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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Christmas Moscow Mules

    Published: Nov 2, 2022 by Alana Lieberman · As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Pin graphic for Christmas moscow mules.

    Enjoy these Christmas Moscow Mules this holiday season as a festive twist on the classic cocktail. It’s made sweet and slightly tart with fresh cranberry juice, lime juice, and ginger beer. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and fresh cranberries to make this mule the ultimate holiday drink!

    Christmas moscow mule in a copper mug garnished with fresh rosemary and cranberries.
    Jump to:
    • 📋 About the Recipe
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • ⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations
    • 📓 Instructions
    • ❄️ How to Store
    • 🔍 FAQs
    • 💭 One More Tip
    • 🍴 Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Christmas Moscow Mules

    📋 About the Recipe

    • The perfect holiday Moscow mule - If you love classic Moscow Mules, you’ll love this holiday twist! Adding fresh cranberries, cranberry juice, and sprigs of rosemary is a fun change this time of year. 
    • No bar tools needed - If your bar tools are limited or non-existent, don’t worry! All you’ll need to prep homemade Moscow mules is a cocktail shaker or a mason jar with a lid.
    • Can be made non-alcoholic - Simply skip the vodka and enjoy a fizzy cranberry juice!
    • A unique twist on a classic - Just like my vanilla fig old fashioned and mango mojito, these moscow mules are a delicious twist on a classic drink.

    🛒 Ingredients

    Labelled ingredients for Christmas moscow mules (see recipe for details).

    A few notes about the ingredients:

    1. Vodka - Any brand of vodka will do, so use your favorite here! 
    2. Cranberry juice - Look for a cranberry juice that is pure, 100% cranberry juice with no added sweeteners. Most cranberry juices in stores are blended with other juices or made with added sugars to balance the tartness of the cranberry, but your local grocery store should have 1 or 2 pure cranberry juices to choose from. Or, at the very least, a lightly sweetened option.
    3. Orange juice - Traditional Moscow mules don’t include orange juice, but to balance the tartness of the cranberry juice, I recommend adding freshly squeezed orange juice for the perfect, natural sweetness. Freshly squeezed orange juice is optimal, but store-bought orange juice will work in a pinch. 
    4. Lime juice - Please only use freshly squeezed lime juice. Pre-bottled lime juice is watered down and contains preservatives. It also has a different taste. 
    5. Ginger beer - Despite its name, ginger beer is a non-alcoholic fizzy beverage that is strong and spiced in flavor. Find the perfect ginger beer for you from this roundup: The 11 Best Ginger Beers for Moscow Mules and Beyond. My personal favorite brand is Bundaberg! Note: ginger beer and ginger ale are not the same, so keep that in mind when grocery shopping!

    ⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations

    • Vodka substitutes: Try swapping the vodka for dry gin and make a “Gin Buck.” You could also use a cranberry flavored vodka if you have it!
    • Ginger beer substitute: For a more mild, less spicy Moscow Mule, use ginger ale instead of ginger beer. 
    • Make it sweeter: If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of a liquid sweetener like homemade simple syrup, maple syrup, agave, or honey.
    • Cranberry substitute: If you can’t find pure cranberry juice, use pomegranate juice and make a pomegranate Christmas cocktail!
    • Non-alcoholic alteration: Substitute the vodka with 3 tablespoons cranberry juice and 1 tablespoon orange juice.

    📓 Instructions

    Ingredients for Christmas moscow mules in a glass cocktail shaker.
    1. Fill the cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, then pour in vodka, cranberry juice, orange juice, and lime juice.
    2. Shake. Screw on the lid and shake vigorously until the flavors blend together.
    3. Strain into mule mugs. Strain into copper mugs (or other glasses) filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and give a gentle stir to combine.
    4. Garnish. Fresh cranberries, a lime slice, and a rosemary sprig are the perfect finishing touch.
    Christmas moscow mule in a glass cup with mini ornaments and pine trees around it.

    ❄️ How to Store

    To store: Moscow mules are best enjoyed immediately once poured over ice. If you are planning to make Christmas Moscow mules for a holiday party and want to prep in advance, follow steps 1 and 2, then strain into an airtight jar like a mason jar (no ice!), instead of a mug.

    Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, then when ready, pour over ice into mugs, add ginger beer, and garnish.

    To freeze: Freezing this cocktail is not recommended, but storing your vodka in the freezer is a great way to preserve its quality. 

    🔍 FAQs

    Does Moscow Mule need a copper mug?

    The only reason copper mugs are a popular choice for serving Moscow Mules is because copper conducts temperature and keeps the Moscow Mule extra cold and frosty for a longer period of time than another drinking glass. If you don’t own copper mugs, no problem! Use any mug or glass you’d like.

    Why is it called a Moscow mule?

    The Moscow mule got its name from Americans’ associating vodka with Russia (Moscow). The “mule” is in reference to the zesty "kick" from the lime juice. It is debated whether Moscow mules were invented in New York or Los Angeles. Either way, the Moscow Mule is said to have become popular in the 1940s. 

    Are Moscow mules sweet?

    They can be! Most people consider them both sweet and spicy, but by making them at home, you can adjust the sweetness to your personal taste. 

    💭 One More Tip

    Don’t add ginger beer to the cocktail shaker! The carbonation will cause the cocktail to explode out of the cocktail shaker. Simply top off your cocktails and give it a stir.

    Christmas moscow mule in a copper mug with lots of ice, fresh cranberries, and rosemary.

    🍴 Related Recipes

    • Cranberry Gin Cocktail (Cranberry Gin and Tonic)
    • Apple Cider Martini
    • Vanilla Fig Old Fashioned
    • Blackberry Bourbon Smash

    Share your cooking with me! If you make this recipe, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!

    📖 Recipe

    Christmas moscow mule in a copper mug garnished with fresh rosemary and cranberries.

    Christmas Moscow Mules

    Enjoy these Christmas Moscow Mules this holiday season as a festive twist on the classic cocktail.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 1 drink
    Calories: 202kcal
    Author: Alana Lieberman
    Cost: $10

    Equipment

    • cocktail shaker

    Ingredients

    • 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) plain vodka
    • 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) cranberry juice
    • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh squeezed orange juice
    • ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh squeezed lime juice
    • 3 ounces ginger beer
    • slice of lime for garnish
    • fresh cranberries for garnish
    • fresh rosemary for garnish

    Instructions

    • Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour in vodka, cranberry juice, orange juice, and lime juice.
    • Shake vigorously until the flavors blend together. Strain into copper mugs (or other glasses) filled with ice.
    • Top with ginger beer and give a gentle stir to combine.
    • Garnish with fresh cranberries, a lime slice, and a rosemary sprig.

    Notes

    1. Make sure to use fresh lime juice and fresh orange juice for the best flavor.
    2. Buy a good quality cranberry juice with as little preservatives and added sugar as possible.
    3. For a sweeter drink, add a splash of pure maple syrup, agave, or simple syrup to your cocktail shaker, along with the other ingredients.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 89IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
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    I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer behind Your Home, Made Healthy! I hope to inspire you to create healthy meals for your family without spending tons of time in the kitchen. Although my recipes focus on healthy eating and fresh ingredients, there is no diet talk here. Click below to find out why!

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