The holidays never tasted so good! This White Christmas Margarita has all the flavors of your standard margarita with the addition of white cranberry juice and coconut. Make it for 2 or a crowd and put a little bit of tropical in your winter cocktail.
I love my margaritas all year long, Carrot Margaritas for spring, Fresh Watermelon Margaritas for summer, and Apple Cider Margaritas for fall, but today I wanted to make one a little more wintery to help me get into the Christmas spirit way down here in sunny Florida. And, being a Floridian, we have plenty of cocktails centered around coconut cream and cranberry juice so it seemed like a no-brainer to add them to, what I like to call, my White Christmas Margarita.
Keeping this drink on the white side was the hard part but I was bound and determined to keep this drink white. So instead of using a regular cranberry juice I opted for a white cranberry juice! Yep, there is a version in white! Woohoo! It was the perfect solution for this white Christmas margarita recipe!
A winter margarita with a tropical flair
I made at least 3 or 4 different batches (wheeeee!) as I had to get just the right quantities of every ingredient to make it taste fantastically tropical & delicious. It's basically my standard margarita with the addition of white cranberry juice, coconut cream and coconut rum. You can opt for regular rum here as well but I like the additional coconut flavor that coconut rum adds.
Now, if you want to make this Christmas margarita look as festive as possible, just whip up some holiday ice cubes too. Drop 3 pomegranate arils (I like them because they're smaller than cranberries and you can eat them as well) and a small sprig of rosemary in each cavity of an ice cube tray. Fill with water and freeze. That's it!
I also like to rim the glasses with a combination of coconut flakes and coarse salt which I put through my coffee grinder to make the coconut flakes finer. Now doesn't that holiday margarita just look deliciously tropical and Christmassy all at the same time?
How to make a white cranberry margarita
- In a pitcher, pour in your favorite tequila. (photo 1)
- Add white cranberry juice. I also found a white cranberry peach juice that works deliciously too! (photo 2)
- Pour in Cointreau and agave syrup. (photo 3)
- Now add a little bit of lime juice. Because every margarita has to have its lime juice. (photo 4)
- This is the magic ingredient that adds all that tropical flavor. Plus it looks like snow for the holidays. (photo 5)
- Top it off with some coconut rum. You can also add just regular rum but it won't be quite as tropical tasting. Stir and pour into coconut rimmed glasses filled with ice. (photo 6)
Make this holiday margarita for 2 or for a whole crowd (it looks pretty as a picture in a punch bowl) and put a little tropical in your winter cocktail. I can guarantee that everyone will be in the Christmas spirit in no time! This really is one of the best Christmas tequila cocktails you'll ever taste. Cheers!
Holiday Cocktails to Enjoy
Pecan Pie Shots rimmed with caramel and pecans are sweet, creamy, and great dessert cocktails.
Christmas Martini made with eggnog, amaretto, and vanilla vodka is perfect for holiday cocktail parties.
Christmas Mimosa with champagne, cranberry, and a touch of orange.
Perfectly Peppermint White Russian from Julie Blanner
Buckeye Cocktail is perfect for chocolate and peanut butter lovers.
Vodka Christmas Drink made with apple cider and cranberry juice.
Find lots more holiday cocktail recipes here on 2CM!
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White Christmas Margarita
Ingredients
- ½ cup tequila
- ½ cup white cranberry juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup Cointreau (you could also use Grand Marnier or Triple Sec)
- 2+ Tablespoons agave nectar (depending on sweetness desired)
- 2 Tablespoons coconut cream
- ¼ cup coconut rum (optional)
- Garnish: coconut flakes, coarse salt, lime slices
Instructions
- In a large shaker, combine all ingredients. Shake well.
- Grind coconut flakes and salt so they are a little finer. Place on flat plate.
- Run a lime wedge around edge of glasses and dip into coconut-salt mixture.
- Place ice cubes (for decorative ice cubes see note below) in 2 glasses. Divide contents between glasses.
- Garnish edge of glass with a slice of lime.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with a video and step-by-step instructions so anyone can make it. It was first published on December 10, 2017.
Kelly Englert says
AMAZING and so easy!
simona hammock says
How many days ahead could this be made? My party is on Saturday could I make it two days ahead?
