Whether you’re looking for a festive fall drink or just want to switch up your usual margarita recipe, this apple cider margarita is sure to fit the bill. Made with fresh apple cider, tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur, this cocktail is a delicious and unique twist on the classic margarita. Whip up two cocktails at a time or mix up a large pitcher for get-togethers. Either way, these will be a hit!
Ingredients in Apple Cider Margarita
- Apple Cider: for the best flavor, use fresh apple cider when it’s in season and easy to find. If you’re making this recipe outside of fall, it may be harder to find apple cider. In that case, seek out the highest quality, least-processed apple juice you can find. Use any leftover apple cider to make our Red Wine Apple Cider Sangria or Apple Cider Rum Cocktail!
- Tequila: we like to use tequila blanco in this apple cider margarita. It’s clean and smooth in flavor and allows the apple cider to take center stage. For a cozier, deeper-flavored margarita use Reposado tequila.
- Fresh lime: fresh citrus juice is key to a good margarita! To get the most out of your limes, look for limes that have a smooth skin and are slightly soft when squeezed.
- Orange Liqueur: orange liqueur is a class margarita ingredient. If you want the cocktail to be more citrus-forward, use Cointreau. For a drink that’s slightly cozier and more nuanced, use Grand Marnier.
What’s the Difference Between Apple Cider and Apple Juice?
Apple cider is a seasonal drink made from fresh pressed apples. To maintain the flavor, apple cider is unfiltered and generally unpasteurized. Because it’s unpasteurized, it doesn’t have a long shelf life, making it very seasonal to fall.
Apple juice is both filtered and pasteurized, giving it a much longer shelf life than apple cider. The filtration also tends to make it smoother and more sweet.
What Type of Apple Cider to Use?
First and foremost, use what you can find! In the autumn months, seek out local fresh apple cider for the best flavor.
If you’re making this outside of fall feel free to use a high-quality apple juice. Just make sure the only ingredient is apples.
Avoid using any apple cider with added flavors or any apple juice made other fruit juices.
How to Make a Margarita with Apple Cider
One of the reasons this is such a hit with friends and family is that this cocktail feels very unique and festive but is just as easy to make as a regular margarita.
To balance the added sweetness and juice from the addition of apple cider, we up the amount of tequila by half an ounce per cocktail. We also skip any additional sweetener (agave) and decrease the orange liqueur a touch.
With those small changes in mind, everything else is simple. Add to a cocktail with ice, shake, strain and enjoy!
How to Make a Pitcher of Cider Margs
- In a large pitcher, combine 24 ounces apple cider, 16 ounces tequila, 8 ounces lime juice and 4 ounces orange liqueur.
- Add ½ cup ice and stir until completely dissolved.
- Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Serve over ice in rocks glasses rimmed with spiced salt.
- Garnish with apple slices and enjoy.
What to Serve with Apple Cider Margaritas
Serve a robust chip and dip spread including our go-to Guacamole Recipe, Fresh Tomato-Chipotle Salsa, and Salsa Verde.
Make any one of our incredible taco recipes. We love to pair these margaritas with our Blackened Fish Tacos, Grilled Steak Tacos or Tacos Gobernador.
Our Albóndigas Soup is a must-try and perfect for cozier weather.
More Margarita Recipes to Try
One of our favorite margaritas is this Italian Margarita. It’s made with a trio of citrus juices and a splash of amaretto. It’s deliciously addictive for sure!
For another cozy-weather margarita, try our popular Spiced Pear Margarita. She’s and absolute show-stopper.
In the summer, whip up our Maíz Tierno or Sweet Corn Margarita.
And in the spring, Carrot Margaritas are on the docket! Or use late-spring rhubarb to make our Rhubarb Margaritas!
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FAQ
As we always say, the “best” tequila to use is one you enjoy. For this cocktail we like to use tequila blanco and our go-to tequila is either Cazadores or Don Julio.
If you’re making this outside of fall feel and can’t find fresh apple cider, you can use a high-quality apple juice. Just make sure the only ingredient is apples.
Apple Cider Margarita Recipe
Description
Ingredients
For 2 Cocktails
- 6 ounces apple cider
- 4 ounces tequila blanco
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 1 ounces orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
- Flaky sea salt (or sugar) and apple pie spice, for rim
For Pitcher of Cocktails (8 servings)
- 24 ounces (3 cups) apple cider
- 16 ounces (2 cups) tequila blanco
- 8 ounces (1 cup) lime juice
- 4 ounces (½ cup) orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
Instructions
Rim Glasses
- In a shallow bowl, mix together a bit of salt (or sugar) and a pinch of apple pie spice.
- Run a lime wedge around rims of glasses then dip in salt-spice mixture.
- Fill glasses with ice.
Two Apple Cider Margaritas
- Add 6 ounces apple cider, 4 ounces tequila, 2 ounces lime juice and 1 ounce orange liqueur to a shaker filled with ice.
- Secure lid and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds.
- Strain cocktail into two rocks glasses filled with ice.
- Garnish with apple slices and serve.
Pitcher of Margaritas
- In a large pitcher, combine 24 ounces apple cider, 16 ounces tequila, 8 ounces lime juice and 4 ounces orange liqueur.
- Add ½ cup ice and stir until completely dissolved.
- Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Serve over ice in rocks glasses rimmed with spiced salt. Garnish with apple slices and enjoy.
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Notes
Nutrition
Can orange juice be used instead of orange liquer?
Absolutely! The cocktail will be less boozy and slightly more cloudy—but still delicious!
This was great for a group! The only addition I made was a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg in the pitcher but the proportions were all perfect, and my whole group loved it!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this! Great idea to add a pinch of spices.
I think this recipe is a fun starting point but it wasn’t quite right as written for me. After mixing I tinkered a bit with the proportions and, as another reviewer suggested, mixed in cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom to up the ante. I think next time I might adjust me tequila to orange liqueur ratio to bring forward a bit more flavor.