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🍍Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Pineapple Margarita
This pineapple margarita recipe comes together in minutes and is full of refreshing pineapple flavor. Perfect for a last minute Cinco de Mayo sip.
Cinco de Mayo is this weekend and I’m all for an excuse to make one of my favorite cocktails: pineapple margaritas. With only a few simple ingredients, you can mix, shake and pour your way to one of the most refreshing drinks out there.
I love serving this drink with a classic tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole combo. Or - even better - in the summer months when there are a lot of green tomatoes on the vine, these margaritas are ahmazing with fried green tomatoes.
If you’re looking for a last-minute, low-effort, yet totally satisfying sip, give this cocktail a whirl.
In fact, there are actually THREE excellent excuses to make a margarita this weekend:
May the 4th be with you.
Revenge of the 5th.
Cinco de Mayo!
Consider this your sign from the universe and/or a galaxy far far away.
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Why You’ll Love a Pineapple Margarita
Easy. One of the best things about margaritas is how easy they are to make. All you have to do is add your ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, give everything a vigorous shake, then pour into your glasses. The salt rim is an optional but tasty addition (check out the variations ideas below too).
Delicious. This is a citrusy margarita with a tropical flair thanks to fresh lime juice, pineapple juice and pineapple wedges.
Refreshing. If you love kicking back on a hot day with a cold cocktail, this drink is calling your name. It’s easy, thirst-quenching and full of pineapple flavor.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need to make this pineapple margarita. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list of ingredients.
Tequila blanco or reposado – If I had to choose, reposado would be my preference, but both work. What’s the difference? Tequila blanco has notes of agave, citrus and pepper while reposado is an oak-aged tequila with notes of vanilla and caramel.
Pineapple juice - You can usually find this bottled at the grocery store.
Pro Tip: Mango and peach nectar also work. 5 stars. Highly recommend.
Cointreau - This is a kind of orange-flavored liqueur.
Fresh lime juice – I don’t recommend using bottled lime juice for cocktails, the flavor just isn’t the same.
Kosher salt – For the rim.
Ice – For serving. Crushed or cubed ice both work.
Pineapple wedges – For garnish.
Tips for Success
Use fresh lime juice. It is worth getting a fresh lime and juicing it for this recipe. Bottled lime juice may be easier, but it doesn’t taste as bright and citrusy.
Get creative with the rim. Adding a rim to your margarita is optional, but I do think it gives extra flavor and flair to your drink. You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the salt before rimming your glass for a spicy kick! Or, if you have more of a sweet tooth, you can also replace the salt with an equal amount of granulated sugar.
Want to add spice? In addition to adding a pinch of cayenne to your rim (see the previous tip) you can also add a few slices of fresh jalapeño pepper to your shaker. It will add a spicy element to your drink.
Prefer a frozen margarita? If you want to make a frozen variation, simply add all the liquid ingredients to a high powered blender along with a handful of ice. Blend until smooth, then serve.
Enjoy friends!
More Cinco De Mayo Recipes:
Pineapple Margarita
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes
Yield: 1 margarita
Ingredients
1 ounce tequila blanco or reposado (2 tablespoons)
3 ounces pineapple juice (6 tablespoons)
¾ ounce Cointreau (1 1/2 tablespoons)
½ ounce fresh lime juice from 1 lime (1 tablespoon)
Kosher salt, for the rim
Ice, for serving
Pineapple wedge, for garnish
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. You'll use the rest of the lime wedges to squeeze the lime juice.
Add ice. Add some ice to your glass.
Mix your margarita. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the tequila, pineapple juice, Cointreau and fresh lime juice. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
Serve. Strain the margarita into your prepared glass. Garnish with a thin pineapple wedge.
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Gotta love a beautiful cocktail! 🍹