Thanksgiving Margarita
This Thanksgiving Margarita has become my go-to drink for the holiday season. Whether it’s for Thanksgiving dinner or a cozy fall party, this cocktail is always a hit. I love how the apple cider blends perfectly with pumpkin puree, spices, lime, tequila, and a splash of orange liqueur. It’s a pumpkin margarita that captures all the flavors of fall in one glass!
I’ll admit, I’m not a huge fan of tequila, but when it’s paired with the right flavors, I really change my tune! This recipe was inspired by my largely popular Thanksgiving Punch recipe that has all the warming flavors of fall in a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail!).
This pumpkin margarita combines the traditional zesty tang of a margarita with the comforting notes of pumpkin and apple cider. It bridges the gap between a refreshing summer margarita and a colder weather classic!
🍂Grab These Before You Make It
- Tools: Cocktail Shaker Set, Margarita Glasses, Cocktail Rimming Set
- Ingredients: Pumpkin Pie Spice, Cinnamon Sticks, Apple Cider, Simple Syrup
- Garnishes: Margarita Salt, Coarse Sugar
🍎Ingredient Notes
- Apple Cider – This is the sweet base of the drink that gives it a crisp fall flavor. Make sure you purchase apple cider that is not spiced and does not have any added sugar!
- Pumpkin Puree – Adding canned pumpkin puree is what truly makes this mimosa unique and tastes just like Thanksgiving while helping to balance out the sweetness.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice – This blend of spices is perfect for adding additional warming flavors to the drink.
- Tequila – Gives it that classic boozy margarita tang. Go for Espolòn Blanco Tequila if possible.
- Orange Liquor – Gives this margarita a zesty orange flavor.
- Fresh Lime Juice – Adds acidity and freshness.
- Turbinado Sugar & Salt – This is optional, but makes an excellent presentation when used to rim the glass.
- Fresh Apple Slices, Orange Slices & Lime Wedges – Adds garnish and more fresh apple cinnamon flavor.
📖How To Make Thanksgiving Margaritas
1️⃣To a large measuring cup, add apple cider, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk until well combined and let sit for 5 minutes to make sure the spices are absorbed.
2️⃣Add lime juice, tequila, and grand mariner and whisk until fully combined.
3️⃣Rim 2 margarita glasses with turbinado sugar, salt, or a mix of both. Add ice to the glasses.
4️⃣Evenly distribute the margarita mix into the two glasses by pouring over the ice. Garnish with fresh lime, oranges and apple slices.
🫙How To Make A Thanksgiving Margarita Pitcher
To make a pitcher of seasonal Thanksgiving Margaritas, use the table below to make 4 cups, half gallon, or a full gallon of pumpkin margarita!
Add apple cider, pumpkin pie spice, and pumpkin puree to the pitcher and whisk to combine. Then add tequila, lime juice, and orange liquor and stir.
Do not add ice to the pitcher as that will water down the margaritas. Serve over ice in the individual cups.
| Ingredient | Original Recipe | 4 Cups | 8 Cups | 1 Gallon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Cider | 1 cup | 4 cups | 8 cups | 16 cups |
| Pumpkin Puree | 2 tbsp | 8 tbsp (1/2 cup) | 16 tbsp (1 cup) | 32 tbsp (2 cups) |
| Pumpkin Pie Spice | 1/2 tsp | ½ tsp | 1 tsp | 2 tsp |
| Lime Juice | 4 tbsp | 16 tbsp (1 cup) | 32 tbsp (2 cups) | 64 tbsp (4 cups) |
| Tequila | 3 oz | 12 oz | 24 oz (1.5 pints) | 48 oz (3 pints) |
| Orange Liquor (Grand Marnier) | 2 oz | 8 oz | 16 oz (1 pint) | 32 oz (2 pints) |
| Turbinado Sugar (for garnish) | ¼ cup | 1 cup | 2 cups | 4 cups |
| Apple Slices, Orange Slices, & Lime Wedges (for garnish) | As desired, increase proportionally |
Note: A gallon contains 16 cups. Make sure you mix thoroughly and adjust to taste as needed, especially when scaling recipes; sometimes personal preference or the specific brands/types of ingredients can require a slight adjustment. Always taste-test to ensure the perfect balance.
