This Cherry Margarita is light, refreshing, and so easy to make! It's made with homemade cherry syrup, which gives it a delicious, real cherry flavor. The recipe includes measurements for a pitcher and tips on how to turn it into a mocktail!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Cherry Margarita
Delicious and refreshing - The cocktail is made with all the classic ingredients, but instead of plain simple syrup, it has homemade Cherry Simple Syrup! The syrup gives it a delicious, real cherry flavor and a beautiful, vibrant red color. It's the perfect summer drink for an afternoon by the pool or BBQs!
Easy and versatile - The Classic Margarita is one of the easiest cocktails you can make, and this one is no different! The syrup can be prepared ahead of time, which keeps this cocktail under 5 minutes! The recipe card also includes an easy pitcher version and a mocktail version so that everyone can enjoy it!
Ingredients
- Tequila - You can use either Blanco tequila or Reposado tequila based on your preference. I like reposado tequila in most margaritas, and I used it in this one as well. My go-to brand is Hornitos!
- Orange liqueur - You can use any orange liqueur you have on your bar cart, but my go-to is always Cointreau. When I'm out, I also have Triple Sec as the second-best option.
- Lime juice - I always recommend using freshly squeezed lime juice whenever possible for the best flavor.
- Cherry Syrup - I make my own Cherry Syrup, but you can always use store-bought syrup in a pinch! If you're not used to making your own syrups, I highly recommend giving it a try. It's easier than you may think!
Variations and Substitutions
- Store-bought syrup - If you don't want to make your own cherry syrup, you can always use store-bought! My go-to is either Monin, or I look for small local brands with syrups made from cane sugar and no artificial flavors or colors because they always taste the best. My favorite is Prosyro from Montreal. Torani is also a popular brand.
- Fresh cherries - If you want to up the cherry flavor, you can muddle a couple of pitted cherries in your shaker or add ½-1 oz of pure cherry juice.
- Salted rim - You can brush the rim of your glass with some agave syrup or run a lime wedge around it and dip it into sea salt on a small plate. Alternatively, you can use coarse sugar instead for a sweeter cocktail!
- Mocktail version - Using zero-proof spirits that mimic the flavor of tequila and orange liqueur would be your best option to get a mocktail that's very similar to the original. Otherwise, you can add a splash of fresh orange juice with lime juice and cherry syrup. Pour the drink over ice and top with sparkling water, tonic water, or cherry-flavored sparkling water.
- Pitcher version - You can stir everything in a large pitcher instead of a shaker if you're making this margarita for a crowd. You can multiply the measurements by however many servings you need, but the exact measurements for a 10-serving pitcher are in the recipe card notes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Fill a short glass with ice and set it aside. Optionally, add a salt rim.
- Add tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and cherry simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
- Add a handful of ice to the cocktail shaker.
- Shake the cocktail vigorously for 10 seconds, until very cold.
- Strain it into your prepared glass over ice.
- Garnish with a lime slice and fresh cherries. Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks!
- Cocktail shaker - If you don't have a regular shaker, you can always use a mason jar instead! Use the flat lid to strain your cocktail.
- The better the ingredients, the better the drink - If you want your guests to really rave about your margaritas, you need to be using freshly squeezed lime juice and make your own syrup! Nothing beats the freshness and the flavor of homemade syrup.
Make-Ahead Options
Cherry syrup - If you're making your own syrup, you can make it a few days in advance, which I recommend, to save time when you're making your cocktails. It will last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, and it's freezer-friendly too!
Lime juice - If you're making more than 1-2 cocktails, I highly recommend juicing your limes in advance to save time. I like using an electric juicer for this; it gets it done faster, and it helps to get as much juice out as possible!
FAQs
Yes, with a few adjustments. You can add all your ingredients to a blender with a handful of ice, but I also recommend adding a good handful of pitted frozen cherries. This will up the cherry flavor and thicken the margarita. You may need to add more syrup because frozen drinks always taste less sweet.
Yes, you can! You can make tart cherry syrup and add a couple to your cocktail shaker to muddle if you want a more tart cocktail.
Other Margarita Flavors
If you want to try other margarita recipes, the four below are some of my favorite ones, and they're all made with homemade syrups, just like this one! I have lots of other margarita recipes to choose from so head over to Cocktails to see all the latest ones!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Have you tried this Cherry Margarita? Please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my Newsletter for a free recipe e-book and new weekly recipes straight to your inbox. Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram to always stay in the loop!
Print📖 Recipe
Cherry Margarita
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Cherry Margarita is light, refreshing, and so easy to make! It's made with homemade cherry syrup, which gives it a delicious, real cherry flavor.
Ingredients
- ice
- 1 ½ oz reposado tequila
- ½ oz Cointreau (or another orange liqueur)
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 oz cherry simple syrup
- Garnish: lime slice, fresh cherries
Instructions
- Fill a short glass with ice and set it aside.
- Add tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, cherry simple syrup, and a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Shake the cocktail vigorously for 10 seconds, until very cold.
- Strain it into your prepared glass over ice and garnish with a lime slice and fresh cherries. Enjoy!
Notes
The cocktail is best enjoyed right away. I don’t recommend storing it.
10-serving pitcher: 1 ¾ cup tequila, ½ cup + 2tbsp Cointreau, 1 ¼ cup lime juice (approx 10 limes), ½ cup simple syrup, and lots of ice. Stir everything but the ice together in a large pitcher and add some ice to cool it down or store it in the fridge. Serve over ice.
Mocktail version: Skip the tequila and Cointreau and add 2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice and top up your drink with sparkling water or tonic water.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Veronika Sykorova says
This is one of my favorite margarita flavors for late summer and I hope you like it as much as I do!