A tried and true elixir, this sparkling Christmas margarita recipe is festive and delicious enough to melt even the most frozen of hearts. Inspired by the ghosts of Christmas that visit Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, this simple Christmas margarita recipe is a very merry mix of cranberry, cider, tequila, agave, lime, and bubbly champagne.
Just mix, shake, and top off with bubbles for an easy Christmas cranberry cocktail you can enjoy as you watch your favorite Charles Dickens story unfold.
A Toast to the Ghost of Christmas Present!
The first ghost to visit Scrooge is the Ghost of Christmas Past, reminding Scrooge of all his boyhood goings-on. My favorite ghost, however, is the one that inspires this Christmas tequila cocktail. It’s the second spirit to visit Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Present.
The Ghost of Christmas Present reminds us to stay true to the meaning of Christmas, to be joyous, generous, and live in the moment! It is my hope that all who pop, fizzle, and clink these cranberry Christmas margaritas find joy and merriment as they gather with family and friends.
A Simple Mix of Cider, Cranberry, and Champagne Makes A Festive Christmas Margarita recipe…
To make these very merry margaritas, we’ll combine a mixture of fruity pressed apple cider. We’ll add cranberry juice, reposado tequila, agave nectar, and fresh squeezed lime juice.
Shaken up and poured over ice with a hit of sparkling champagne, you’ll have a delicious cranberry cocktail that captures the spirit of Christmas.
A Frosty Garnish Makes a Festive Finish
To dress this festive seasonal cocktail in proper holiday attire, we can add a few festive little details.
Garnish these easy Christmas tequila cocktails with either a sugared rosemary sprig (like I did with these Holly Jolly Christmas Cranberry margaritas), or add a pick with sugared cranberries.
The sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs make this festive signature cocktail look like a layer of fresh frost has glazed our drink! It’s so pretty, colorful, and fun, anyone can make this easy garnish.
Make A Frosty Rosemary Cranberry Garnish for Your Christmas Tequila Cocktails
- To get a frosted look, dip your rosemary garnishes and cranberries in simple syrup.
- Next, roll them around on a flat plate with a layer of plain white sugar on it.
- The simple syrup will help the sugars adhere to the rosemary and cranberries.
- Set these aside on a separate plate lined with a paper towel to dry. You can leave them out on a dry place in the kitchen, or place in the fridge to set while you prepare the cocktail.
- Alternatively, you might garnish this cocktail recipe with the plain rosemary and skewered cranberries or fresh sliced orange wheels, lime wheels, or sliced apple, as desired.
Ingredients to make a Ghost of Christmas Margarita Recipe
- Good Tequila – your favorite good quality reposado tequila for mixing drinks. Alternatiely, if aged tequila isn’t available, use a blanco tequila.
- Cranbery juice
- Apple cider
- Agave nectar
- Fresh lime – cut into wedges for juicing
- Champagne – prosecco, or dry brut style sparkling wine – already chilled
- Rosemary – fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
- Cranberries – fresh cranberries for garnish
- Simple syrup – optional for frosty garnishes
- White sugar – optional plain white sugar for frosty garnishes
- Sea salt – coarse sea salt for cocktail rim
How To Make Scrooge’s Ghost of Christmas Margarita
Shake, Pour, and Share for festive christmas margaritas that celebrate the season
Shake up this festive Ghost of Christmas margarita recipe when you wish to share a cup of fizzy cheer with all your holiday guests this season. These easy fizzy champagne margaritas make delicious Christmas tequila cocktails filled with the fruity flavors of the season.
They’re perfect for anyone who enjoys festive cranberry margaritas for the holiday season.
Zippy tartness from the cranberry juice is balanced with sweet apple cider and zesty fresh lime. It’s a perfect backdrop for a splash of good tequila to wake up all the flavors in this very special, simple, and elegant Christmas cocktail.
Keep spirits bright with this festive Mingle and Jingle prosecco tequila cocktail, or this lovely sparkling Christmas pomegranate martini!
Scrooge’s Ghost of Christmas Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Reposado Tequila - alternatively, if aged tequila isn't available, use a blanco tequila
- 2 oz Cranberry Juice
- 2 oz Apple Cider
- ¼ oz Agave Nectar
- wedges Fresh Lime - for squeezing in
- Champagne - or dry brut prosecco sparkling wine for topping off
- 2 to 4 sprigs Rosemary - for garnish optional or more as needed
- 5 to 10 fresh Cranberries - for garnish optional or more as needed
- ½ cup Simple Syrup - or as needed for dipping rosemary / cranberries
- ¼ cup White Sugar - or as needed for dipping rosemary / cranberries
- Sea Salt - coarse for cocktail rim if desired
Instructions
- If desired, for an added frosty look, swipe your margarita rocks glasses with a wedge of fresh lime and dip into coarse sea salt to create a salty cocktail rim.**If making the frosted rosemary and sugared cranberries for garnish, do these in advance… please see instructions above in post, or see Recipe Notes, posted directly below this set of instructions.
- In a cocktail shaker, use a jigger to measure and splash in the silver tequila, fresh lime juice from a wedge of lime, plus the agave nectar.
- Next, measure and splash in the apple cider and the cranberry juice.Fill the cocktail shaker about halfway with fresh ice cubes and cover. Shake these 5 ingredients together vigorously in the cocktail shaker until completely combined and ice cold.
- Pour the contents of the shaker into the rocks glasses. Top the finished drink with a splash of ice cold champagne or sparkling prosecco wine. Serve very cold.
- Lastly, garnish with frosted rosemary sprigs, frosted skewered cranberries, if using.
Notes
To Make Frosted Sugared Rosemary Garnish and Frosted Cranberry Garnish for Christmas Margaritas:
- To get a frosted look, simply dip your fresh rosemary sprigs and cranberries in simple syrup, then roll them around on a flat plate with a layer of plain white sugar on it.
- The simple syrup will help the sugars adhere to the rosemary and cranberries.
- Set these aside on a separate plate lined with a paper towel to dry.
- You can leave them out on a dry place in the kitchen, or place in the fridge to set while you prepare the cocktail.
- These garnishes can be prepared well in advance and set aside to use as garnishes in all your favorite festive holiday drinks.
Delish and festive…a huge hit at my annual holiday bash!
I’m so glad, thanks for sharing!