Tropical Coconut Margarita Recipe

A Coconut Margarita is a variation of the classic Margarita. It uses the standard combination of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, with the addition of creamy coconut, adding flavor and texture. The combination of these strong and distinct flavors can make for a unique mixology experience, and experimenting with different amounts of coconut milk and cream of coconut will yield the results that best suit your palate.

The Coconut Margarita cocktail is made unique by its distinct flavor of coconut, so try to use the best-quality ingredients you can find.

1. 1. Tequila: Great cocktails need a foundation of quality liquor. Tequila, made from the agave plant, has a distinct, somewhat herbaceous flavor that goes well with a sweet, fruity liqueur. For Coconut Margaritas, choose a nice silver tequila, which will balance well with the sweet, creamy flavor of cream of coconut.
2. 2. Lime: Skip the Margarita mix. Freshly squeezed lime juice is the key to making the best Margarita. Keep extra limes on hand for garnish.
3. 3. Orange liqueur: An orange-flavored triple-sec like Cointreau provides sweetness to balance the lime juice. If you don’t have Cointreau, try using Grand Marnier (an orange-flavored Cognac) or agave syrup.
4. 4. Cream of coconut: You can find this product alongside the rest of the mixers in your local liquor store. It’s sweet and thick with a strong coconut flavor.
5. 5. Coconut cream: This is the product you’re more likely to find on grocery store shelves; it usually doesn’t have any added sugar and is high in saturated fat. If using this, you’ll probably want to add some sweetener.
6. 6. Coconut milk: Some home mixologists prefer coconut milk, which is lighter (less fat) and milder-tasting. As with coconut cream, if you go this way, you may want to add sweetener in the form of syrup.
7. 7. Simple syrup: An even mixture of sugar and water, simple syrup will give your Margarita a little extra sweetness (and add calories via the extra carbohydrates).
8. 8. Agave syrup: This is a good replacement for simple syrup, and although it has a fairly neutral flavor, it can feel a bit more appropriate for a tequila-based cocktail.
9. 9. Shaved coconut or toasted coconut: Coconut shavings—either as a substitute for or in combination with the usual rim coating of coarse salt—provide an extra bit of flavor.