Margarita Cupcakes

If you know me, you know I love a good margarita. The lime, the salt, the delicious flavors all poured over a cup of ice. I’m about to admit something, I do like a few things slightly more than margaritas.

What could I possibly like more than a margarita? Cupcakes. Now, blend two of my favorite things together into one AMAZING cupcake recipe and you have…MARGARITA CUPCAKES!

A margarita cupcake, with tequila of course.

Our Margarita cupcakes are garnished with a tequila lime frosting, lime zest, and lime slices. These are SO delicious. Not too sweet, and definitely not too boozy.

If you haven’t taken the time to taste or make margarita cupcakes before, you are missing out on this fine dessert cuisine!

Where’s the Recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life we write our recipes for all readers. In this margarita cupcake recipe, we’ve included detailed instructions, helpful tips and tricks, as well as nutritional information.

If you are ready for a more simplified set of directions, simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you’ll find our easy to print Margarita Cupcakes recipe.

Ingredients in Margarita Cupcakes

• Flour: We prefer using all purpose flour for our flour mixture. This recipe can easily be made gluten free. See our recipe tips to find out how to modify the recipe.
• Baking Powder: Baking powder is key for this recipe, it’ll help lighten the texture of the cupcakes. Remember that baking powder and baking soda are two different things that slightly modify the baking process of baked goods.
• Salt: Any type of salt here will work. We typically use table salt.
• Unsalted Butter: You’ll need to make sure the unsalted butter is at room temperature for this recipe. You’re looking for softened butter that mixes better with the other ingredients. Butter will be used in both the cupcake and the tequila lime frosting.
• Granulated Sugar: We use regular granulated sugar for the cupcake portion of the recipe. You’ll also need confectioners sugar, or powdered sugar for the tequila lime frosting. Be sure to have both types of sugar on hand.
• Eggs: The eggs will need to be at room temperature.
• Limes: There is something wonderful about lime. Lime juice, lime zest, lime slices, so delicious. You’ll really want to use fresh lime juice here. You’ll need to add fresh lime juice and lime zests for this recipe. Don’t forget to cut cute little lime slices to garnish the tequila lime frosting.
• Tequila: Tequila flavor paired with lime is the best combination. Tequila makes a delicious margarita, and it’s also delicious in cupcakes. You’ll need the tequila flavor in both the cupcakes and the tequila lime frosting.
• Vanilla Extract: Can you even bake something delicious without vanilla extract?
• Buttermilk: Buttermilk helps the cupcakes stay moist and fluffy. If you don’t have any buttermilk at home, you can always create your own at home. We’ve included the correct method and ratio for doing this in our recipe tips below.

How to Make Margarita Cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
3. Beat the butter and granulated sugar together until light, and fluffy–about 5 minutes on medium high.
4. Reduce the mixer speed to medium, add eggs one at at time. Mix for about 30 seconds after each one is added, until it’s completely mixed in.
5. Scrape the sides of the bowl and slowly add lime juice, lime zest, vanilla extract, and tequila. Mix for about 1 minute, until completely combined.
6. Set the mixer speed to low and alternate adding the dry ingredients with the buttermilk.
7. Pour margarita cupcake batter into cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. Bake for about 12 minutes, rotate the pan, then cook for 13-15 minutes. Check to make sure they’re done by using a toothpick or butter knife to poke into the cupcakes. If it comes out clean, they’re done.
8. Allow cupcakes to cool for 5 minutes and then brush the tops with tequila.

How to Make Tequila Lime Frosting

1. Whip butter on medium-high speed with a mixer and the whisk attachment for 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and slowly add powdered sugar. Make sure to stop and scrape the sides of the bowl a few times.
2. Turn the speed up to medium and mix for at least 30 seconds.
3. Add your lime juice and tequila, resisting all temptation to add ice and drink it. Mix the frosting on medium-high speed until it’s light and fluffy. If the frosting seems a little too soft, add powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time until it thickens.
4. Frost cupcakes and garnish with lime zest mixed with some coarse salt, or just a little bit of coarse salt.

