The Cranberry Mule Cocktail is a refreshing twist on the classic mule, made with vodka, cranberry juice, simple syrup, and Sprite® Cranberry. Perfect for holidays, it pairs beautifully with festive garnishes like sugared cranberries and lime slices.


Cranberry Mule Cocktail

Cranberry Mule Cocktail – A Festive Holiday Favorite

I love cranberries, and they’re just another reason to love this time of year. I make all kinds of cranberry recipes during the holidays, but this Cranberry Mule Cocktail is one of my absolute favorites. It’s a refreshing twist on the traditional mule and has become a new tradition for our adult gatherings.

Sprite Cranberry Can

What You’ll Need for a Cranberry Mule

First, grab a bottle of Sprite® Cranberry. It’s so good on its own, but it’s amazing in cocktails and punches. I always stock up at Kroger while it’s in season!

Sprite Cranberry at Kroger

Cranberry Mule Cocktail

Cranberry Sprite Mule Cocktails in Copper Cups

To make a Cranberry Mule Cocktail, first add ice to a glass or copper mule mug.

Cranberry Sprite Vodka Pour

This is an easy drink to make!  Unless you want to add special garnishes, all you do is pour, stir and serve!  You pour vodka over the ice, add a little cranberry juice, a splash of simple syrup and a splash of 4 ounces of Sprite® Cranberry for a fizzy sweet/tart flavor that makes it perfect.  Here’s the printable recipe!

Cranberry Mule Cocktail

JoysLife.com

Ingredients
  

  • 4 oz. Sprite® Cranberry
  • 1-1/2 oz. vodka
  • 1-1/2 oz cranberry juice
  • simple syrup
  • ice

Garnish

  • Lime wedge
  • Sugared cranberries

Instructions
 

  • Add ice to a glass or copper mule mug
  • Pour vodka over ice
  • Add Sprite® Cranberry
  • Add cranberry juice
  • Add a splash of simple syrup.
  • Garnish with a lime wedge and sugared cranberries if desired.
  • Serve!

Simple Syrup

  • Boil 1 cup of water and 1-1/4 cup of sugar until clear. Cool and use.

Cranberry Mule Cocktail Copper Cup

Adding a garnish makes it extra nice. There are several ways you can create sugared cranberries, but I’ve got a quick way to share!

How to Make Fast Sugared Cranberries for Garnish

Cranberries coated in sugar crystals and granulated sugar

Sugared cranberries make your drink sparkle! Here’s how to make them quickly:

  1. Prepare simple syrup (sugar + water melted together). Check out the recipe above for the best ratio to make that.
  2. Wash whole cranberries and coat them in cooled syrup.
  3. For immediate use, roll cranberries in sugar or sugar crystals.
  4. For a better coating, let them sit on a rack for 45–60 minutes before rolling in sugar.
cranberries simple syrup

Use a toothpick, stirring stick, or creative garnish ideas like lime slices or a holiday mug charm.

Cranberries coated in sugar crystals

For Best Coating Results

If you need to serve these right away, go ahead and remove the cranberries from the simple syrup and cover them with sugar and/or sugar crystals. Add them to a toothpick or stirring stick and you’re done. If you look at the first picture of cranberries, you’ll see the ones we coated in both granulated sugar and sugar crystals. The ones in the picture above are just coated in sugar crystals.

For the best coating results, let the cranberries coated in simple syrup cool on a prepared pan or rack for about 45 minutes to an hour, that will make them more solidly sticky, then cover them in sugar.

Cranberry Sprite Mule Cocktail with lime and cranberry garnish

Festive Garnish Ideas for Your Cranberry Mule

Take your Cranberry Mule Cocktail from simple to stunning with easy holiday garnishes! Fresh lime slices add a pop of color and citrusy zing, while a sprig of rosemary gives a wintery look and aroma – OR skewer those sugared cranberries for a sparkling touch.

Want to make it even more festive? Tie a small holiday mug charm or ornament around the handle so guests can find their drink and enjoy a little keepsake.

 lime and sugared cranberry garnish

I hope you enjoy this Simple Cranberry Mule!


More Holiday Recipes & Ideas You’ll Love

Looking for the perfect pairings for your Cranberry Mule Cocktail? Check out these festive recipes and creative holiday ideas from JoysLife.com:

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One Comment

  1. Ahoy Joy! This Mule recipe looks so good! I want to surprise my sister and make her one. We still have Canada Dry cranberry ginger ale available if I can’t find cranberry Sprite off season. And, I would like to get myself a nice set of Moscow Mule copper mugs. The ones you pictured are really nice and look like they are solid copper inside and out. Are they indeed solid throughout, or are they lined with nickel, stainless, or whatnot? There’s debate on drinking from non-lined copper mugs. What say you on the mug debate? And where did you get yours, amazon? I noticed a link on your site for some neat looking solid copper ones. Thanks Joy for another great recipe!

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