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Pineapple Cranberry Margarita

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Last Updated on January 30, 2024 by Leah Hall

This smoky holiday cocktail recipe is perfect for celebrating. A fun margarita twist with mezcal and triple sec, we added a pineapple and cranberry syrup to it, and then some toasted pecan bitters for winter spice! This tropical yet smoky cocktail is a great tropical Christmas cocktail!

 

Cranberries and the holidays go hand in hand. The cranberry flavor plus the fun red/pink color they make everything (and every cocktail) makes it a favorite around here. We wanted a tropical Christmas cocktail, so we tried pineapple and cranberry together and had a winner. We think this cocktail should go on your list to make for the holidays! Make this tropical twist on an Aperol Spritz, too – the Pineapple Aperol Spritz!

 

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Pink holiday cocktail recipe in gold glass, cranberries and straw, pine tree swizzle stick and Christmas stuff behind

The margarita is one of our favorite drinks here, and we love making spins on the classic. This new variation, the Pineapple Cranberry Margarita makes for the perfect holiday cocktail recipe!

 

Mezcal and Christmas together at last! They were meant for each other, especially with cranberries! This pretty pink holiday cocktail recipe has Christmas Party written all over it. Try not to be festive with that glass in your hand, bet you can’t! Make a great Christmas cocktail with our cranberry Ornament Cocktail!

Pink holiday cocktail recipe in gold glass, cranberries and straw, pine tree swizzle stick and Christmas stuff behind

We have a mezcal and cranberry cocktail, but it’s not overly Christmas, so we had to fix that!

 

Holiday Cocktail Recipe

This bright pink drink is stunning to look at, and the sweet tart flavor is crisp and refreshing! It has the character of the classic margarita (tequila, lime juice and triple sec), but of course we switched up the flavors! So we subbed in mezcal for the tequila, and then added a fabulous tart pineapple and cranberry simple syrup. We have a great Spiced Gin Punch that’s perfect for the season, too!

Pink holiday cocktail recipe in gold glass, cranberries and straw, pine tree swizzle stick and Christmas stuff behind

Pineapple and Cranberry Simple Syrup

This is a fabulous unknown combo to us, and we highly recommend it. This syrup just seems to keep popping up in a lot of cocktails lately in our house, it just seems to keep coming out of the fridge and jumping in our drinks, LOL!

 

So we made a Cranberry simple syrup with sugar, but subbed in pineapple juice for the water in the original recipe. It’s a lovely pink color and has a tart sweetness from the cranberries, plus the pineapple juice gives a fresh, tropical flavor that I didn’t know I needed in my life!

Pink holiday cocktail recipe in gold glass, cranberries and straw, pine tree swizzle stick and Christmas stuff behind

One of our favorite ways to customize any cocktail is with a flavored simple syrup. They can really elevate cocktails to a whole new level and really couldn’t be easier to make. Simple syrups are most often a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water. Add in ingredients like fruit, herbs, ginger or cinnamon sticks to steep in flavor. Make sure to check out all our simple syrup recipes.

 

The best part about making your own simple syrups is you can make them however you like, like using pineapple juice instead of water. They are also cheaper than store bought and they last up to a month in the refrigerator.

Margarita

The margarita is one of the most famous classic cocktails. It was invented in the 1930s and is on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails, which means that there is an “official” definition of the recipe. The classic margarita uses lime juice, Cointreau, and tequila.

 

This Pineapple Cranberry Margarita recipe is a spin on the classic, as we wanted a holiday cocktail recipe. (Make a Blackberry Margarita, Lavender Margarita or Raspberry Margarita, too!)

Pink holiday cocktail recipe in gold glass, cranberries and straw, pine tree swizzle stick and Christmas stuff behind

More cranberry cocktails

We have a lot more cranberry cocktails, as the flavor is fresh and tart, either using juice or fresh cranberries themselves! Cranberry cocktails have been around since the 1940ss, when it seems cranberry juice started being marketed as a mixer for cocktails.

Pink holiday cocktail recipe in gold glass, cranberries and straw, pine tree swizzle stick and Christmas stuff behind

Ingredients for the Holiday Cocktail Recipe

  • Pineapple Cranberry Simple Syrup: a sweet and tart simple syrup. (recipe and more info below)
  • Lime Juice: fresh squeezed is best
  • Mezcal: you can use tequila if you would like, instead of the mezcal, but the mezcal gives such a great smoky flavor to the cocktail, so we encourage you to use it!
  • Triple Sec: orange liqueur (you can use any orange liqueur), adds a great sweet orange flavor to the cocktail.
  • Bitters: we used a toasted pecan bitters, but any nut bitters would work. It gives a great baked goods feel to this tropical cocktail.
  • Cranberries: These are for garnish and add a beautiful pop of color on top.

Pink holiday cocktail recipe in gold glass, cranberries and straw, pine tree swizzle stick and Christmas stuff behind

Tips for Serving

This would be a great big batch serve for a party.

  • Serve in a large punch bowl with ladle so guests can fill their own cup. (Stir between serving).
  • Use some fun holiday glasses. Or vintage punch glasses.
  • Top with fresh cranberries or rosemary to add some green touches.

 

Cheers!

 

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Like this recipe? Try these below, too!

Cranberry Mocktail in gold leaf glass for Christmas, Christmas stuff behindSparkling Pine Cranberry Mocktail

 

Yellow cocktail with pineapple and edible flowersSpicy Jalapeno Pineapple Margarita

 

Other Tropical Christmas Cocktails

Pink holiday cocktail recipe in gold glass, cranberries and straw, pine tree swizzle stick and Christmas stuff behind
Yield: 1

Pineapple Cranberry Margarita

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

This tropical sip is the perfect holiday cocktail recipe. A mezcal, pineapple and cranberry cocktail is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday in a tropical way!

Ingredients

  • 1.50 ounce mezcal
  • 1 ounce pineapple cranberry simple syrup (recipe below)
  • .25 ounce lime juice
  • .25 ounce triple sec
  • 2 dashes Toasted Pecan bitters (or any nut bitters)

Pineapple Cranberry Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/3 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • dash of salt

Instructions

Pineapple Cranberry Margarita

1. Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice.

2. Shake and strain into glass with crushed ice.

3. Garnish with cranberries, orange slices or rosemary sprigs. A straw is perfect with this.

4. Cheers!

Pineapple Cranberry Simple Syrup

1. Combine juice, salt and cranberries in small saucepan.

2. Bring to a boil, and until cranberries pop open.

3. Take off of heat and let sti until cool.

4. Strain out cranberry solids with fine mesh strainer and cheesecloth.

5. Store in a jar in fridge for up to 3 weeks.

6. Cheers!

Notes

If you can't get toasted pecan bitters any nut bitters will work. Walnut, hazelnut, etc.

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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

4 oz

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 210Sodium: 573mgCarbohydrates: 24.4gSugar: 5.8g

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