Christmas Margarita Recipe | Joyful Healthy Eats

This Christmas Margarita will bring holiday flair to any party with it’s unique blend of pomegranate, cinnamon and maple syrup in every sip! Served with a cinnamon-sugar rim, it’ll be your new favorite 5-minute cocktail guaranteed!

Cocktails are a big part of the holiday season. Whether it’s this pomegranate version, my Mistletoe Margarita, White Christmas Margarita, or Christmas Holiday Sangria, you definitely want them to be quick and easy. Maybe even prep-friendly. Fortunately, this smooth Christmas margarita is all three. Plus, the smokey maple syrup and hints of earthy cinnamon won’t disappoint you or your guests.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Cocktail

If you love easy holiday cocktails that you can easily double or triple for larger gatherings, this festive Christmas cocktail is right up your alley.

• Great for a party of one. It’s perfect if you just want a couple sips of a Christmas cocktail.
• Versatile. Add spicy jalapeños, use Cointreau, or turn this sweet recipe into a mocktail if you prefer.
• Gathering-friendly. Stir everything together in a pitcher up to a day in advance and let everyone pour their own margaritas.
• Fruity. There’s tart pomegranate juice, tangy orange juice, and orange liquor in every sip.

What You’ll Need

Maple syrup adds natural smokiness while the cinnamon-sugar rim ties everything together with its lovely warm spice. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact ingredient amounts.

For the Cocktail

• Pomegranate juice – I prefer 100% pomegranate juice over apple-pomegranate or cranberry-pomegranate mixtures.
• Orange juice – Freshly-squeezed is best.
• Maple syrup – Raw honey and agave nectar work too.
• Tequila – I used “reposado” but add your favorite.
• Grand Marnier – Add your favorite brand of orange-flavored liquor.
• Ground cinnamon – Feel free to use ground nutmeg.

To Make the Cinnamon Sugar Rim

• White sugar – Go for light brown or dark brown sugar if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
• Ground cinnamon – Don’t skip it. You can also go 50/50 with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Optional Garnishes

• Rosemary sprig – You can use fresh or dried rosemary.
• Orange slices – 1/4″ thick slices are best.
• Pomegranate arils – Fresh raspberries or black cherries are good swaps.

What’s The Best Tequila To Use?

The best tequila for this Christmas margarita recipe is aged or “reposado” because it’s sweeter and smokier. It tends to have notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel that just add to the cozy holiday vibes in this cocktail.

How To Make a Christmas Margarita

You don’t need to be a mixologist to nail this icy Christmas margarita with orange liquor! Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.

• Prep the rims. Whisk the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Rub a lime wedge along the edge of the cocktail glasses. Press the rims into the cinnamon-sugar. Repeat for all the glasses and set aside.
• Fill the shaker. Add the ice, pomegranate juice, orange juice, maple syrup, tequila, Grand Marnier, and cinnamon into the cocktail shaker.
• Make the margarita. Close the shaker and shake vigorously until nice and icy. Add ice to the prepared cocktail glasses. Pour in the margarita mixture.
• Serve. Garnish with rosemary, orange slices, and pomegranate arils. Enjoy!

Tips & Variations

Parties of one can be a lot more fun and festive with candied lemon slices, crunchy coconut rims, and fresh fruit juice.

• Make it spicy. Add a thin slice of fresh jalapeño into each serving glass and let the cocktail rest for a minute before serving. It’ll release a gentle kick of heat.
• Swap the liquor. If you’re not a fan of Grand Marnier, use Cointreau or Triple Sec instead for a similar flavor profile.
• More garnishes. A cinnamon stick, candied lemon slices, and fresh cranberries can add more holiday flair to each sip.
• Use fresh juice. Blend the arils of a whole pomegranate with 1/2 cup water. Strain the mixture to remove the seeds and use the juice for the recipe.
• Go alcohol-free. Turn this into a mocktail by swapping the tequila for more pomegranate juice and the Grand Marnier for more orange juice.
• Change the rim. Skip the cinnamon-sugar rim for a shredded coconut one. Dip the rims into sweetened condensed milk and then into shredded coconut for a fruity rim that looks like winter snow.

Can I Make This For a Crowd?

Absolutely! You will need to make multiple batches of this cocktail. Stir all the margarita ingredients together (except for the ice) in a large pitcher. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add the cinnamon-sugar rims to the glasses as usual. Serve in the pitcher and let everyone pour their own cocktails.

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