Frozen Orange Margarita

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 04/23/21
Blended Orange Margarita
gomonova ekaterina / FOAP / Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
506 Calories
5g Fat
89g Carbs
4g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 506
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 112mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 89g 32%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Total Sugars 63g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 54mg 272%
Calcium 178mg 14%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 384mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This orange margarita is exactly what it sounds like: an orange-flavored frozen margarita. It's an interesting and simple recipe that adds a scoop of orange sherbet to create a smooth, creamy drink that sets it apart from others.

The tequila, triple sec, and lime juice are, for the most part, exactly what you'll find in the lime margarita, though this recipe uses significantly less lime. Instead, it relies on the sherbet to give it a refreshing fruity flavor that everyone's sure to enjoy. It's a very simple blended cocktail and a great way to cool down on hot summer days.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces tequila

  • 1/2 ounce triple sec

  • 1 dash lime juice

  • 1 scoop orange sherbet

  • 1/2 cup ice

  • Orange slice, for garnish

  • Lime wedge, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a blender, add the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, sherbet, and ice.

  3. Blend until smooth.

  4. Pour the contents into a chilled margarita glass.

  5. Garnish with the lime wedge and orange slice. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • If the mix is too thick once blended, add a little more orange or lime juice and blend it again. If it's too thin, add more ice or sherbet.
  • One-half cup of ice is about three or four ice cubes.
  • Frozen margaritas do not require the best tequila in your bar. You do want to choose one that you wouldn't mind sipping straight or shooting in order to get the best cocktail, though.
  • Triple sec is the customary orange liqueur for margaritas, but it's not your only option. Try this drink with Patron Citronge (a tequila-based liqueur), curaçao, or Grand Marnier. Just make sure your liqueur matches the quality of the tequila you pour as many of the cheapest options can be very syrupy.

Recipe Variations

  • No sherbet? Make an orange margarita with orange juice instead. Pour between 1/2 ounce and 1 ounce of orange juice into the blender and increase the ice to 1 cup, keeping the other ingredients the same.
  • Another option is to shake up a bloody margarita featuring blood orange juice. The darker variety of the citrus fruit is slightly sweeter than navel oranges, creating a familiar but unique cocktail. You can also use that recipe to make a shaken margarita with regular orange juice.
  • Add some spice to the mix with the habanero blood orange margarita recipe. It features a homemade puree of blood orange juice and habanero pepper and rims the glass with mole negro.
  • Bring in another dimension of flavor that complements the orange. Do so with about some chopped fruit or 1/2 ounce of a flavored simple syrup, liqueur, or juice. Good options include banana, berries, chocolate, ginger, pineapple, and vanilla.

How Strong Is an Orange Margarita?

The orange margarita is about as gentle as most frozen cocktails. Once blended, its alcohol content should be somewhere in the 11 percent ABV (22 proof) range. It's a lot like drinking a glass of wine, only fruitier!