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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails

    Cointreau Margarita

    Published: Apr 20, 2023 · Modified: May 16, 2023 by Shannon · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Cointreau Margarita comes together easily in 5 minutes with 3 simple ingredients - tequila, lime and Cointreau - for a tangy and strong margarita that isn't overly sweet.

    Two glasses of Cointreau Margaritas with wedges of lime and salted rims. this recipe

    Margaritas are perhaps the most commonly requested cocktail. There's something so satisfying about the combination of lime and tequila, especially when served with a salted rim. This Cointreau margarita uses simple and straightforward ingredients to avoid some of the heavily processed and sugared mixes that are commonly used in margaritas. The Cointreau provides just enough sweetness without making the drink actually sweet.

    Serve these margaritas with Jalapeno Salsa, Spicy Guacamole, Chicken Fajita Tray Bake or Slow Cooker Pork Loin Carnitas for your own Mexican fiesta.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • Recipe
    • Food safety
    • Comments

    Ingredients

    Here's what you need to make a Cointreau Margarita:

    Ingredients for a Cointreau Margarita. Silver tequila, salt, lime and Cointreau.
    • salt (optional)
    • Cointreau
    • silver tequila
    • a lime

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Here's how to make a Cointreau Margarita:

    A glass with a salted rim and a plate with salt and a lime.

    Optional: To salt the rim of your glass, rub the edge with a wedge of lime, then dip it in a plate of salt.

    A glass with a salted rim with lime juice added. A cutting board with a juice press and a squeezed lime.

    Squeeze the juice from the lime and pour 1 oz of juice into the salted glass.

    Two Cointreau Margaritas shot from over top with ice, salted rims and lime wheels in them.

    Add the Cointreau and tequila to the glass, stir well, then add ice and serve.

    Hint: Alternatively, you can add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake rather than stir.

    Substitutions

    Want to substitute an ingredient in your Cointreau Margarita? Here's how:

    • Tequila - This cocktail is equally good with vodka, gin or whiskey in place of the tequila.
    • Fresh lime juice - use bottled lime juice in place of the fresh lime juice.
    • Cointreau - Triple Sec is a good alternative to Cointreau, although it has a lower alcohol content, is less expensive, and will produce a slightly different flavor than Cointreau. Learn more about Cointreau.

    Variations

    Try one of these variations of a Cointreau Margarita:

    • Spicy - add two slices of fresh jalapeno to add a touch of spice to your margarita. Also, consider coating the rim with Tajin seasoning.
    • Fruity - Add 1 oz of orange juice, pineapple juice or grapefruit juice to your margarita for a fruity twist.
    • Light - replace 1 oz of the tequila with sparkling water for a lighter margarita with less alcohol and fewer calories.

    Or try this Skinny Spicy Margarita, this Cranberry Margarita (with Cointreau) or this Coconut Water Cocktail with Lime (also known as a Coconut Water Margarita.)

    Equipment

    This equipment comes in handy when making Cointreau Margaritas:

    • cocktail stirrer
    • jigger
    • cocktail glass
    • juice press

    Storage

    A Cointreau Margarita can be made and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just make sure you don't store it with ice so it doesn't get watered down.

    Top tip

    To make a pitcher of Cointreau Margarita that serves 4, simply quadruple the recipe and serve. Alternatively, you can store the pitcher in the fridge without ice for up to 3 days.

    FAQ

    Is Cointreau necessary for a margarita?

    Cointreau is not necessary for a margarita but it does add a nice, sophisticated well-rounded flavor to a margarita. Any type of triple sec can be used in place of Cointreau in a margarita.

    What type of liquor is Cointreau?

    Cointreau is a brand of triple sec. Cointreau is a strong, sweet, smooth, orange-flavored liquor produced in France.

    Related

    Looking for other easy cocktail recipes like this? Try these:

    • A jar of Sugar-Free Simple Syrup with a cup of coffee in the background.
      Sugar-Free Simple Syrup
    • Two glasses of skinny spicy margarita with a salted rim and a jalapeno slice floating in the cocktail.
      Skinny Spicy Margarita Recipe
    • A Coconut Water Cocktail in a glass with a wedge of lime.
      Coconut Water Cocktail with Lime
    • A glass of Skinny Cocktail with ice and a lime wedge.
      Skinny Cocktail

    Pairing

    Serve a Cointreau Margarita with one of these Mexican-inspired dishes:

    • A bowl of cottage cheese queso surrounded by tortilla chips.
      Cottage Cheese Queso Dip
    • A bowl of Pineapple Pico de Gallo on a plate full of tortilla chips.
      Pineapple Pico de Gallo
    • A skillet of cooked Ground Turkey Taco Meat.
      Ground Turkey Taco Meat
    • A bowl of Guacamole Chicken Salad.
      Guacamole Chicken Salad

    Recipe

    Two glasses of Cointreau Margaritas with a salted rim and lime wheels.

    Cointreau Margarita

    Shannon
    This Cointreau Margarita comes together easily in 5 minutes with 3 simple ingredients - tequila, lime and Cointreau - for a tangy and strong margarita that isn't overly sweet.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 1 person
    Calories 225 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 cocktail glass
    • 1 juice press
    • 1 jigger
    • 1 cocktail stirrer

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 Tablespoons sea salt (optional)
    • 2 oz silver tequila
    • 1 oz lime juice
    • 1 oz Cointreau

    Instructions
     

    • Optional: To salt the rim of your glass, rub the edge with a wedge of lime, then dip it in a plate of salt.
    • Squeeze the juice from the lime and pour 1 oz of juice into the salted glass.
    • Add the Cointreau and tequila to the glass, stir well, then add ice and serve.

    Notes

    Alternatively, you can add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake rather than stir.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 43mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.1mg
    Keyword 3 ingredient margarita, cointreau margarita, margarita with cointreau
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Food safety

    • Drink responsibly

    More Cocktail Recipes

    • A hand holding a glass of Cranberry Margarita with a salted rim.
      Cranberry Margarita

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Shannon

      May 22, 2023 at 1:00 am

      5 stars
      My favorite easy margarita!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Shannon! I’m a work-at-home wife and mom to 3 active boys. Our family recently relocated to Columbus, Ohio and are making our home in the Midwest. Since a young age, I’ve had a deep love for food, with many of my favorite memories revolving around sharing a meal with special people.

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    Two glasses of Cointreau Margaritas with a salted rim and lime wheels.