Every summer, I take some time off to disconnect from the internet and reconnect with my family and friends. Usually I try to do it on the shores of my beloved Lake Michigan, and I always try to do it with a cold, citrusy, fresh margarita in hand! My homemade Margarita Mix makes whipping up my vacation margs a breeze.
Traditionally, margaritas are little more than lime juice, good tequila, and triple sec. Now, I love tequila (it’s my booze of choice), but even I like a little bit of sweetness in my margaritas. So I’ve been working on a perfect margarita mix recipe for a while now, and I think I finally landed on it.
These margaritas are tart and tangy and a tiny bit sweet—not even close to how sweet the margarita mixes or the margaritas you get from a restaurant are. To really make these margaritas off-the-charts amazing, the simple syrup that is used is infused with orange zest and salt. You are free to salt the rims of your glasses, but you don’t have to, because the mixture is just a touch salty—it’s really perfect.
Does margarita mix contain alcohol?
Nope! On its own, the mix is a citrus-y, salty simple syrup. It doesn’t become a cocktail until you combine the margarita mix with tequila! In fact, I’ve been known to make a virgin margarita or cocktail with this mix by combining it with some seltzer water (lime flavored is best).
So what’s in this margarita mix?
To make margarita mix, you’ll need:
- Granulated sugar or cane sugar
- 2 large oranges — you’ll use the juice from both and the zest from one
- 5 large limes—you’ll juice all of them, and use the zest from three of them
- Salt
That’s it!
Wouldn’t it be easier to just buy a mix at the store?
Yup. Sure would. But many mixes from the store contain artificial colors and flavors that some people react poorly to. But also, this recipe lets you make the perfect margarita for you—you can customize the sweetness and flavor to your liking. Use more or less lime juice, add some lemon or grapefruit…whatever tastes best to you!
What kind of alcohol do I need to make margaritas?
You’ll need to get your hands on some tequila—either white or gold will work. Many tequila aficionados save the best tequilas for drinking straight, and use slightly lower quality/more affordable tequila for margaritas—the flavor of the margarita mix will cover up any harshness in the lower-shelf tequila.
How do I use this margarita mix to make a margarita?
All you need to make an awesome margarita are two ounces of mix and two ounces of good tequila. I also like to do a salt/sugar mix on the rim of the glasses when I’m feeling a little fancy. Serve over ice for a margarita on the rocks.
You can also use this margarita mix to make a whole pitcher of margaritas. Stir the whole batch of mix together with two cups of tequila, and stash in the fridge until chilled. You’re ready to serve margaritas to a crowd!
What if I want to make frozen margaritas?
This margarita mix makes blended, frozen margaritas super simple to make. Freeze the mix in an ice cube tray, and then throw the cubes in a blender with an equal amount of tequila. Blend until smooth and frosty.
Don’t I need triple sec?
Because the margarita mix is infused with orange, you don’t need to add triple sec to the final cocktail. The orange juice and zest will do that work instead! If you’d like an extra boost of orange flavor, feel free to add a splash of triple sec.
How do I store my margarita mix?
This mix is great because you can stash it in your fridge and serve up one margarita, two, or even make up a whole pitcher.
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- Strawberry Margarita Recipe. Who doesn’t love a frosty, fruity drink on a hot summer day?
- Autumn Apple Kombucha Moscow Mule. This warming fall twist on a classic Moscow mule is my favorite Crown Royal Apple drink!
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Margarita Mix Recipe
Homemade Margarita Mix makes whipping up your favorite cocktail a breeze! You only need 6 ingredients, and it comes together in about 4 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup fresh orange juice (from about 2 large oranges)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest (from about 1 large orange)
- 1 cup fresh lime juice (from about 5 large limes)
- 2 teaspoons lime zest (from about 3 large limes)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
To Make the Mix:
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, orange juice, orange zest, lime juice, lime zest, and salt. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, just until the sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat, let cool, and store in an airtight bottle in the fridge for 7-10 days.
To Make a Single Margarita:
- Combine equal parts salt and granulated sugar in a saucer. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a margarita glass. Dip the margarita glass in the salt and sugar combo.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add in two ounces (1/4 cup) of the margarita mix with two ounces (1/4 cup) good quality tequila. Shake to chill. Pour into prepared glass.
To Make a Pitcher of Margaritas:
- In a large pitcher, combine all of the margarita mix with 2 cups of tequila. Stir and chill until cold. Serve in glasses rimmed with salt.
Notes
To make frozen, blended margaritas, freeze the mix in ice cube trays. Then, blend the cubes with equal parts tequila until smooth and frosty.
This mix comes out tinted orange/yellow due to the orange juice. Many margarita mixes are dyed green unnaturally using artificial colors. If the color bugs you, a sprinkle of matcha powder whisked in will do the trick.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 2 ounces mixAmount Per Serving: Calories: 49Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 133mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 0g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
