With colors of red, white and green, the Christmas Mojito is a refreshing summer cocktail turned holiday tipple. Combining the fresh flavors of mint, zesty lime and sweet rum with the tartness of fresh cranberries. It’s the perfect cocktail for warming up during the chilly season!
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About this Christmas Mojito recipe
There’s nothing more fun than a Christmas cocktail! There’s a lot of flavors to love this time of year: cinnamon, apples, chocolate, peppermint, pomegranate… just to name a few!
And then there’s cranberry. It’s ever popular, especially in drinks like the Yule Mule and the classic Cape Codder. But in recent years, I’ve been longing for something different when it comes to cranberries.
Then I remembered white cranberry juice exists, and knew I had to try it in another Christmas cocktail. (We already love it in the White Christmas Mule and the Christmas Mimosa!) Made from white cranberries, this juice blend is a fun addition to holiday cocktails that’s absolutely worth trying instead of its sour cousin.
This recipe is a sweeter twist on the classic mojito cocktail. This version uses white cranberry juice, lime juice, fresh mint and rum to make a sweet-tart holiday drink that’s as festive as it is unforgettable.
More Christmas cocktail recipes: Christmas Beer Shandy • Holiday Punch • Christmas Margarita • Christmas Mimosa Bar
Why you’ll love this recipe
Dazzle your holiday guests with a refreshing Christmas mojito that they are going to love!
- Sweet and succulent, this white cranberry cocktail is full of holiday flavor.
- It is the perfect cocktail to serve to friends at a holiday party.
- Mojitos are easy to make and you don’t need fancy equipment! (It helps, but we’ve got some hacks for you.)
What is a mojito?
The classic mojito (pronounced moe-hee-toe) is a cocktail starring rum, sugar, lime juice, fresh mint leaves and a splash of soda.
The result is a refreshing drink that’s equal parts sweet, sour and herbaceous. Its flavor can easily be modified by muddling other fruits and using flavored simple syrups.
Mojitos hail from Cuba, though the exact origin is unknown. According to Difford’s Guide, some version of the recipe can be traced back to 1586 when Sir Frances Drake “visited” Cuba. He was there to steal gold, and never did, though he did leave behind a drink recipe of crude rum, sugar, lime and mint.
Today, the mojito is a recurring character at bars, brunches, parties and girls’ nights. It is the perfect summer refresher, but you can enjoy this delicious drink year-round if you like!
Tools & glassware
To make a mojito, you will need a muddler. This is a stick-shaped tool that is used to mash the fruits and herbs together. If you don’t have one, you can use the blunt end of a wooden spoon.
You can make the cocktail right in the glass. However, if you like a smooth cocktail without bits of berries and herbs floating about (I don’t mind it), make the cocktail in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass, then strain it into a cocktail glass with a small fine-mesh strainer.
Serve up the mojito in a highball glass, a tall skinny glass perfect for highlighting this drink’s vibrant colors.
mojito essentials
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This White Cranberry Mojito is a simple cocktail to put together, and you only need a few simple ingredients from the grocery store and liquor store. Here’s what to add to your shopping list:
- white cranberry juice: Find it in the juice aisle! I used Ocean Spray brand for this drink.
- mint leaves: Mint is the heart of the mojito, so don’t skimp. You can find it in the produce section of most grocery stores.
- simple syrup: I recommend making your own simple syrup. My recipe is done in under 10 minutes and has just two ingredients, and it’s much cheaper than buying it.
- lime juice: I always recommend fresh lime juice if you have it on hand, but feel free to use a good quality lime concentrate.
- light rum: Because it is clear-colored, white rum (AKA silver rum) is the best choice. A darker rum like gold rum will add a lot of color to this white cocktail, but they are fine to use if it’s what you have.
- club soda: A few bubbles help your drink to have a lighter body and more volume. You don’t need a ton. This part can be optional, but it gives the mojito a bit of brightness and the bubbles help it taste even more refreshing.
- edible glitter: I added some pretty edible glitter to this drink to give it a pearlescent look! Totally optional though.
What is white cranberry juice?
