Have you eaten up all of your leftovers yet?
I sure hope you at least still have some cranberries left, because you are going to want to make this Cranberry Ginger Mule ASAP. Tart cranberries simmered with vanilla bean and orange liqueur, topped off with a healthy dose of vodka and ginger beer. Does it get any better than that?
It might get better, if you sip on one of these while you’re baking cookies or decorating your Christmas tree, or if you just need a little pick-me-up after a rough day. It’s a cup of holiday cheer, and let’s be honest, there’s no drinking vessel more festive than a shiny copper mug.
Speaking of feeling festive, have you kicked off your holiday season yet? It’s the first weekend of December and, if you’re city is anything like Santa Barbara, the seasonal events are starting in full force. We’ve got our downtown Holiday Parade, Champagne Club, and a few fun holiday pop-ups going on around town this weekend, and after a long week back to the grind, I’m so excited to get even more in the holiday spirit!
I’m also headed to Quebec next week with my gal pal GoJohannaGo and I cannot wait! We planned the trip this summer, with the mission of finding a super cute, snowy, festive, Christmas light-ed town (something you do NOT find in California.) We were initially looking at small New England towns, but found ourselves being drawn to the quaint, French-centric Canadian town after it kept popping up on our radar. Plus, the strength of the American dollar there makes it super affordable. We’re so excited to go snow shoeing, visit sugar shacks and maybe even dip into a Nordic spa or two. We’re still finalizing our itinerary, so tell me if there’s anywhere we MUST go!
So in anticipation of my travels and all of the fun upcoming holiday events, I’m going to share this Christmas-y Cranberry Ginger Mule with you! The hardest part is making the cranberry puree, and after that everything comes together sooooo easily. You may want to mix up a batch of the vanilla-laced puree and just keep it in your refrigerator for whenever the urge strikes, because I can guarantee it’s going to happen.
I came up with the idea for this Cranberry Ginger Mule when I was trying to think of a way to use up some leftover fresh cranberries I had, but realistically you could even doctor up some cranberry sauce you already have on hand. I simmered my cranberries with the usual sugar and water, plus some vanilla bean seeds and a healthy glug of orange liqueur. Depending on what flavor of cranberries you have, you can either add the vanilla and orange liqueur into what you’ve got, or just use whatever you have! The only thing I would definitely recommend doing is pureeing the cranberries so it blends in nicely and you don’t end up with huge chunks of cranberry in your drink.
Aside from the cranberry puree, all you’ll need to make this Cranberry Ginger Mule is vodka, ginger beer and, of course, ice! Easy as that. You’ll want to shake the cranberry puree and vodka over the ice in a cocktail shaker so you don’t get any separation, and then just top off your copper mug with a dose of ginger beer.
The vanilla and orange flavors peak through the cranberry, vodka and ginger beer flavors so nicely that you’ll hardly even notice you’re drinking a cocktail. That being said, this cocktail can sneak up on you quickly so proceed with caution. But if you plan on doing any merry-making in the near future, be sure you have a Cranberry Ginger Mule in hand!
A holiday spin on the classic mule - cranberry puree with hints of orange and vanilla is mixed with vodka and topped with zesty ginger beer.
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 of a vanilla bean, seeds scraped (Use just the seeds)
- 1 tablespoon Triple Sec, Cointreau or other orange liqueur
- 2 tablespoons cranberry puree
- 2 ounces vodka
- 6 ounces ginger beer
First, make the cranberry puree. Combine all puree ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow to cook over medium heat until cranberries begin to burst open and take on a somewhat gelatinous quality. Puree cranberry mixture in a blender or with an immersion blender. Set aside to let cool.
Once cranberry puree is cooled down, you can make the cocktail. In a cocktail shaker, combine about 1 cup of ice, cranberry puree and vodka. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, then pour into copper mug (ice and all.) Top with ginger beer.
The cranberry puree recipe will make enough for about two cocktails.
A big copper mug full of holiday cheer!