🍐Variations
- Non-Alcoholic Pumpkin Margarita Mocktail: To make a fall mocktail margarita, simply replace the orange liquor with orange juice and replace the tequila with ginger ale or ginger beer for one of the best alcohol free thanksgiving drinks.
- Spicy: Put a dash of cayenne in the mix or add some freshly sliced jalapenos inside the drink.
- With pear juice: Instead of using apple cider, try using pear juice. You can find pear juice or pear nectar in the international section of your grocery store.
- With cranberry juice: To create a cranberry twist on this margarita, replace the 1 cup of apple cider with 1 cup of cranberry juice while keeping the rest of the ingredients and instructions the same.
- Frozen margarita: To transform this margarita into a frozen version, blend together the apple cider, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, lime juice, tequila, and orange liquor with a generous amount of ice until smooth. After blending, rim the margarita glasses with turbinado sugar, salt, or a mix of both, then pour the frozen mixture into the glasses, and finish by garnishing with fresh lime, oranges, and apple slices for a frosty twist.
- Apple Cider Pear Margarita: To make an apple cider margarita with pear juice, begin by muddling a fresh pear slice at the bottom of a shaker to release its delightful juices. Add 1 oz of tequila, 2 oz of apple cider, 1/2 oz of lime juice, and a splash of orange liqueur. Shake vigorously with ice. Rim your margarita glass with a mix of cinnamon and sugar, then fill the glass with ice. Strain and pour the blended mixture over the ice. Garnish with a pear slice and a cinnamon stick. The fusion of apple and pear offers a refreshing fall twist on the classic margarita.
- Spicy: To add a kick to your Thanksgiving Margarita, muddle a few slices of fresh jalapeño with the lime juice before mixing. Combine the muddled jalapeño, apple cider, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, tequila, and orange liqueur, then shake well with ice. Rim the margarita glasses with a mix of chili powder and salt for an extra spicy touch, then pour the margarita into the glasses. Garnish with a slice of jalapeño and lime for a fiery twist.
🦃Perfect Fall Margarita Pairings
- Baked Brie Mac and Cheese
- Gluten Free Stuffing
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Air Fryer Goat Cheese Balls
- Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
❔FAQ
A traditional margarita glass works well, but you can also serve it in a rocks glass or a stemless wine glass for a more casual presentation.
If you don’t have pumpkin puree, you can substitute it with sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree for a similar flavor profile.
Yes, you can make a frozen version by blending the ingredients with ice until smooth. Adjust the amount of ice based on your desired consistency.
The top smooth and balanced tequila for apple cider margaritas are; Villa One Silver Tequila, Don Julio Blanco, Avión Reposado, Espolon, or Del Maguey Vida Mezcal. We also think Patron is a great middle ground!
🍸More Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes
- Thanksgiving Punch
- Christmas Punch
- Thanksgiving Mimosa
- Thanksgiving Moscow Mule
- Thanksgiving Mojito
- and don’t forget my Christmas Punch!
Thanksgiving Margarita
Equipment
- Margarita Glasses
Ingredients
- 1 cup Apple Cider
- 2 tbsp Pumpkin Puree
- ⅛ tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 4 tbsp Lime Juice
- 3 oz Tequila
- 2 oz Orange Liquor
For Garnish
- ¼ cup Turbinado Sugar To rim glasses
- Apple Slices, Orange Slices
- Lime Wedges
Instructions
- To a large measuring cup, add apple cider, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk until well combined and let sit for 5 minutes to make sure the spices are absorbed.
- Add lime juice, tequila, and grand mariner and whisk until fully combined.
- Rim 2 margarita glasses with turbinado sugar, salt, or a mix of both. Add ice to the glasses.
- Evenly distribute the margarita mix into the two glasses by pouring over the ice. Garnish with fresh lime, oranges and apple slices.
