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Made with cranberry juice, vodka, and lime juice, this Christmas Mule is a twist on the classic Moscow Mule cocktail. Festive and easy to make, it can be whipped up in seconds. Directions to make this Christmas Moscow mule recipe for a crowd included too.

a close up photo of a christmas mule cocktail garnished with fresh cranberries, a lemon slice and rosemary next to christmas flowers

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Festive Christmas Moscow Mule

This Christmas Mule recipe is perfect for the holidays. It’s not too sweet, with a spicy-tart flavor thanks to the cranberries and ginger beer, and compared to many of the other rich, creamy holiday cocktails, it’s a pretty light drink. I love the spice the gingerbeer adds and it pairs surprisingly well with cranberry.

A few garnishes, like rosemary and a lime wedge, and you have a beautiful craft cocktail ready to serve to your holiday guests. It takes about 2 minutes to put together, from start to finish.

This is also an easy Christmas cocktail to make for a crowd. It can be prepared a few hours in advance and is easy to serve from a pitcher or punch bowl. See the full big batch instructions below.

Need more festive ideas? Check out these 9 EASY Christmas jello shots!

What Is a Moscow Mule?

A Moscow mule is a classic cocktail made with vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. It’s famous for being served in a copper mug, which keeps it colder longer (and some say adds flavor, though I’ve never noticed.)

The name simply refers to the fact that vodka was associated with Russia – the drink itself originated in the US.

Recipe Ingredients

This festive holiday mule recipe is made with just 6 ingredients.

Vodka
Lime juice – You’ll need about 1/2 lime per drink. I recommend freshly squeezed lime juice. I also like to garnish the drink with a lime wedge.
Cranberry juice – Unsweetened cranberry juice is best, both for flavor and to prevent the drink from becoming overly sweet.
Ginger beer – The “spicier” the better, in my opinion. Blenheim is a great brand, as are Reed’s and Bundaberg.
Cranberries – Both fresh cranberries and sugared cranberries make a great garnish.
Rosemary – Adds a little extra holiday flavor.

What Glass Should I Serve This In?

Moscow mules are typically served in copper mugs. I like this set, though you can also find them at local stores. These black Moscow mule mugs are also very trendy. Of course, you can serve this yule mule recipe in any glass you’d like. It will taste incredible no matter what!

Yule Mule Variations

There are many ways to customize this Christmas mule cocktail to your preferences. Here are a few suggestions.

Pomegranate Moscow mule. Swap the cranberries and cranberry juice for pomegranates to make a pomegranate Moscow mule.
Apple cider Moscow mule. If ginger beer isn’t your thing, you can also make this holiday cocktail with apple cider. Different flavor but still amazing!
Switch up the liquor. You can use a flavored vodka for more flavor or use your favorite spiced rum or bourbon.
Make it sweeter. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, replace some or all of the ginger beer with ginger ale. Or if you want the spicy ginger beer flavor, add some simple syrup to sweeten the cocktail.
Make it frozen. Freeze the ginger beer in ice cube trays then blend the ingredients together (except the rosemary) for a blended drink. If you don’t have time to freeze the ginger beer, you can do this with ice cubes but I like the stronger, less watered-down flavor of using the ginger beer ice cubes.
Christmas Mule Mocktail. For a non-alcoholic Christmas Moscow mule, simply omit the vodka and replace it with a non-alcoholic vodka or more gingerbeer.

adding vodka in a cooper mug to make christmas mule

How to Make a Christmas Mule

This easy Christmas cocktail comes together in just seconds.

Combine the ingredients. Add ice to the copper mug. Stir in the vodka, ginger beer, and cranberry juice. Squeeze in the lime juice.
Add the garnishes. Garnish with a lime wedge, cranberries, and rosemary. Enjoy!

Garnish Ideas

I like to add a sprig of rosemary for a pop of green and some additional cranberries, plus a lime wedge to my Christmas Moscow mule.

Sugared cranberries are also a nice addition and add a touch of sweetness to the cocktail.

A candy cane adds a minty touch and can also be used to stir the cocktail.

A Festive Christmas Moscow Mule alongisde a bottle of vodka and a bowl of cranberries

Christmas Moscow Mule Cocktails for a Crowd

To make a big batch of these Christmas mule cocktails, combine the vodka, lime juice, and cranberry juice in a pitcher or punch bowl. Chill until the party. Just before serving, add the gingerbeer and garnishes to the punch bowl. You can also top each individual glass off with gingerbeer instead.