Coconut Margaritas
This is the simple Coconut Margarita recipe that you didn’t know you needed! It’s a tropical mix of tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice, cream of coconut, and toasted coconut flakes.
Table of Contents
These creamy coconut lime margaritas are infused with coconut flavor three ways. There’s lightly toasted coconut coating the rim of the glass and in the marg mixture itself, as well as cream of coconut and coconut extract.
The resulting cocktail is summertime in a glass, with zippy lime juice and orange-flavored Gran Marnier providing a nice contrast to the rich coconut flavor.
Margaritas take just 5 minutes to combine in a cocktail shaker, and you can even make a pitcher cocktail for larger crowds.
Tips to Keep in Mind
Choose quality alcohol. This is a super simple cocktail, so you want everything going into it to taste good! My go-to tequila brands are Mijenta and LALO, and instead of triple sec I much prefer using Grand Marnier in this recipe. Are you a fan of smoke? Consider swapping in your favorite Mezcal!
Don’t confuse your coconut products. This coconut margarita recipe calls for cream of coconut, NOT coconut milk or coconut cream. These three coconut-based products all have different flavors and consistencies.
Be gentle with the coconut extract. It’s incredibly potent, so 2 to 3 drops are all you need for maximum coconut flavor.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Tequila. I’m using a tequila blanco here for a clean flavor, but you can sub in reposado if that’s what you like.
- Grand Marnier. Margaritas always call for an orange liqueur or ‘triple sec.’ I find that Grand Marnier gives the best flavor, but you can also use Cointreau or a more budget-friendly generic triple sec.
- Fresh lime juice. Fresh lime juice is a MUST. Please don’t buy those little green bottles shaped like limes. Buy fresh lime juice, or buy some limes and juice them yourself!
- Cream of coconut. Cream of coconut is a cocktail syrup with a similar consistency to sweetened condensed milk. You will find cream of coconut in the cocktail mixer aisle and it’s sold in a squeeze bottle for convenient storage. A popular brand, and the one I use, is Coco Lopez.
- Unsweetened shredded coconut. We toast our own coconut around here! I like adding a bit of toasted coconut to the drink, as well as making a coating for the rim of the drink.
- Coconut extract. This is a totally optional ingredient, but I find a couple of drops of coconut extract really ramps up the flavor.
Tools Needed
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Coconut Margaritas
Detailed instructions for making these coconut margs can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post, but let’s go over the key recipe steps so you know what to expect.
- Toast the coconut. Toasting the coconut really deepens its flavor. The easiest way to brown the coconut flakes is in the oven; watch it closely, because it can go from golden brown to burnt in seconds.
- Rim the glasses. I like to blitz the toasted coconut in my food processor to make it easier to rim the glasses. Once that’s done, the coconut is mixed with a little sugar and Tajin. Running a lime wedge around your rocks glasses helps the coconut mixture stick to the rim.
- Make the margaritas. Bust out your jigger and cocktail shaker to make the margaritas in 5 minutes flat. The cocktail ingredients are shaken with ice and strained into the rimmed glasses.
Having a Party? Make Coconut Margaritas in a Pitcher!
If you’re serving a crowd, it’s so easy to make a large batch of coconut margaritas. Less time spent making drinks, more time spent enjoying them with friends and family!
To make 8 to 10 servings, combine the following in a pitcher:
- 2 cups Tequila
- 1 cup Grand Marnier (or Cointreau/Triple Sec)
- 12 oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 cup (8 oz) Cream of Coconut
- 1/4 cup toasted coconut bits
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract (optional)
Jenny’s Tip: Never add ice to the pitcher! This dilutes the drink. Stir the drink well until creamy in appearance and pour over ice in a rocks glass. Salúd!
Recipe FAQs
Can I make my own cream of coconut?
Yes! Combine 1 cup of coconut cream, 1 cup of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and gently simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature and transfer to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.
How long will margaritas keep in the refrigerator?
As long as they’re kept cold and you don’t dilute the mixture with any ice, you can store margaritas for up to 2 days in the fridge.
I don’t like tequila. Can I substitute another alcohol?
Margaritas are inherently made with tequila. That being said, white rum would taste great here but it’s no longer a margarita. You could also swap in mezcal for a smokier flavor.
How many margaritas will a bottle of tequila make?
If you’re using a standard 750ml bottle of tequila and using this recipe, a bottle of tequila will make about 12.5 margaritas.
More Unique Margaritas to Make
This post contains affiliate links from which I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links allow me to keep providing great recipes for free and I never recommend products that I don’t love and personally own.
Coconut Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
For the Rim:
- 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
- 2 teaspoons tajin
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
For the Coconut Margaritas:
- 2 oz Tequila
- 1 oz Grand Marnier
- 1 1/2 oz Lime Juice
- 2 teaspoons toasted coconut bits
- 1 oz Cream of Coconut
- 2-3 drops coconut extract optional
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the coconut out in an even layer on a small baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Cool and then blitz in a food processor, or finely chop with a knife into small bits.
- To make the rim coating: Combine 1/4 cup coconut bits with the tajin and sugar. Mix well and pour into a shallow plate.
- Using a lime wedge, coat the rim of a glass with lime juice and dip the glass in the toasted coconut mixture, and set aside.
- To make the coconut margaritas: In a cocktail shaker combine the tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, cream of coconut, toasted coconut bits, and coconut extract. Add a few ice cubes, top the shaker with the lid, and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
- Add ice to the prepared glass and strain the contents of the cocktail shaker into the glass. Enjoy!
Rate & Review This Recipe