Classic Frozen Margarita Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a frozen margarita and a classic margarita? ›

A frozen Margarita is only slightly different than a classic Margarita. A frozen Margarita contains tequila (or mezcal), freshly squeezed lime juice, triple sec liqueur, an optional sweetener (more about that in a minute), and about a cup of ice. That's considerably more ice/water than we'd find in a standard marg.

We'll just tell you upfront: The secret to a tasty margarita is freshly squeezed lime juice (not the bottled stuff) and—here's the real secret—a splash of fresh OJ. That's right. Fresh-squeezed juice from an actual orange (not an orange-flavored liqueur) will produce a cleaner-tasting, more refreshing margarita.

— The ratio for frozen margaritas. The ratio is easy to remember: 1 part simple syrup: 2 parts triple sec: 4 parts tequila: 4 parts lime juice. Cover with twice the amount of ice, and you're ready to get blending.

One Margarita is about 1.5 standard drinks.

You can substitute triple sec for Cointreau in drinks like cosmopolitans, margaritas, kamikazes, long island iced tea, and sidecars. In baked goods, triple sec can be used in place of Cointreau. Triple sec is also an excellent substitution for any dessert that calls for Cointreau.

The lime juice needs to be fresh; the tequila, while no need for it to be from the tippy toppest shelf, should be of good quality so that it's smooth, not harsh; and the triple sec should be balanced and smooth—Cointreau is the traditional choice, and a good one.

Triple sec, a term used interchangeably with curaçao, is a type of orange liqueur that provides fruity flavors as well as sweet and bitter notes — all of which are essential for a well-made Margarita. Popular labels include Cointreau, Combier, Pierre Ferrand Curaçao, and Grand Marnier.

You'll notice that this particular margarita recipe is missing one ingredient that's crucial to a classic margarita. Orange liqueur (often Cointreau or another triple sec) typically brings sweetness to this drink, balancing the tart lime and tequila.

The "Original Margarita" recipe, as given by Cointreau on their website, has slightly more of their own sweet liqueur: 1 part white tequila, 1⁄2 part Cointreau, and 1⁄2 part fresh squeezed lime juice.

Why are frozen margaritas better? ›

Frozen Margaritas Have More Texture

These tiny beads of ice don't just make your drink as cold as possible, they also add a nice bit of texture that many drinks lack. This lets you drink it slowly through a straw or quickly from the rim of the glass.

Xanthan gum, this is an emulsifier and stabilizer. It's what the big coffee chains use in their frozen drinks to keep them from separating as they melt. I usually use 1/8th of a tsp but you can go up to 1/4tsp. Add this in your dry blend 4.

You shouldn't get drunk from one margarita. It will contain about 1–1.5 oz of alcohol. This will raise your Blood Alcohol and you will probably feel a little relaxed, but you won't be inebriated on just one.

Approximately 20% of alcohol is absorbed through the stomach and most of the remaining 80% is absorbed through the small intestine. Alcohol is metabolized by the liver, where enzymes break down the alcohol.

WHY IS MY FROZEN DRINK SEPARATING? As the ice melts, the heavier, denser ingredients in frozen drinks will follow the laws of gravity and sink to the bottom of the glass—or separate. You can help slow this process by thoroughly blending ingredients into a uniform mixture with small ice crystals.

The type of orange liqueur used: Triple sec contains fewer calories and less alcohol than other types of orange liqueur. Whether the margarita is frozen or on the rocks: A frozen margarita contains more calories and alcohol than a non-frozen margarita.

Tequila isn't pure ethanol, but it won't freeze in commercial freezers, so as soon as it hits the ice, it will start to melt it. Many bartenders try to keep the total alcohol by volume in a frozen drink to about 10 percent because the higher the alcohol content, the faster the ice will melt.

Part of the 'sour' co*cktail family, the Margarita traditionally consists of three ingredients; tequila, triple sec orange liqueur and lime juice, often served in a glass with salt on the rim.

If you want to know how many calories are in the different versions of the margarita, here is the caloric load of a 4-ounce cup: Frozen Margarita: 248 calories. Margarita on the Rocks: 241 calories. Strawberry Margarita: 275 calories.