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 margaritas 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 a lime and an orange and presented us both with a raspberry orange margarita. One sip, then I wrote it all down, and here we are!
When to enjoy this fruity pink margarita?
- Valentine’s Day
- Cinco de Mayo
- Taco Night
- Girl’s Night
- Guy’s Night
- Any Night You Want a Fun Drink!
How do you make a raspberry orange margarita?
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.
- Make a raspberry syrup by combining sugar with raspberries and bringing to a simmer.
- Juice a lime and an orange.
- Combine the syrup, juice, tequila, and orange liqueur with ice in a shaker.
- Shake well and divide between two sugar rimmed glasses.
Make the Raspberry Syrup
Instead of the standard simple syrup you would usually make for drinks, this margarita uses a raspberry syrup.
But it’s also simple! I use a 1:1 ratio by weight of the raspberries and the sugar. No extra water needed.
Get the raspberries cooking first to break them down and let their juices out, then add the sugar and gently cook until all the sugar is dissolved. Once you have the syrup, strain it to get rid of the seeds and then use it 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 down the berries already and then you’re just warming them up before adding the sugar. Also, they can sit in your freezer until you are ready to make syrup. win/win/win Three wins!
Make the raspberry orange margarita
Once you have the syrup, making the drink is quite straightforward.
One lime, one orange, the syrup, tequila, and orange liqueur. Everything into a shaker with ice. Shake-shake and you’re done! Pour the drinks 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 Cara oranges is reddish orange, but the juice is orange (just like a navel orange) 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 of the shaker sticking together from the cold!
I have a glass shaker from Sur La Table. There are similar glass shakers 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!
Margarita Ideas
Here are another couple fresh ideas for margaritas!
What is the best tequila for margaritas?
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.
Blanco tequilas 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 a reposado tequila which is amber colored, don’t sweat it – it will be lovely in the margarita. But some of its subtlety will be lost in all the strong flavors of the drink.
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.
You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.
– Happy Drinking, Annemarie
Fresh Raspberry Orange Margarita
Ingredients
Raspberry Orange Margarita
- 1 oz raspberry syrup
- 1 lime
- 1 medium orange
- 3 oz tequila
- 1/2 oz orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier
- ice
- coarse sugar to rim the glasses
Raspberry Syrup
- 6 oz raspberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
Raspberry Orange Margarita
- Mix together the raspberry syrup, juice of the lime, and juice of orange in a cocktail shaker.
- Add the tequila, orange liqueur, and ice. Shake well.
- Pour coarse sugar onto a plate. Rub the rims of the glasses with one of the squeezed lime halves. Coat the rim of the glasses in the sugar.
- Fill each glass with ice, then pour the margarita equally between the glasses.
Raspberry Syrup
- Gently heat the raspberries in a saucepan until they begin to break down. Add the sugar and continue heating until the sugar has fully melted and the raspberries have broken down into syrup.
- Strain the syrup. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to one week.
Dana says
This is a damn pretty margarita! And I love the blend of raspberry and orange in there. I’m pinning and saving this for the summer. It can be my post-labor celebration drink. Haha 😉
Traci says
Oh yeah! The timing of this cocktail is perfect! It’s orange season here in Northern California and I’m picking them from the tree…blood oranges even. I love the flavor combo of raspberry and orange margarita. Just YUM! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Tracy says
Haha lucky husband!! I absolutely LOVE the color of this margarita! SO festive and also just super fun for a Wednesday night 😉
Annissa says
What a perfect Valentine’s Day splurge! I love that you make your own raspberry syrup for this. Real ingredients and real flavor! Thanks for the information on tequila. I didn’t know some of them weren’t made with pure agave. I’ll have to be more careful next time I buy a bottle.
Donna says
Well don’t you have the perfect parents! I am going to have to pass on that info to mine for next time I come visit 🙂 This cocktail is amazing, such great flavors!! I can’t get over that fresh raspberry syrup, all kinds of yum going on there!
Debra says
Such a fun idea for Valentines Day. You’ve inspired me to invite some friends over and serve these. I buy Cara Cara by the bagful so I”ll be ready!
Carmy says
Your parents sound like my kind of people! How do I visit them? Haha. The raspberry flavour of this drink compliments the orange flavour so well, I can’t wait to combine them for this drink. It’s definitely something for Valentine’s this year!
Sean@Diversivore says
I adore the combination of raspberry and citrus. Something about that tight, puckering acidity that you get with citrus is a perfect foil to the floral sweetness of raspberries. Both fruits have a nice sour punch that I feel really works well in a margarita (I don’t like when a cocktail gets too sweet, and much prefer a more acidic/sour hit of flavour). These would definitely work on any day of the week ending in Y. Cheers!
Marisa Franca says
What a great flavor combination. I’ve never had raspberry orange Margherita. Sounds so refreshing plus unusual. Would be fantastic for a patio party this summer. I’m pinning this. I’m already thinking of the theme and colors. Thank you.
Lisa says
I like your parents. They actually sound like my parents — who live in Key Largo and always welcome us with an icy cocktail upon arrival — and then later when we’re floating around the pool… I think your raspberry orange margarita would be welcome in both situations — or like you said, for any day ending in “Y”. Cara cara are one of my favorite oranges and they’re in peak season right now. I’ll definitely pick up a bag next time I’m at the store. Thank you for the recipe (and inspiration).
Gloria says
What a wonderful drink to serve on Mexican night. Love the colour and the flavour profile. I would mix this up by the pitcher full and let the guests help themselves. A hit for sure.