Frozen apple cider margaritas, sweetened slightly with honey are cold, frosty and the perfect drink to ease slowing into cooler fall weather. This recipe is the ultimate fall margarita!
Frozen Honey Apple Cider Margaritas
Margaritas deserve a place at the table year round in our house however this year I wanted to find a way to bring in fall flavors in a refreshing way. You might remember my Pumpkin Spice Margarita made it's debut here a few falls ago and this Apples and Tequila drink has been a longtime favorite.
This frozen apple cider margarita has a delicious smooth slushy consistency thanks to the frozen cider and just the right amount of floral sweetness from the honey while still showcasing the Reposado Tequila nicely.
Late summer and early fall in Southern California is brutally hot. It's quite hard to get into the fall spirit when the temperatures are in the hundreds...which is why this frozen apple cider margarita really hits the spot!
Between this margarita and spiced cranberry apple martinis, it doesn't get much more light and refreshing than this.
Ingredients in an Apple Cider Margarita
- Apple Cider - a good unfiltered apple cider.
- Tequila - I recommend using a 100% agave Reposado Tequila because it has the best flavor for this drink.
- Cointreau - I don't recommend any other orange Liqueur. Cointreau gives the most delicious subtle orange citrus note to this margarita without tasting artificial.
- Honey - raw honey is delicious or any honey that has a good strong taste to it.
- Lemon - you can also use lime juice but just a bit of lemon juice helps brighten the apple flavor.
The key to making these margaritas is really the frozen apple cider. The consistency you get from blending frozen juice instead of ice is so much more smooth and velvety. Because there is no actual ice in this blended drink, it is more flavorful too. In all the ways, this step is essential.
Apple Cider Ice Cubes
To make the frozen cider ice cubes, fill ice cube trays with three cups of cider and freeze overnight until solid. This took two standard sized ice cube trays.
How to Make a Frozen Apple Cider Margarita
- Prep - freeze apple cider in ice cube trays the night before you plan to make this drink.
- Blend - combine frozen cider, tequila, Cointreau, honey and lemon juice in a blender and blend until smooth and frosty.
- Serve - serve in margarita glasses rimmed with coarse salt and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. Garnish with a few thin apple slices and a sprig of fresh thyme. Serve immediately!
How to Prep this Drink Ahead of Time:
Blend the entire pitcher of margaritas, pour into a tupperware with a tight fitting lid, and freeze. The mixture will be soft frozen, like a sorbet due to the alcohol, and will be the perfect consistency to blend up anytime you want to make these margaritas. Just scoop the frozen mixture into your blender and give a few pulses.
Tips:
- Use a high quality 100% pure agave Reposado tequila. The smooth quality and taste of a premium tequila will make all the difference in this drink. Same goes for using a high quality liqueur like Cointreau.
- Frozen Cider cubes are a MUST. Using cider and regular ice cubes will dilute the drink, change the quality of flavor and result in a more icy consistency.
- Don't skip the fresh lemon juice or the honey! These both add to the delicate flavor profile.
- Rim your glass by running a lemon around the side and dipping in a mixture of coarse salt and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
If you are making these drinks for friends, pre-slice apples very thin and place in a bowl of cold water with a squeeze of lemon juice. This keeps your garnishes fresh and from turning brown. Place the bowl in the fridge until just before serving drinks.
As for garnishing with a sprig of thyme, it may sound strange but aromatically it's so pleasant mixed with the apples and honey.
More Margarita Recipes to Try
- Spicy Margarita
- Coconut Blood Orange Margarita
- Chili Pomegranate Margarita
- Pumpkin Spice Margarita
- Sorbet Margarita
- Creamy Coconut Margarita
- Jam Jar Margarita
This is such a lovely cocktail to serve friends on a warm late summer or early autumn night. It's cool and crisp while still imparting that strong tequila flavor of a classic margarita. I hope you will enjoy my take on an apple cider margarita.
Recipes to Serve with this Frozen Apple Cider Margarita
- The Ultimate Guacamole
- Grilled Shrimp Tacos
- Arugula Peach and Pomegranate Salad
- Shredded Beef Tacos
- Fig and Honey Baked Brie (if you are serving drinks and appetizers!)
- Fall Cheese Board
Frozen Honey Apple Cider Margaritas
A frozen apple cider margarita sweetened with honey.
Ingredients
- 3 cups unfiltered apple cider, frozen
- 1 ½ cups Reposado Tequila
- ¼ cup Cointreau
- 2 Tablespoons raw honey
- juice of ½ a lemon
- thin sliced apples, for garnish
- fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish
- kosher salt + pumpkin pie spice, for garnish
Instructions
- Pour apple cider into ice cube trays and freeze overnight until solid.
- Rim margarita glasses with a mixture of coarse salt and pumpkin pie spice.
- In a blender combine frozen cider, tequila, Cointreau, honey and lemon juice.
- Blend until frosty and smooth and pour immediately into prepared margarita glasses.
- Garnish with a couple slices of apple and a sprig of fresh thyme.
Notes
Tips:
- Use a high quality 100% pure agave Reposado tequila. The smooth quality and taste of a premium tequila will make all the difference in this drink. Same goes for using a high quality liqueur like Cointreau.
- Frozen Cider cubes are a MUST. Using cider and regular ice cubes will dilute the drink, change the quality of flavor and result in a more icy consistency.
- Don't skip the fresh lemon juice or the honey! These both add to the delicate flavor profile.
- Rim your glass by running a lemon around the side and dipping in a mixture of coarse salt and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 372Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 124mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 2gSugar: 42gProtein: 1g