Frozen Blood Orange Margarita

Say hello to the Frozen Blood Orange Margarita! Made with sweet-tart blood oranges, this tasty tequila-based cocktail is refreshing and full of citrus flavor—and it has only five simple ingredients. It’s a great cocktail for Cinco de Mayo or any night of the week!

A classic margarita is always a winner, but adding the taste of blood orange to the mix adds a little something special. A blend of tequila, freshly squeezed blood oranges, fresh lime juice, Cointreau, and agave, this cocktail is tangy, not overly sweet, and perfectly balanced.

What are blood oranges and when are they in season?

If you’ve never had a blood orange, this cocktail may give you a reason! They are typically in season from December through April, so now is the perfect time to get your hands on some before the season ends. They look like regular oranges on the outside (some have light areas of burnt orange or red), but on the inside, they are a deep red. They have an intense citrus flavor and are sweeter and slightly less acidic than regular navel oranges.

Ingredients you’ll need to make a blood orange margarita:

You’ll need five simple ingredients to make this refreshing frozen cocktail. Make sure to check the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities:

• Blood Oranges: Fresh squeezed is always best! If you can’t find blood oranges, navel oranges will also work. You can also purchase a pre-squeezed carton of blood orange juice from your local grocer.
• Tequila: I suggest using a blanco (or silver) tequila. The type of blanco tequila used in any margarita recipe makes a huge difference in the taste. A blanco tequila is either blended with a small amount of aged tequila or aged for a few weeks before bottling. Most people have a preferred tequila, so use your go-to. You can also use a reposado tequila, a great option if you like a more oaky or aromatic flavor.
• Cointreau: I prefer Cointreau over Triple Sec, but both are orange liqueurs and can be used interchangeably in this recipe.
• Agave: You’ll need something to add a hint of sweetness and balance the heavy citrus notes and flavors of the cocktail, and agave is it. You can also use simple syrup.
• Lime Juice: Skip the bottled stuff and go for freshly squeezed lime juice. Fresh lime juice gives the cocktail a refreshing flavor.
• Ice Cubes: To make this a frozen cocktail, you’ll need ice. See a few tips below to turn it into a version on the rocks.
• Garnish: To add a hint of spice, I add tajin (paid link) to the rim before serving. You can also add a thin blood orange slice to the rim. Tajín is a Mexican spice blend typically consisting of dried chilies, sea salt, and dehydrated lime juice.

How to make a blood orange margarita:

Squeeze juice from fruit. Using a manual citrus juicer (paid link) or an electric juicer (paid link), juice your blood oranges and limes.

Add ingredients to the blender (paid link). Add the freshly squeezed blood orange, lime, tequila, Cointreau, and agave.

Add ice and blend. Start with 5 cups of ice and blend. Add additional ice until you reach your preferred consistency. I find that 5-7 cups of ice work well for this recipe.

Serve. To rim your glass, cut a wedge from lime and rub the lime along the rim to wet the edge. Pour tajín (or sea salt) onto a plate and roll the wet edge of the glass into the tajín to coat it. Add a single, thin, blood orange slice to the edge of the glass as a garnish.

Place this Blood Orange Mango Frozen Margarita on your coaster any day of the week to take your margarita experience to new levels. Frozen cocktails can definitely help you stay cool in the summertime! Cheers!

Here are a few more cocktail recipes you might enjoy:

• Raspberry Pink 75 Cocktail
• Mango Martini Cocktail
• Blackberry Whiskey Smash
• Spiked Pomegranate Party Punch
• The Tiki Rita Margarita

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