Come meet your new favorite Homemade Margarita Mix recipe. (2024)

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Housewife How-Tos

This Margarita Mix is Entirely from Scratch

In my quest for the perfect recipe, I started just as you’re doing: looking up margarita mixes in the hope of finding one I had all the ingredients for. (Spoiler alert: unless you live in a citrus orchard, there’s a shopping trip in your near future.)

Most of the ones I found started with a commercial mix then tweaked them by adding extra citrus. No thanks. Other recipes used key limes, which are beautifully tart but not available year-round. Plus, they’re pricier. So, I tinkered until I came up with my own.

Did You Know?

Carlos “Danny” Herrera claimed to have invented the original margarita mix in 1938 for Marjorie King, a Ziegfeld showgirl. He even insisted that his obituary had to include this story. But there’s no proof to back him up.

Yes, You Need Fresh Citrus

Bottled juices are not a good substitute in my homemade margarita mix recipe. They don’t have the brightness and depth of flavor that freshly-squeezed juice does. So, break out the electric juicer or use a potato ricer, or just give it some good ol’ elbow grease. If you go with the bottled juice, don’t blame me if the result doesn’t knock your socks off.

Homemade Margarita Mix

Perfectly paired citrus and sugar create a balanced sweet and tart all-natural margarita mix.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 7 servings

Calories: 96kcal

Author: Katie Berry

Equipment

Juicer or citrus squeezer
Saucepan
Mixing spoon

Ingredients
US Customary or Metric

½ cup sugar
½ cup water
2 cups lime juice freshly-squeezed
1 cup lemon juice freshly-squeezed
1 cup orange juice freshly-squeezed (optional but adds great flavor)

Instructions

Make simple syrup

In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Make the mix

Combine the simple syrup with the remaining ingredients. Shake or stir well. Store in a non-reactive container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or the freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Did you try this?Leave a comment and tell me how it went!

Did You Know?

The most likely origin of the margarita ironically has roots in Prohibition when thirsty Americans would travel to Tijuana to imbibe. A racetrack bar named Agua Caliente (translation: hot water) served a drink called the Tequila Daisy which featured tequila, citrus juice, and orange liqueur. And guess what the Spanish word for “daisy” is? Margarita.

Pair it With

What’s a co*cktail without some nibbles? Here are some of my other recipes that I love making for guests when we’re sitting down to enjoy homemade margaritas.

Homemade Pita Chips
Bacon Garlic Cheddar Crackers
Homemade Marinated Artichoke Hearts

My Margarita Recipe

Now, I know what you’re thinking: how do I turn this homemade margarita mix into an actual co*cktail? Relax.

Prep the glasses: Dip the rim of two margarita glasses in water then dip the wet rims into a bowl of margarita salt. Turn the glasses upright and hang a slice off the rim. Fill with your preferred style of margarita:
Frozen Margarita Recipe: In a blender, combine 6ounces ofhomemade margarita mix, 1 ounce of tequila, 1 tablespoon of Cointreau and 2 cups of ice.
Margarita on the Rocks Recipe: Fill a margarita glass with ice. To a co*cktail shaker, add 6ounces ofhomemade margarita mix, 1 ounce of tequila, 1 tablespoon of Cointreau and 1 cup of ice. Shake vigorously for 60 seconds and strain into the glass.

So, the question is really whether you prefer your margarita frozen or on the rocks? Let me know in the comments how you like my homemade mix!

Katie Berry

Cleaning Expert, Author

Katie Berry's cleaning advice has been featured by MarthaStewart.com, HGTV Magazine, and RealSimple and more. She is a Cleaning Editorial Review Board member at The Spruce, and the author of "30 Days to a Clean and Organized House". She founded HousewifeHowTos.com in 2011 and has helped millions of people by sharing her practical and effective cleaning methods.

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Yummy! I wish I had some right now 🙂
Reply
Sounds great! You really have to be careful with most store-bought mixes, they’re full of all the things that we don’t really want to eat (or drink), right? Plus, usually the homemade stuff is waaay better.
Reply
Hi Katie,
Yes, you’re right about the stuff in store bought mix.
Next time you have problems with checking out the taste, just give me a call and I hop over haha.
Maybe you want to try Triplesec in stead of Cointreau.
That is soooo good.
Thanks.
Louise van der Marel
Reply
1. Actually if you use about 2 oz. Of the Cointreau plus 1 oz. Of the triple sec you will have a margarita to die for. Matter of fact I’m headed to the store to get the ingredients for this margarita mix and I’ll take one for the team tonight.
2. You’re a giver! How’d your margaritas turn out? I’m going to try your margarita recipe this weekend. Thank you!
Great mix! Just a little trick, put a little tequila on the rim of the glass instead of water and the salt sticks better!
Reply
1. Hi Dena,
  What a great idea. Thank you!
Try it with Blanc de Blancs Brut Zero sparkling wine. I had a few at Treveri Winery. Oh my gosh. So good.
Reply
1. Sounds yummy!
I’m going to attempt making this mix, but instead of the OJ, I think I’ll try Cranberry juice….just to stir things up a bit! *a little pun intended!*
Reply
1. Hey, that sounds great! Enjoy!!!
That’s brilliant! Great recipe too, thank you!
Reply
1. You’re welcome!
Can I use tangerines or blood oranges instead of oranges?
Reply
1. I haven’t tried using those, so I couldn’t say. It sounds delicious! If you try them, please let me know how it turns out.

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