Festive New Year’s Cocktail: Cranberry Margarita

We asked some of our favorite food bloggers to share a holiday treat with us during our holiday break. I really appreciate the multi-generational focus of Yvette’s blog, Muy Bueno Cookbook, and her loving recreation of authentic Mexican cooking, family-style. And when she sent along this bright, festive take on the margarita, I was sold! Here, complete with swizzle stick, is drink number one for your New Year’s festivities.

Move over cranberry sauce and, H-E-L-L-O Cranberry Margarita! Cranberries always remind me that the holidays are right around the corner. One day, while making some cranberry sauce, I decided to blend the berries, add some tequila, and a splash of Grand Marnier. One sip of this festive potion and I was sold, pure heaven, or close to it.

If you love cranberries like I do, and let’s not forget tequila, then you’ll love this spunky blend. One look at this gorgeous red cocktail dressed up with a crystallized cranberry swizzle stick and you’ll say, “H-O-L-A Margarita!”

Salud and Happy Holidays!

Cranberry Margarita
makes 1 drink

1 1/2 ounces your favorite tequila
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
2 ounces cranberry puree (recipe follows)

Directions
In a shaker add crushed ice, 1 1/2 ounces of tequila, 1/2 ounce of Grand Marnier, 2 ounces of cranberry puree and shake to mix.

Pour drink into a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Add a cranberry swizzle stick (recipe follows) for garnish.

Ingredients for Cranberry Puree

1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, from about 4 oranges
1 cup sugar
1 16-ounce package fresh cranberries

Directions
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar in the orange juice. Add the cranberries and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Set aside and let it cool. Blend cranberries in a blender, then strain to make the puree.

Ingredients for Cranberry Swizzle Sticks

10 skewer sticks
1 16-ounce package of fresh cranberries
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup granulated sugar

Directions
Skewer several cranberries onto 10 skewer sticks but leave enough skewer exposed on one end. Lightly brush each cranberry skewer with Karo syrup and then sprinkle granulated sugar over the cranberry skewers. Place the cranberry swizzle sticks on wax paper and place in the freezer to set.

Virgin Cranberry Cider
Replace the tequila and Grand Marnier with 2 ounces of sparkling cider.

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(Images: Jeanine Thurston)