Cinco de Mayo is upon us! With everything going on in the world right now I think finding any and all opportunities to celebrate during our time at home is necessary to break up the day to day grind and find some fun!
What better way to mix it up than to shake up a new margarita recipe in your kitchen? Pair any of these drinks with a side of chips, queso, and guacamole and you are in for a delightful treat. Even better if you get to enjoy while sitting in your yard, kids entertaining themselves for a minute as you close your eyes and pretend you are sitting on a beach in Cabo and not your patio.
Margaritas for Cinco de Mayo at home
Ingredients:
- Tequila (we prefer reposado)
- Freshly squeezed lime juice (the BEST juicer)
- Salt
- Lime wedges
- Ice
- Cointreau (or any other orange liqueur)
- Simple Syrup
Simple Syrup & Flavored Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is incredibly easy to make (get it? SIMPLE syrup!) It’s a 1-1 ratio of 1 cup sugar to 1 cup water. Heat over medium-low on your stove while whisking continuously until the liquid becomes clear. Take off the heat, pour into another container and let cool! To infuse your simple syrups put pieces of frozen or fresh fruit into the syrup while it is still hot. Let steep in simple syrup until cool and then strain out the fruit. Use syrup like regular unflavored simple syrup.
The simple syrups I infused for the following recipes are: jalapeño, strawberry, mango and pineapple. For each I poured in about a 1/3c hot simple syrup over 1/4c frozen fruit or chopped fresh, seeded jalapeño (if you desire more spice leave the seeds in!)
Basic Margaritas
This is the recipe for your basic limey citrusy margarita. It is exactly what you would imagine ordering at your favorite Mexican restaurant and can be served frozen or on the rocks!
Ingredients:
2 oz. tequila
1 oz. lime juice
½ oz. simple syrup
¼ oz. orange liqueur
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until the outside of the cocktail shaker is cold – about 30 seconds. Pour over ice into a glass with a salted rim, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!
To make this margarita frozen, combine all ingredients into a blender with roughly 1/4c ice and blend until desired consistency.
Frozen Fruit Margaritas: Mango, Strawberry, Pineapple
It would be so fun to make a non-alcoholic version for the kids before you blend up your own! To make these kid-friendly omit the tequila, Cointreau, and simple syrup and substitute your favorite lemonade (or limeade with the strawberry version!)
Ingredients:
2 oz. tequila
1 oz. lime juice
½ oz. simple syrup (substitute flavor-infused syrup)
¼ oz. orange liqueur
¼ c frozen fruit
½ c ice
Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until desired consistency. Pour into a glass with a salted rim, garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy!
Smokey and spicy: Jalapeno Mezcal Margarita
This was my favorite recipe we created. The smokiness of the mezcal balances so well with the jalapeño simple syrup. To elevate this, even more, I would add some chili lime salt to the rim of the glass!
Ingredients:
2 oz. Mezcal
1 oz. lime juice
¾ oz. jalapeno-infused simple syrup
Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake until the outside of the shaker is cold – about 30 seconds. Pour over ice into a glass with a salted rim. Garnish with jalapeno slices and a lime wedge.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! May your margarita be strong and your celebrations be fun!
Yum! Can’t wait to try these. Thanks, Joanna!