White cranberry juice is similar to regular cranberry juice, only it’s clear because it’s made with cranberries harvested before ripening when they have a light, white and pink color.
These paler cranberries provide a milder, subtler and more delicate flavor. Most white cranberry juice is similar in flavor to white grape juice. In fact, it contains white grape juice concentrate and cranberry juice concentrate.
Best rum for Christmas mojitos
Because it is clear-colored, white rum (AKA silver rum) is the best choice. White rum is light, crisp and great for mixing into drinks like the rum & coke or a mojito.
Spiced rum is a festive choice for cocktails like this pear punch, but in this mojito, it not only muddies the white color, but the flavor overpowers the white cranberry juice.
Bacardi is easily the most popular brand of silver rum, but Mount Gay is another solid choice.
Garnishes
Mojitos are gorgeous cocktails because they have color built-in, thanks to the use of fresh mint. You can always add a bouquet of fresh mint and call it a day! When you sip, the mint is right by your nose and the scent enhances your sips.
You can also add some more red-white-and-green Christmas cheer to this cocktail with some fresh cranberries a lime wedge. Cut the cranberries in half for an even more unique look.
Substitutions & variations
Cranberry mojito: Don’t have or can’t find white cranberry juice? You can use the regular kind! It’s more tart than white cranberry juice, but when balanced with sweet syrup, it makes a nice balanced cocktail. And, of course, it will be red not white like this one.
Non-alcoholic white cranberry mojito: Use a zero-proof spirit instead of the spiced rum. I recommend making your own or using a high-quality one like Seedlip Spice 94. You can also skip the alcohol altogether.
White cranberry peach mule: Use a white cranberry-peach juice blend for a sweet and summery spin on this drink. It’d be so fun for Christmas in July parties!
Coconut mojito: You could also make this a tropical mojito by using the cranberry garnish on my coconut mojito recipe.
Instructions
Let’s make some Christmas Mojitos! Here’s what you’ll need to do, step-by-step:
In a highball glass or cocktail shaker, add the mint leaves, lime juice and simple syrup. Muddle together to release the oils in the mint. You want to press down firmly but gently.
Tip: Just before dropping it in, hold the herbs in one hand and clap your other hand on top of them to “spank” them. This process helps to release the essential oils and fragrances for a more aromatic syrup.
Add ice to the glass, then add white cranberry juice, light rum and a pinch of white pearl edible glitter (if you want!). Stir together.
Then top up the drink with club soda. Garnish with fresh cranberries, a mint sprig and a lime wedge.
Tips & tricks
Skip the muddling by using a mint simple syrup. If you’re making your own, you can add some mint leaves to the syrup to stretch the flavor.
If you don’t have a muddler, use the blunt end of a wooden spoon.
Be sure to save some mint to use as a garnish! It adds its delicious fragrance and enhances your cocktail experience.
Food pairings
Anything with cranberries will be a hit with this holiday spin on the classic drink. These white chocolate cranberry cookies are a favorite for the dessert table.
Other holiday recipes with similar flavors will go well with this drink too, like spiced rum balls and cranberry brie bites.
FAQ
White rum, also known as silver rum, is ideal for mojitos. It is clear in color and offers a blank slate of flavor that lets the lime juice and mint flavors shine.
White cranberry juice is a clear version of cranberry juice. It is made with cranberries that are harvested before ripening, which have a light, white and pink color. They provide a milder, subtler and more delicate flavor than ripe cranberries.
More mojito recipes
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Christmas Mojito
ingredients
- 8-10 leaves mint
- 1½ ounce white cranberry juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 2 ounces light rum
- 1 pinch edible glitter
- 1-2 ounces club soda
- 3-4 cranberries for garnish
- 1 sprig mint for garnish
- 1 wedge lime for garnish
instructions
- In a highball glass or cocktail shaker, add the mint leaves, lime juice and simple syrup. Muddle together to release the oils in the mint.
- Add ice to the glass, then white cranberry juice and light rum. If desired, sprinkle in a pinch of edible glitter. Stir together. Then top up with club soda.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries, a mint sprig and a cinnamon stick.
notes
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