Recipe Tips

• To make these absolutely delicious cupcakes, you can use a handheld or stand mixer.
• I kept the extra frosting in the fridge until I served the margarita cupcakes. This frosting is so delicious, I might have added a little extra onto my cupcake while eating. We think this frosting is 100% more flavorful than traditional cream cheese frosting.
• After brushing the tops of the margarita cupcakes with tequila, please allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. We find the frosting works better when we take the time to allow them to cool completely (I know, it’s hard).
• I know that getting lime zest and lime juice from a fresh lime is more work. It really is crucial to have the fresh lime juice. The fresh lime flavor paired with the tequila is worth it.
• Buttermilk is one of those things that we never remember to buy, and never have a need for the whole bottle. We recommend making your own at home. For this recipe, You’ll mix 1/2 a cup of milk and 1/2 a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar together. Let the two ingredients sit for 10 minutes.
• Decorating margarita cupcakes is the fun part. We love putting the frosting into a piping bag with a fun tip. The tequila lime frosting looks professional and classy. If you aren’t sure how to use a piping bag, there are so many videos online that can help you walk through these steps.You’ll need lime slices and lime zest for garnishing the margarita cupcakes.
• You can make these cupcakes gluten free. To do this substitute in the flour with Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour. I baked the cupcakes for an extra two minutes when using the gluten-free flour.
• Frosted or unfrosted cupcakes can be stored in the fridge. If you have an airtight container, that would help keep the frosted cupcakes the freshest until you are ready to eat the leftover cupcakes.
• If you are looking for a non-alcoholic version, simply swap out a spiritless tequila. You’ll get the tequila flavor just as you would in the cupcakes with tequila.

Looking for more delicious dessert cuisine recipes?

• Healthy Cheesecake with Strawberries
• Peanut Butter Lava Cake Bites
• Healthy Key Lime Flavor Bites
• Easy Lime Zest Coconut Bites
• Fudgy Espresso Brownies

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Margarita Cupcakes

Created by: Becca Ludlum

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 27 minutes mins

Total Time 47 minutes mins

Servings 12 servings

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Margarita Cupcakes with tequila frosting? YES! These are hands-down my favorite cupcakes. Can easily be made without alcohol.

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Equipment

• hand mixer
• Mixing Bowls

Ingredients 

Ingredients for Margarita Cupcakes:

• ▢ 1 ½ cup flour
• ▢ 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ▢ ¼ tsp salt
• ▢ ½ cup butter unsalted, Room Temperature
• ▢ 1 cup sugar
• ▢ 2 eggs Room Temperature
• ▢ 2 limes use the zest and juice from 1 1/2 limes
• ▢ 1 tbsp tequila plus and additional 2 tablespoons tequila needed to brush finished cupcakes
• ▢ ¼ tsp vanilla
• ▢ ½ cup buttermilk

Ingredients for the Tequila-Lime Frosting:

• ▢ 1 cup butter unsalted, room temperature
• ▢ 2 ¾ cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 lime 1 tbsp lime juice
• ▢ 1 tbsp tequila

Instructions

Directions for Cupcakes:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. 1 ½ cup flour, 1 ½ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp salt
• Beat the butter and sugar together until light, and fluffy–about 5 minutes on medium high. ½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar
• Reduce the mixer speed to medium, add eggs one at at time. Mix for about 30 seconds after each one is added, until it's completely mixed in. 2 eggs
• Scrape the sides of the bowl and slowly add the lime zest, lime juice, vanilla extract, and tequila. Mix for about 1 minute, until completely combined. 2 limes, ¼ tsp vanilla, 1 tbsp tequila, 1 tbsp tequila
• Set the mixer speed to low and alternate adding the dry ingredients with the buttermilk. ½ cup buttermilk
• Bake for about 12 minutes, rotate the pan, then cook for 13-15 minutes. Check to make sure they're done by using a toothpick or butter knife to poke into the cupcakes. If it comes out clean, they're done.
• Allow cupcakes to cool for 5 minutes and then brush the tops with tequila.

Directions for Frosting:

• Whip butter on medium-high speed with a mixer and the whisk attachment for 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and slowly add powdered sugar. Make sure to stop and scrape the sides of the bowl a few times. 1 cup butter, 2 ¾ cups powdered sugar
• Turn the speed up to medium and mix for at least 30 seconds.
• Add your lime juice and tequila, resisting all temptation to add ice and drink it. Mix the frosting on medium-high speed until it's light and fluffy. If the frosting seems a little too soft, add powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time until it thickens. 1 lime, 1 tbsp tequila
• Frost cupcakes and garnish with lime zest mixed with some coarse salt, or just a little bit of coarse salt.

Notes

Note: I kept the extra frosting in the fridge until I served them. It’s so delicious–I might have added a little extra onto my cupcake while eating.

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 273mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 765IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

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Make sure to follow on Pinterest @bludlum and on Instagram @beccaludlum