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This citrusy, refreshing margarita recipe with fresh blood orange juice, orange liqueur, and tequila gets shaken over ice and served in a salt-rimmed glass. A blood orange margarita is the perfect drink to take us into fall!
And hey, why stop there? Shake things up with a pineapple margarita when you’re craving tropical vibes, or keep the party rolling into fall with a bubbly apple cider mimosa.
If you’re familiar with blood oranges, you can already guess why they work so well in a margarita. Blood oranges are unique in that they’re citrusy like oranges, but also tart with subtle raspberry-like notes. They turn a classic margarita into a floral, fruity cocktail that’s perfect for those end-of-summer days. Don’t even get me started on that gorgeous ruby red color! I’ll show you how to make a perfect blood orange margarita in minutes.
Homemade Margaritas With a Tasty Twist
- Easy to make. All you need is a cocktail shaker or a jar, and you can shake up a margarita in under 5 minutes.
- Citrusy, festive flavors. In the US, blood oranges come into season in the fall. Combined with the festive red color, it makes a blood orange margarita perfect for the holidays.
- Customize it. Make a spicy margarita, or adapt this recipe to a frozen or alcohol-free version. There’s more than one way to enjoy a zesty blood orange margarita!
Blood Orange Margarita Ingredients
The secret to a great margarita is the right Ingredients. I go into this in detail below, and you’ll find the full, printable ingredients list and recipe amounts in the recipe card after the post.
- Tequila – Since we’re mixing it into a cocktail, the tequila here doesn’t need to be top-shelf, but I do recommend choosing one you like to drink. The tequila you use will also affect the character of your margarita. Silver tequila (blanco), like the Espolòn tequila I use, will give you a brighter taste, while aged (reposado) or fully aged añejo tequila will make for a smoother drink. It’s up to you which kind you prefer.
- Blood Orange Juice – Plus regular orange juice. Try to freshly squeeze both whenever possible. To help loosen the juices before you squeeze the oranges, roll the uncut oranges firmly against the countertop a few times.
- Cointreau – Like the tequila, a clear orange liqueur, like Cointreau, will make a lighter drink, while a darker, brandy-based liqueur, like Grand Marnier, will deepen the flavor. If you don’t have orange liqueur, another brand of triple sec will do, like Luxardo Triplum or Combier.
- Salt and Lime – Optional, to make a salt rim. You’ll need flaky sea salt, coarse salt, or kosher salt (not iodized table salt).
- Blood Orange Slice – You can slice it fresh, or some specialty food stores sell those pretty, decorative dehydrated orange slices that you can use as garnish.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make a virgin margarita (mocktail), substitute the tequila with additional fresh orange juice and the triple sec/Cointreau with agave nectar, honey, or simple syrup.
Sure! Instead of a shaker, combine your blood orange margarita ingredients in a high-powered blender with ice. Blend and pour it into your prepared glass.
Serving Suggestion
Wondering what foods to pair with a blood orange margarita? Serve this cocktail with happy hour appetizers like cheesy Italian arancini or chips with Southwestern avocado dip or pico de gallo.
Tools I Used
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- Cocktail Shaker Set – For mixing the margarita until chilled and frothy.
- Jigger – To measure tequila, Cointreau, and juices accurately.
- Citrus Juicer – For squeezing fresh lime and orange juice.
- Rocks Glass (or Margarita Glass) – To serve your margarita in style.
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Blood Orange Margarita
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces tequila
- 3 ounces blood orange juice
- ¾ ounce Cointreau
- ¾ ounce fresh orange juice
- 1 lime for the rim
- Kosher salt for the rim, optional
- ice for serving
- 1 blood orange slice, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Rim your glass. Add some salt to a small plate. Cut the lime into wedges and run one wedge along the rim of your glass. Invert the glass into the salt to add a salt rim.
- Add ice. Add some ice to your glass.
- Mix your margarita. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the tequila, blood orange juice, Cointreau, and fresh orange juice. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Serve. Strain the margarita into your prepared glass. Garnish with a slice of blood orange if desired, and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make a Blood Orange Margarita
If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, don’t worry. Find a large enough glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, and it’ll work just as well for making a shaken margarita.
- First, rim the glass with salt. Pour flaky salt out onto a plate. Then, slice a lime into wedges and run a wedge along the rim of your chosen glass. Gently press the rim into the salt to coat it evenly. Add ice to the glass.
- Mix the margarita. Now, add more ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour in the tequila, blood orange juice, Cointreau, and fresh orange juice. Give that a good, strong shake for about 20 seconds.
- Serve! Strain the margarita into your glass (if you don’t have a strainer for your shaker, use a fine mesh sieve). Garnish with a blood orange slice, and enjoy!
Spicy Blood Orange Margarita
To give your drink a spicy kick, add fresh jalapeño slices to the cocktail shaker when you mix your margarita. You can also add a little cayenne pepper to the salt for the rim, or use chili salt.
Can I Make This Drink Ahead of Time?
A blood orange margarita is best served freshly shaken, but yes! I’ll often make a scaled-up batch for a party using this easy make-ahead tip. Mix the margarita ingredients (without the ice), and refrigerate them in a covered pitcher or large container. When it’s time to serve, add the ice and pour the margarita into prepared glasses.
