Fresh Strawberry Margarita Cocktail

This Fresh Strawberry Margarita Cocktail will knock your socks off. A mix of fresh strawberry puree and margarita mix set the stage for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail).

Margaritas – A Great Summertime Drink

While margaritas are a staple for any Cinco de Mayo celebration, a good margarita is a welcome refreshment all Summer long. Whether you are a fan of a fresh or frozen margarita, it is a refreshing, lighter cocktail perfect for a summertime happy hour, picnic or fun get-together.

A traditional margarita recipe is made with a few simple ingredients. Simply combine tequila, an orange liqueur and fresh lime juice in a glass and you are ready to go. Add a salted rim and a little drink umbrella and let the fun begin!

This particular recipe is based on that classic margarita recipe, but with a fresh, fruity twist.

Making the Fresh Strawberry Margarita Cocktail

I like margaritas, but once you’ve gone past the traditional margarita recipe, the end result is often too sweet for me. Too often, margaritas are made with a very sweet, sugary margarita mix that doesn’t allow the flavor of the tequila to come through.

I also happen to like the fruit margaritas as I’m a huge fan of fresh fruit. I’ve come across some interesting margaritas in my travels including mango, papaya and pineapple. But, here in Minnesota, we have a wide variety of fresh berries at our disposal in the summertime.

So, the trick for this recipe was how to allow the bite of the tequila to come through, while also adding in a fresh, fruity flavor. And, all this without making it too sweet. The trick? Making my own margarita mix.

Preparing a Homemade Margarita Mix

As it was strawberry season and I had great access to fresh, ripe strawberries, I decided that was a great start. The addition of strawberries and that fresh strawberry flavor is a perfect compliment to the tequila and orange liqueur.

It’s actually pretty simple to make your own homemade strawberry margarita mix. My favorite way to do this is to simply puree strawberries and water as a start. You then add in a prepared margarita mix.

I opted to use a prepared margarita mix because it keeps this a simple and easy margarita recipe. I have two personal preferences, Spooky brand (sweetened with agave) or Trader Joe’s brand (sweetened with cane sugar). Neither are as sweet as other margarita mixes and I like that neither brand is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.

By mixing the fresh strawberry puree with a less-sweet, prepared margarita mix, I ended up with a mix that wasn’t too sweet and had just the right amount of tang. That mix is the base for making your fresh strawberry margarita cocktails. This recipe yields about 6 cups of mix, so it’s enough for about 12 drinks.

Combining the Remaining Margarita Ingredients

After pureeing, strain the strawberry mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any remaining seeds. At this point, you combine the homemade margarita mix with tequila (use a good one – see Tips and Tricks below) and an orange liqueur (my preference is Grand Marnier). Shake in ice and pour into a glass over some fresh ice.If you like your margaritas on the sweeter side, you can add a little regular simple syrup or agave nectar.

Make a Fresh Strawberry Margarita Slushy

Another fun way to serve this margarita is to create a slushy. Simply mix the alcohol with the margarita mix, pour into a covered container and put into the freezer.

When you’re ready to serve, allow the frozen margarita mix to thaw slightly until you can mix everything together. It will still be slightly frozen. Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh flavor of this Strawberry Margarita.

Tips and Tricks

• For the best flavor, use a quality tequila, such as Don Julio Blanco, 1800 Silver or Patron Silver.
• Fresh strawberries are highly recommended, but if they’re out of season, frozen strawberries will work. Just make sure you defrost them before pureeing.
• To make one large batch, combine pureed strawberries mixture with the alcohol in 1 – 12 cup container or 2 – 6 cup containers. Transfer as needed to a serving pitcher or large punch bowl.
• To make this cocktail a mocktail, simply omit the tequila and Grand Marnier.

Ingredients Needed to Make Fresh Strawberry Margaritas

Full instructions for this recipe can be found below in the printable recipe card

• Fresh strawberries – Fresh is preferred, but if they’re not available, frozen strawberries that have been fully thawed and drained can be used.
• Water
• Lime margarita mix – I look for a mix that is sweetened with agave or cane sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup. I like Spooky brand (sweetened with agave) or Trader Joe’s (sweetened with cane sugar).  
• Tequila
• Grand Marnier or triple sec
• Ice

How to Make Fresh Strawberry Margaritas

• Combine hulled and quartered strawberries and water in a blender or food processor.
• Blend until strawberries are completely pureed.
• Strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a medium bowl.
• Remove strainer and stir in Margarita mix.
• For each cocktail combine 4 oz of the strawberry margarita mix, 2 oz tequila, 1 oz Grand Marnier or triple sec into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.
• Shake until well mixed and ice cold.
• Strain margarita into a glass filled with ice.

Snacks and Entrees to Serve with Fresh Strawberry Margaritas

• Restaurant Style Salsa and Chips
• Tex-Mex Lasagna
• Grilled Fish Tacos with Southwestern Slaw
• The Best Guacamole and Chips
• Mexican Pinwheels

ENJOY!

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