Freshly squeezed juice gives this easy blood orange margarita recipe a subtly sweet flavor with no added sugars. This margarita is by far my favorite blood orange cocktail, and I hope you enjoy it too. We have included instructions for serving on the rocks, frozen, or even better- by the pitcher!
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We often think that margaritas are for vacations, summer pool parties, and Cinco de Mayo. But winter is prime citrus season and blood oranges are in their prime. Plus, it is pink- perfect for February!
We have been trying different blood orange cocktail recipes and this has turned out to be my favorite. It has been in regular rotation along with our other winter citrus favorites- the mezcal grapefruit paloma and this green chartreuse cocktail.
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📖 Why This Recipe Works
This recipe takes the best part of traditional margaritas and gives the recipe new life. This margarita recipe has a smooth taste and just the right amount of sweetness.
- Blood oranges have a lovely sweet flavor that cuts down on the strong tequila taste of most margaritas
- Blood oranges are lower in acid than limes or regular oranges making this an easy drinker
- Sugar-free and no yucky sour mix
- Classic margarita preparation with orange liqueur
🧾Ingredient Notes
This recipe just needs a few classic margarita ingredients.
- Tequila- I pI prefer a Blanco tequila for this margarita recipe. The best type of tequila to use for good margaritas is one you like. Some people prefer reposado tequila which is aged longer.
- Cointreau- Cointreau is a type of triple sec, an orange liqueur. Generic triple secs can be substituted but Cointreau is the brand I recommend.
- Fresh Blood Oranges- Fresh is best but unsweetened 100% juice from a bottle also works.
- Fresh Limes- Again fresh is best, but otherwise unsweetened bottled lime juice works just fine.
- Pink Sea Salt- Yes you can use regular kosher salt, but the pink compliments the vibrant hue of the blood oranges so well.
See the recipe card for quantities.
⏲️How to Make Blood Orange Margaritas
We are going to break this cocktail by how it is served. Starting with individual cocktails and then our margarita pitcher recipe.
Salt the Rim
The easiest thing to do is pour your salt on a small saucer or plate. Use a lime wedge to dampen the rim of your glass. Dip the top of the glass into the salt on your plate. The salt will stick to the lime juice.
Note: You can use a traditional margarita glass, a rocks glass, or a highball glass to serve.
Individual Margarita on the Rocks
In a cocktail shaker, combine your favorite tequila, Cointreau, orange juice, and lime juice. Fill with crushed ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds. You will know when it is chilled because the outside of the shaker frosts over.
Place ice in your salt-rimmed glasses. Strain the margarita when pouring to remove any stray seeds or pulp from the lime juice.
You can add a splash of club soda if you like more bubbles in your cocktails. Garnish with lime and orange wedges. Or even a sprig of mint!
Sit back, relax, and have some chips and roasted tomato salsa.
Frozen Blood Orange Margaritas
Place the tequila, Cointreau, blood orange juice, and lime juice in a blender with 3 to 4 cups of ice. Blend on high until slushy. Serve in a glass with a salted rim.
Blood Orange Margarita- Pitcher Recipe
Perfect for a large gathering! Combine the following qualities in a large pitcher and stir well before serving.
- 3 cups tequila
- 1 ½ cups Cointreau
- 2 to 3 cups blood orange juice (this can be hard to find fresh so I often use 50/50 blood OJ to regular OJ)
- 1 cup lime juice
- 3-5 cups of ice
You can make your margarita pitcher 2 to 3 hours in advance. Keep in the fridge but don't add the ice until you are ready to serve. We don't want to water that goodness down.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- To get the most juice from your oranges and limes look for ones that are a little soft. Before cutting roll them between your palm and the kitchen counter, pressing down firmly.
- A manual citrus juice squeezer will maximize the juice you get out of each piece of fruit.
- Shake, don't stir, your margarita for a better appearance.
- Larger ice cubes melt slower keeping your drink chilled, and not watered down.
💭 Variations
Put your own twist on this cocktail with the following options!
Spicy Blood Orange Margarita
Add two to four slices of fresh jalapeno to the cocktail shaker and muddle before adding the ice and other ingredients. Make as usual. Add additional jalapeno slices as a garnish.
You can also do the same chili-lime salt rim we use in our mezcal paloma if you are feeling festive.
Low Alchohol Margarita (i.e. Margarita without Triple Sec)
Want a drink but not so much alcohol? No problem! Skip the Cointreau and add an equal amount of fresh-squeezed orange juice instead.
🔪Equipment
Don't have a cocktail shaker? No worries, use a mason jar or a clean empty jam jar.
No jigger for measuring out your tequila? Use a shot glass. A standard shot glass holds 1.5 ounces.
🍹More Winter Cocktail Recipes
💬Frequently Asked Questions
Triple sec refers to a type of dry orange liqueur. Typically, between 15 and 30 proof. While Cointreau is a name brand of triple sec that is 40 proof.
Grand Marnier is often referred to as a Cointreau alternative but is actually a Curacao- triple sec hybrid made from Cognac.
Most major grocery store chains carry blood oranges when they are in season from December to May.
Blood oranges are slightly sweet and less acidic than your average naval oranges. They have a subtle berry undertone to them. They range in color from dark pink to bright purple, but the color doesn't impact the flavor.
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📖 Recipe
Blood Orange Margaritas
Ingredients
- 3 oz silver tequila
- 1.5 oz Cointreau or other triple sec
- 3 oz fresh squeezed blood orange juice 1-2 oranges
- 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
- ¼ cup Pink Himalayan salt ( or glass rim)
- Club soda optional
- Blood orange and lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- Spread the salt on a small plate. Wipe the rim of two highball glasses with a wedge of lime. Dip into the salt to coat the rim.¼ cup Pink Himalayan salt
Blood Orange Margarita on the Rocks
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the tequila, orange liqueur, blood orange and lime juice over ice. Secure the lid and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 15 to 20 seconds.3 oz silver tequila, 1.5 oz Cointreau, 3 oz fresh squeezed blood orange juice, 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
- Strain margarita into both glasses. It is optional to top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with lime and orange wedges and serve.Club soda, Blood orange and lime slices
Frozen Blood Orange Margarita
- Place the tequila, orange liqueur, blood orange, and lime juice in a blender with 3 to 4 cups of ice. Blend on high until slushy.
- Divide the margarita between the two glasses. Garnish with lime and orange wedges and serve.
Notes
- To maximize the juice you get from your oranges and limes roll them around on your counter, pressing down slightly. Then cut and squeeze the juice out.
- Want a sweeter margarita? Add ½ ounce of simple syrup.
- See blog post for spicy blood orange margarita variation.
- See blog post for pitcher quantities as the ratios differ slightly.
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