Cranberry, orange, lime, and ginger beer make this mule tart, citrusy, and lively, with just enough spice from the ginger.
ShiMuv Recipe
Cranberry Orange Mule Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- ½ ounce fresh orange juice
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- 3 to 4 ounces ginger beer
- Ice
- Fresh cranberries, orange slice, and rosemary for garnish
How to Make It
- Fill a copper mug or tall glass with ice.
- Add vodka, cranberry juice, orange juice, and lime juice.
- Top with ginger beer and stir gently.
- Garnish with cranberries, an orange slice, and rosemary.
Visual Step-by-Step Guide
This mule is easiest to build directly in the serving mug. The key is balancing tart cranberry with fresh citrus, then protecting the ginger beer’s bubbles by adding it last.
1. Fill with ice
Start with a mug full of fresh ice so the drink chills immediately as the liquids are added.
2. Add fruit & citrus
Pour in the cranberry, orange, lime, and vodka, then give the base a quick stir.
3. Top with ginger beer
Finish with cold ginger beer and stir gently once so the fizz stays lively.
Why This Recipe Works
Cranberry provides tartness and color, orange softens the acidity, lime sharpens the finish, and ginger beer adds spice and effervescence.
Tips for the Best Result
- Use unsweetened cranberry juice for a tarter mule or cranberry cocktail for a sweeter version.
- Keep the ginger beer very cold before opening.
- Add the ginger beer after all other ingredients.
- Use rosemary mainly as an aromatic garnish rather than stirring it into the drink.
Easy Variations
- Pomegranate: replace half the cranberry juice with pomegranate juice.
- Apple-cranberry: add a small splash of apple cider.
- Zero-proof: leave out the vodka and add a little more ginger beer.
Serving Notes
Use unsweetened cranberry juice for a more tart drink or cranberry cocktail for a sweeter version. For a nonalcoholic mule, omit the vodka and add a little more ginger beer.
TRY THIS IN SHIMUV
Turn this cocktail recipe into a short recipe video
Create a short recipe video for a cranberry orange mule. Open on the finished copper mug, show cranberry juice, fresh orange and lime, vodka, ginger beer fizz, ice, stirring, and the cranberry-orange-rosemary garnish. Keep the scene crisp, festive, and elegant.21+ note: This recipe contains alcohol and is intended for adults of legal drinking age. Serve responsibly.
