Frozen Cranberry Mule
A frozen cranberry Moscow Mule with vodka, cranberry, lime and ginger syrup, topped with ginger beer — a holiday mule sized for Margaritaville machines.
Jump to recipe ↓The cranberry mule is the holiday version of the Moscow Mule: the same vodka, ginger and lime, with cranberry for color and a tart edge. Frozen, it’s a bright red slush that works from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
As with our Frozen Moscow Mule, ginger beer never goes in the jar — it would foam over and go flat. Ginger syrup carries the ginger flavor through the machine, and a splash of ginger beer on top brings back the fizz.
Cranberry Mule recipe
Ingredients (3 drinks)
- 4½ oz vodka
- 3 oz cranberry juice cocktail
- 2 oz fresh lime juice
- 2 oz ginger syrup (paid link)
- 1½ oz water
- 3 oz ginger beer (to top, not blended)
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Fresh cranberries, lime wheel, rosemary sprig. Glass: Copper mug.
Instructions
- Chill copper mugs or glasses in the freezer.
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, ginger syrup and water to the jar.
- Run the cycle.
- Pour into the mugs and top each with about 1 oz ginger beer.
- Garnish with a few fresh cranberries, a lime wheel and a rosemary sprig.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vodka | 3⅓ oz | 4½ oz | 3 oz | 3¾ oz | 7⅔ oz |
| cranberry juice cocktail | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
| fresh lime juice | 1½ oz | 2 oz | 1⅓ oz | 1⅔ oz | 3⅓ oz |
| ginger syrup | 1½ oz | 2 oz | 1⅓ oz | 1⅔ oz | 3⅓ oz |
| water | 1 oz | 1½ oz | 1 oz | 1¼ oz | 2½ oz |
| ginger beer (to top, not blended) | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- A carbonated ingredient foams when blended. Pour it into the jar last, down the side, and stay well under the fill line — or blend without it and top each glass with soda instead.
- This batch uses about 13 fl oz of liquid for 3 drinks. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Cranberry juice cocktail adds color and sweetness, so this version uses a little less ginger syrup and water than the original mule. The total is 13 oz of liquid — the three-drink volume used for the Bahamas and Fiji.
About vodka slushes
Vodka is the easiest spirit to freeze-blend because it adds alcohol without flavor. That makes the fruit and citrus the stars — use the best juice you can. Keep vodka near a third of the liquid for a slush that holds its shape.
Tips for the best texture
- Ginger syrups differ in strength. A concentrated syrup like Liber & Co. Fiery Ginger suggests ½–¾ oz per cocktail on its label, which is about what this recipe uses; homemade syrup may need a little more.
- To make ginger syrup at home, simmer ½ cup sliced fresh ginger in 1 cup simple syrup for 15 minutes, then strain and cool.
- Use cranberry juice cocktail, not 100% cranberry juice — pure cranberry is very tart and would need extra syrup.
- Fresh cranberries float, so drop them on top just before serving.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with fresh cranberries, lime wheel, rosemary sprig and serve in a copper mug. Vodka slushes are a natural for pitchers and parties: mix the juice base in advance and keep the vodka in the freezer so it goes in ice-cold. Mason jars and highball glasses suit the casual style, and a citrus wheel on the rim is all the garnish you need.
Variations
- Spiced: Add a pinch of ground cinnamon to the jar and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
- Pomegranate mule: Use 100% pomegranate juice instead of cranberry and add ½ oz simple syrup. Try: Monin Pure Cane Syrup (simple syrup), 750 ml (paid link)
- Bourbon cranberry mule: Use bourbon instead of vodka.
Mocktail swap
Skip the vodka; add 3 oz extra cranberry juice and 1.5 oz water, and top with ginger beer.
Shop the ingredients
- Liber & Co. Fiery Ginger Syrup, 12.7 oz (paid link)
We link to mixers, syrups and juices only — alcohol isn’t sold through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Shopping for a frozen-drink fan? See our Margaritaville machine gift guide.
Making this for a holiday party, or giving a machine as a gift? Our Margaritaville Machine Gift Guide 2026 covers every model plus mixers, rim salt and glassware.
Frequently asked questions
Why not blend the ginger beer?
Carbonation foams up in the jar and the bubbles are gone by the time you pour. Topping each mug keeps the fizz.
Do I need copper mugs?
No. They look festive and feel cold in the hand, but any glass works.
How strong is it?
About 1½ oz vodka per drink, the same as a standard Moscow Mule.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
