Fresh Raspberry Orange Margarita

Pink, fruity, fresh and very smooth! Whether it’s for Cinco de Mayo, Valentine’s Day, a summer cookout, or just a day ending in Y, it’s the perfect time to pull out your shaker and make this raspberry orange margarita!

Hello, all!

Margaritas are one of our absolute favorite summertime drinks. When we go down to visit my parents in Florida every spring, our big thing for the first evening is to have margaritas to celebrate warmth and vacation. My parents even get it all organized before we arrive so they can put a drink in our hands once we’ve set down our luggage.

What can I say? I have great parents! 🙂

I was thinking about those Florida fun times the other day and wishing I was warm (hi polar vortex!), when I had a flash of ‘ooooh, how about a pink Valentine’s margarita? Something fruity, a bit sweet, definitely pink, fun to drink, and would be awesome for all sorts of occasions?!

Husband, was (as usual) fully on board with a recipe test. So I pulled out my shaker, made up some raspberry syrup, juiced some citrus and presented us both with a fruity cocktail. One sip, then I wrote it all down, and here we are!

What do you need?

• Raspberries/Sugar – Equal amounts of each to make the syrup.
• Lime – One juicy lime for two drinks.
• Orange – Same. One for two!
• Tequila/Liqueur – Read below for more on the tequila and use your favorite orange liqueur.

How to make this

To make a raspberry orange margarita, combine raspberry syrup with orange juice, lime juice, tequila, and orange liqueur. Shake well with ice and serve over the rocks in sugar rimmed glasses.

1. Make the syrup by combining sugar with raspberries and bringing to a simmer.
2. Juice a lime and an orange.
3. Combine the syrup, juice, tequila, and liqueur with ice in a shaker.
4. Shake well and divide between two sugar rimmed glasses.

1. Make the Syrup

Instead of the standard simple syrup you would usually make for drinks, this drink uses a raspberry version.

But it’s also simple! I use a 1:1 ratio by weight of raspberries and sugar. No extra water needed.

Get the raspberries cooking first to break them down and let their juices out, then add sugar and gently cook until all the sugar is dissolved. Once you are done, strain it to get rid of the seeds and then use as needed.

Oh, and you don’t need to spend money on fresh berries (which can be quite pricey when they are out of season!) since frozen berries work great. In fact, they may be better since the freezing process breaks them down before you even begin. Also, they can sit in your freezer until you are ready to make syrup. win/win/win Three wins!

2. Make the drink

Once you have the syrup, the rest is quite straightforward.

One lime, one orange, syrup, tequila, and orange liqueur. Everything into a shaker with ice. Shake-shake and you’re done! Pour the cocktails into two ice filled glasses, with sugar rims if you want, and relax. Garnishes are fun, but completely optional!

Tip: I used Cara Cara oranges, which are my favorites, both for the pretty garnishes and for the flavor of the juice.

Extra tip: The flesh of Cara Caras is reddish orange, but the juice is orange (just like a navel) so don’t be surprised at the orange juice from the pink fruit!

Cocktail Shaker

Need a cocktail shaker? I love using a glass shaker with a metal top.

Not only can I see what’s in there, but I never have to worry about the top and bottom sticking together from the cold!

I have a glass shaker from Sur La Table. There are similar ones on Amazon. And you may see them at kitchen stores when you’re out.

How about glasses? I’m looking at these awesome stemless margarita glasses. I think they would be perfect for my next margarita!

Best tequila?

First of all, you will want to use a 100% agave tequila.

Pure agave tequilas differ from other tequilas, called mixtos, by only being made from blue agave instead of a mixture of agave and sugar syrup. Hold out for the real deal and you’ll be much happier with the flavor. And mixtos cost about the same as an inexpensive 100% agave tequila, so your pocketbook will be fine too.

Second, look for a blanco tequila.

Blancos are unaged and clear in color, giving them a clean flavor which pairs well with the other flavors in the margarita and stands up to the acidity of the limes. If you happen to have an aged tequila, like an amber colored reposado, don’t sweat it – it will be lovely in the drink. But some of its subtlety will be lost in all the strong flavors.

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If you try my recipe for Raspberry Orange Margaritas, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.

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– Happy Drinking, Annemarie