Frozen Strawberry Margarita
Frozen Strawberry Margarita
Four ingredients, one blender and five minutes. Frozen strawberries stand in for the ice, so there is no washing, hulling or chopping before you blend.
About the Frozen Strawberry Margarita
The Frozen Strawberry Margarita takes the classic Margarita and puts it in a blender with a bag of frozen strawberries. The berries do the job of the ice, so the drink comes out thick, slushy and bright pink.
It uses four ingredients: frozen strawberries, fresh lime juice, white tequila and an orange liqueur. Cointreau or a basic triple sec both work. Most classic margarita recipes include one of them, and it adds a rounded citrus note that lime juice alone does not.
The closest relative is the strawberry Daiquiri. The method is the same and the main difference is the spirit: tequila here, rum there. Sweetness comes from the berries and the liqueur, with a little simple syrup available if your strawberries are tart.
The Classic Recipe
Frozen Strawberry Margarita — Serves 2 large drinks
- 1 16-oz (450 g) bag frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lime juice (about 2 large limes)
- 4 oz (120 ml) white tequila
- 2 oz (60 ml) orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
- Lime wheels and whole fresh strawberries, to garnish
- Optional: ice or water, to adjust the consistency after blending
- Optional: coarse sugar and lime wedges, to coat the glass rim
Method
- Place half the frozen strawberries into a high-powered blender. Add the lime juice, tequila and orange liqueur. Cover and blend on the highest setting until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove the vent cap on the blender lid and add the remaining strawberries one at a time while the blender is running. Keep blending until the mixture is completely smooth. For a thicker margarita, add some ice. For a thinner one, add a little water.
- Pour into serving glasses and garnish with lime wheels or fresh strawberries right before serving.
Tips for the Best Frozen Strawberry Margarita
- Blend in two stages. Blend the liquids with half the strawberries until smooth, then feed in the rest through the vent. This stops large chunks getting trapped at the bottom.
- Pick a blanco tequila. Its clean, crisp flavour lets the strawberry come through. Look for 100% agave on the label, since mixto tequilas can be made with other sugars and taste harsher.
- Add sweetness slowly. If your berries are tart, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of simple syrup a little at a time rather than all at once.
- Chill the glasses. Freeze them for 15 minutes before serving for an extra-cold drink.
- Make it fruitier. Add more strawberries to the blender. Banana, blueberry, mango, peach, pineapple and raspberry also pair well if you want a custom version.
Popular Variations
Fresh Strawberry
Use 2 cups of hulled, halved fresh strawberries in place of the frozen bag, and add 1 cup of ice to get the frozen texture. Taste first and add simple syrup if needed, as fresh berries vary in sweetness.
Smoky Mezcal Twist
Replace half the tequila with mezcal for a smoky, more grown-up version.
Lighter Version
Cut the tequila to 2 oz (60 ml) and the orange liqueur to 1 oz (30 ml) for the whole batch. Another option is replacing half the tequila with fresh orange juice.
Strawberry Mocktail
Blend one 16-oz bag of frozen strawberries with ⅓ cup fresh orange juice, ⅓ cup fresh lime juice, ⅓ cup water and 1 to 2 tablespoons simple syrup. Prepare the same way as the cocktail.
How to Serve
Glass: A margarita glass or any wide glass works. For a sugar rim, rub a lime wedge around the edge and dip it in coarse sugar. Garnish with lime wheels or a fresh strawberry just before serving.
Ice: None in the glass. The frozen berries provide the chill. Add a few ice cubes to the blender for a thicker drink or a splash of water for a thinner one.
Batching for a crowd: The recipe makes two large drinks. Double or triple it for a party, but blend in batches, because an overfull blender gives an uneven texture.
Make ahead: Freeze the blended mixture in an airtight plastic container for up to 2 weeks, or pour it into ice cube trays for single servings. Re-blend or stir before serving. Blend 4 to 5 cubes with a splash of lime juice for one drink. Avoid glass containers, which can crack in the freezer.
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