Linda Warren says
I haven't made it more than a few hours ahead of time but I would think a couple of days ahead would be fine. Store it covered without ice and give it a good stir before serving. Enjoy, so wish I was joining you! 🙂
Page mccane says
Do you use a spice grind to grind the coconut flakes and margarita salt ?
Linda Warren says
I just used my coffee bean grinder but you could use a small food chopper or your spice grinder as long as you don't overprocess the coconut or salt. You can also opt for the margarita salt sold in the stores and just chop your coconut flakes with a knife. Hope you enjoy!
Carol Abbott says
Just made me one of these and it is delicious. Making a batch tomorrow for our Mexican Christmas Present exchange. Thanks for the recipe!
Linda Warren says
Glad y'all enjoyed it. Merry Christmas and cheers!
Mary Lennon says
This was great for a holiday crowd!
Linda Warren says
So glad everyone liked it! Happy New Year!
Genie Merrer says
I can't find white cranberry juice. I need it for 12-23. Any suggestions?
Linda Warren says
Walmart and Target carry it by me and it says Amazon has it as well although I don't know if you can get it by tomorrow. You could try subbing in white grape juice. I haven't tried it but it might just turn out to be a new yummy cocktail. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Michelle says
What type of tequila do you use?
Linda Warren says
Any type of tequila will do. I've used Pinnacle, Milagro, Don Julio and Patron.
Kalli C says
What kind of coconut cream? Thanks!
Linda Warren says
I just use Coco Lopez. Hope you enjoy!
Kristen says
I wanted to make a large batch of this for a party. Do you think the shaker is required to create the right consistency, or would stirring suffice? I want to make 2 gallons of this, and I worry about the time it would take to make it.
Also, with making 2 gallons, how much should I multiply this recipe by?
Linda Warren says
This would be easy to make into a large batch for a party. No need for the shaker. If you are using the 1/4 cup coconut rum, and making 32 cups (2 gallons), you would have to multiply by 21 to make close to 2 gallons. Sounds like a fun party!
Kalli says
Looks so good! What kind of coconut cream do you use?
Linda Warren says
I use Coco Lopez but probably any brand would work just as well. Hope you enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Kati Arkenberg says
I'd like to make this recipe non-alcoholic for a baby shower. Should I just omit the alcohol or do you have any suggestions? Thank you!
Linda Warren says
You could use a non-alcoholic margarita mix and leave out lime juice and triple sec. Add the white cranberry juice and coconut cream and I think it should turn out delicious You will have to gauge the amounts as I haven't tried it this way. Have fun!
Crystal says
Well these look fantastic! However....tequila and I don't get along so well. What do you think would be a good substitution?
Linda Warren says
You can actually make this drink with vodka. There are other margarita drinks made with vodka and they even have a name for them - a vodkarita. I haven't tried mine with it yet so let me know how it is.
Jackie says
Hi Linda! Do you use coconut cream in this recipe, or is it cream of coconut? I noticed in the comments that you mentioned you use Coco Lopez, which is cream of coconut and a different consistency and style than the usual cans labeled “coconut cream” (like the Thai Kitchen unsweetened coconut cream). Appreciate your help!
Linda Warren says
I use cream of coconut when I make this margarita. It adds just a bit of sweetness to the cocktail while providing the coconut flavor and color for the finished drink. Hope you enjoy and merry Christmas!
Kris Lampe says
These were amazing! I made a giant batch for a party and everyone raved about them.
Linda Warren says
Woohoo! Wish I'd been there to help you enjoy them. 🙂
Christy says
Hi Kris, do you remember what amounts you used to hatch this? Would like to have at our Christmas party! Thank You 🙂
Linda Warren says
If you want to make 1 gallon just multiply everything by 8. That would be 4 cups tequila, 4 cups white cranberry juice, 2 cups lime juice, 2 cups Cointreau or Grand Marnier, 3/4-1 cup agave nectar (depending on sweetness desired), 1 cup coconut cream and 2 cups coconut rum (which is totally optional). Have a great party!
Julie says
How much of each would I use to make a pitcher full. Or a punch bowl?
Linda Warren says
Most pitchers hold about 68-oz or about 8 8-oz servings, so just multiply each of the ingredients by 4.