Your new go-to Christmas cocktail with vodka is here! This cranberry cosmopolitan is simple to make, festive, and so delicious.

Is your holiday cocktail repertoire feeling a little… stale? Tired of the same old eggnog and predictable punch? Then you’re in for a treat! This year, shake things up with a cranberry cosmopolitan that’s as festive as it is delicious.

Imagine this: the tartness of cranberry that is perfectly balanced with a little zing of citrus, all wrapped up in a sophisticated cocktail that’s super easy to make. And with a sparkly citrus sugar rim? Yes, please! Let’s just say it’s pure holiday magic in a glass.

Whether you’re hosting a Christmas bash or simply cozying up by the fire, this easy Christmas cocktail with vodka is guaranteed to become your new go-to. Here’s how to make it!

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A festive christmas cocktail with vodka in a glass with a sugared rim, garnished with a sprig of rosemary, cranberries, and an orange twist. The drink is set on a tray surrounded by cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, and holiday lights with a Christmas tree in the background. AKA the cranberry cosmopolitan

Cranberry Christmas Cocktail With Vodka Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Citron Vodka
  • 1 oz Cointreau or Triple Sec
  • 1 oz Cranberry Juice
  • 0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • For the citrus sugar rim:
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
    • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
  • Orange twist or fresh cranberries for garnish

Directions to Make a Cranberry Cosmopolitan

  1. Make the citrus sugar: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, lime zest, and orange zest. Mix well.
  2. Rim the glass: Moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass with a lime wedge. Spread the citrus sugar on a small plate and dip the rim of the glass into the sugar.
  3. Combine ingredients: In a shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
  4. Shake: Shake well until thoroughly chilled.
  5. Strain: Strain into the prepared martini glass.
  6. Garnish: Garnish with an orange twist or fresh cranberries.
Elegant cocktail glasses filled with chrismtas cocktail with vodka tha are red drinks garnished with rosemary, cranberries, and orange peel. They rest on a festive tray surrounded by cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, and peppermint candies, with a backdrop of soft, glowing lights. The cocktail is also known as the cranberry cosmopolitan

Serving Suggestions For This Cranberry Christmas Cocktail with Vodka

Serve this Cranberry Cosmopolitan at your Christmas party, holiday dinner, or any festive gathering. It pairs well with appetizers, cheese plates, and desserts.

Christmas Cocktail With Vodka Variations

  • Spiced Cranberry: Use spiced cranberry juice or add a pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the shaker.
  • Flavored Vodka: Experiment with different flavored vodkas, such as vanilla or raspberry, to create unique flavor combinations.

Make-Ahead Directions For This Christmas Cocktail With Vodka

You can make a large batch of the Cranberry Cosmopolitan mix ahead of time. Combine the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice in a pitcher and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, shake the mixture with ice and strain into prepared glasses.

Batching Your Cranberry Cosmopolitan

To batch this cocktail for a party, simply multiply the ingredient quantities by the number of servings you need. Store the mixture in a pitcher in the refrigerator and shake individual servings with ice as needed.

Mocktail Version of this Christmas Cosmopolitan

For a non-alcoholic version, substitute the vodka and Cointreau with equal parts cranberry juice and sparkling water. Add a splash of lime juice and a dash of orange extract for flavor. Be sure to add sugar to the rim before mixing and garnish with an orange twist or fresh cranberries.

Two hands holding festive christmas cocktail with vodka that has a with sugared rims, garnished with cranberries, orange peel, and rosemary. Background features holiday decorations and a warm, cozy ambiance.

Final Thoughts About This Cranberry Christmas Cosmo Recipe

Give this easy recipe a whirl, and let me know what you think in the comments below so we can chat more! I’d love to hear your thoughts, variations, and any other creative twists you come up with. Enjoy this festive cranberry cosmopolitan and have a merriest Christmas! Cheers!

Want to try other vodka cocktail ideas for the holidays? Check out this article from the Spruce Eats.

Thank you for visiting the blog today!

Enjoy your day! xo

Stacy Ling bricksnblooms logo
A festive christmas cocktail with vodka in a glass with a sugared rim, garnished with a sprig of rosemary, cranberries, and an orange twist. The drink is set on a tray surrounded by cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, and holiday lights with a Christmas tree in the background. AKA the cranberry cosmopolitan

Easy Christmas Cocktail With Vodka: Cranberry Cosmopolitan (With Mocktail Option)

Stacy Ling
Your new go-to Christmas cocktail with vodka is here! This cranberry cosmopolitan is simple to make, festive, and so delicious.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 2 Servings
Calories 198 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 oz Vodka Citron
  • 1 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau
  • 1 oz Cranberry Juice
  • .5 oz Lime Juice Fresh
  • ¼ cup sugar granulated (citrus rim)
  • 1 tsp finely grated lime zest
  • 1 tsp finely grated orange zest
  • orange twist garnish
  • rosemary garnish
  • cranberries fresh, garnish

Instructions
 

  • Make the citrus sugar: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, lime zest, and orange zest. Mix well.
  • Rim the glass: Moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass with a lime wedge. Spread the citrus sugar on a small plate and dip the rim of the glass into the sugar.
    A decorative plate with a circular yellow pattern sits on a speckled countertop. Behind it, three empty cocktail glasses have sugared rims, arranged in a triangular formation.
  • Combine ingredients: In a shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
    A hand pours a clear liquid from a bottle into a metal shaker on a granite countertop. Nearby are a bottle of Grey Goose vodka, cranberry juice, rosemary, an orange, a lime, and a package of grapes. A blurred Christmas tree is in the background.
  • Shake: Shake well until thoroughly chilled.
    A person holds a copper shaker above a plate of lime zest on a marble countertop. Behind it are four glasses with zest-rimmed edges, set against a blurred background of chairs.
  • Strain: Strain into the prepared martini glass.
    A close-up of a person pouring liquid from a copper shaker into stemmed glasses with sugar-rimmed edges. The glasses are on a gray marble countertop, and the scene suggests a drink preparation, possibly in a casual kitchen setting.
  • Garnish: Garnish with an orange twist or fresh cranberries.
    A festive christmas cocktail with vodka in a glass with a sugared rim, garnished with a sprig of rosemary, cranberries, and an orange twist. The drink is set on a tray surrounded by cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, and holiday lights with a Christmas tree in the background. AKA the cranberry cosmopolitan

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 25mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword christmas cocktail with vodka, christmas cosmo, cransberry cosmopolitan
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Two vibrant red cocktails in glasses rimmed with sugar, garnished with cranberries and rosemary, sit on a festive tray surrounded by holiday decorations and fairy lights. Text reads "Easiest Christmas Cosmo.
Two cranberry cosmopolitan cocktails with sugar-rimmed glasses and rosemary garnishes, surrounded by festive holiday decor and dried oranges. Text on image: "Cranberry Cosmopolitan Recipe" and "www.stacyling.com".
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