A sweet cocktail with a tangy ginger finish. This Prickly Pear Moscow Mule is a terrific drink for celebrating or just for decompressing on a Friday night. You will never look at prickly pear cactus the same way again!
Prickly Pears
When we were in Arizona recently we were shocked at the amount of fruit on the prickly pear cacti. Therefore, we just had to share another fabulous cocktail featuring this fun fruit!
The fruit of the prickly pear cactus, also called nopales, cactus apple, or tuna, can range from slightly sweet to syrupy sweet depending on the level of ripeness. Additionally, they can be green in color (less sweet) to a dark pink (more sweet) and any shade in between.
But one thing they all have in common is that they are covered with glochids which are tiny hair-like splinters that are very painful when you get them in your skin. Therefore, you MUST wear gloves when handling them or else you might be sorry (Not speaking from experience here…)!
A Nopales Cocktail
One of our personal favorite things to use prickly pears for is a cocktail. Whether it’s using syrup like for this recipe for a Prickly Pear Prosecco Spritzer or using the actual fruit, like for this simple Moscow mule recipe, you can’t go wrong.
The sweetness of the fruit and the gorgeous color was made for sipping. In this adult drink, the spiciness of the ginger beer offsets the fruit and produces one amazingly refreshing mule.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
- Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit – Sweet but not overpowering. It also adds a wonderful red hue to the drink.
- Ginger Beer – Strong ginger flavor is a mule’s signature taste but it doesn’t overpower the prickly pear in this cocktail.
- Vodka – Tasteless and perfect for this flavorful adult drink.
- Lime Juice – Lime juice adds a touch of citrus that helps meld the fruit flavor to the ginger.
FAQ & Prickly Pear Mule Tips:
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Is there an alternative to fresh prickly pear cactus fruit?
- Yep! If you can’t get your hands on (ouch! 😂) the fresh fruit, you can also use Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup.
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Do the prickly pears need to be ripe?
- Not exactly. You can definitely use fruit that is a little firmer but just be aware that your drink won’t be quite as sweet.
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Tip: Handle with Care!
- Yes, this is a cactus so tread carefully, even if they are purchased in a grocery store. Always wear gloves when handling prickly pears to be safe. Another option is to burn off the needles prior to using- carefully!
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Tip: Muddle & Strain
- Prickly pears have rather large seeds. Therefore, for a smooth drink, be sure to strain your drink after muddling.
Cheers!
If you can (carefully!) get your hands on prickly pears, you don’t want to miss this fantastic mule recipe. Cheers! 🌵
Finally, if you have made this Moscow Mule recipe, we would love to hear what you think! Please comment down below and be sure to rate the recipe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks so much!
Prickly Pear Moscow Mule
- Prep Time: 10 min.
- Cook Time: 0 min.
- Total Time: 10 min.
- Yield: 2 Servings 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Muddle, Strain
- Cuisine: American
Description
A sweet cocktail with a tangy ginger finish. This Prickly Pear Moscow Mule recipe hits all the right notes for a refreshing adult drink!
Ingredients
- 2 Prickly Pears (Peeled)
- 1 Lime (Juice)
- 4 oz Vodka
- 16 oz. Ginger Beer
Instructions
- Peel the prickly pears and place them into a cocktail shaker along with the lime juice. Muddle the mixture until the prickly pears are completely smashed into liquid. Strain the mixture to remove the seeds and pulp, keeping the liquid.
- Next add ice to two copper cups or highball glasses as well as. 2 ozs of vodka each.
- Pour half of the prickly pear juice mixture into each glass.
- Top off each drink with ginger beer. Garnish with a slice of lime and serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The equipment listed above contains affiliate links to products that we personally use, love, and recommend!
Keywords: Moscow Mule Recipe, Prickly Pear Cocktail Recipe, Prickly Pear Moscow Mule