and lime juice to get a bit of that wonderful herbaceous flavor in your cup!
What does rosemary taste like?
Rosemary has a very “green” and herby flavor with hints of warmth and citrus. Too much of it can taste soapy, like lavender, so be sure to follow the instructions for making your rosemary simple syrup!
Cranberry Moscow Mule Recipe (Christmas Yule Mule with Rosemary)
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
I’ll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!
Equipment
- 1 cocktail glass of choice Moscow mule mug or highball glass
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- .5 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
- .5 ounce rosemary simple syrup
- 1 ounce cranberry juice unsweetened, not cranberry juice cocktail
- 4 ounces ginger beer can sub ginger ale
Instructions
- Make garnishes. Prepare the garnish by spearing three cranberries onto a sprig of rosemary. You may need to strip the rosemary of the leaves on the bottom to make room for the cranberries.
- Chill glass. Fill a your preferred glass with ice to chill the glass.
- Juice limes. Pour in .5 ounce of lime juice to the cocktail glass..5 ounce lime juice
- Add syrup. Next, add in .5 ounce of rosemary simple syrup into the glass..5 ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Add juice. Add 1 ounce of cranberry juice to the glass, and stir it with a cocktail spoon.1 ounce cranberry juice
- Add vodka. Pour in 2 ounces of vodka.2 ounces vodka
- Top with ginger beer. Top with 4 ounces of ginger beer, or enough to fill the glass.4 ounces ginger beer
- Garnish + serve. Garnish with your rosemary and cranberries, and serve immediately.
Notes
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- too sweet – if your drink is too sweet, add in more lime juice, cranberry juice, or vodka to balance the sweetness out.
- too tart – if your cocktail is too tart, it’s possible that your limes were very acidic. Citrus varies widely in flavor, depending on when and where your limes were harvested. Use more simple syrup, ginger beer, or a few drops of saline solution to balance things out.
- too weak – not boozy enough for you? Add in more vodka, .5 ounces at a time, until you get the desired balance of booze you’re after!
♻️ customize your yuletide mules
-
- zero-proof version – want all the festive flavor without the booze? Check out my cranberry mule mocktail recipe! It uses cranberry simple syrup and alcohol-free bitters for a drink that looks and tastes just as festive.
-
- extra gingery – add in .5 – 1 ounce of ginger liqueur for an extra burst of ginger flavor!
-
- add cranberry liqueur – homemade cranberry liqueur is a fantastic way to play up the flavor of cranberry in this cocktail! Add .5 – 1 ounce of liqueur for an additional blast of berry!
- use another liquor – you can use rum or even silver tequila for this mule! Stick to a clear liquor for a more pure taste. An aged liquor like rum or whiskey will add more depth of flavor! Spiced rum would also be wonderful in this cocktail.
🎉 Make a Pitcher of Christmas Mules
Wanna make a BIG BATCH of mules? This is the perfect recipe to make in a pitcher for a holiday party! For 8 servings:-
- 16 oz vodka (2 cups)
-
- 4 oz fresh lime juice (½ cup)
-
- 4 oz rosemary simple syrup (½ cup)
-
- 8 oz cranberry juice (1 cup)
-
- 32 oz ginger beer (4 cups) add this just before serving!
The photos are gorgeous and I’m feeling inspired to make some fun drinks for the holidays! Yum.
Thank you so much for the complement and for taking the time to comment, Meg! 🥰 Wishing you a FUN holiday season ahead! 🥳
Fantastic refreshing recipe!
Ahhh thank you so much, Themis!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this drink, thanks so much for taking the time to let me know that it was a part of your holiday celebrations! 🥹🥳
Delicious!! I made this recipe for Christmas dinner, and it was a huge hit! The flavors blend so well without any one of them overpowering the others. I used ginger ale since that is what I had on hand. I also made your cranberry ice cubes and added rosemary, which was so festive and beautiful with this cocktail! We made our moms drinks with just a splash of vodka and added in more ginger ale, and they loved it too!
AHHH Maria!! I am SO THRILLED to hear you made this for your holiday dinner to share with family 🥹😭 Thank you so much for sharing that you customized this for everyone in the family, too! That’s so helpful to hear! CHEERS to 2026!!! 🥰