Calling all pumpkin spice lattes and margarita fans! This Pumpkin Spice Margarita recipe has all of the flavors of fall rolled into one perfect cocktail.
If you love this drink recipe, make sure to check out my other favorite fall cocktails like this Sparkling Pear French 76. Or, if you prefer spooky margaritas for Halloween, check out my Beetlejuice Margarita and Practical Magic Midnight Margaritas.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy – This fall margarita recipe couldn’t be easier and includes ingredients that are easy to find in any grocery or liquor store.
- Perfect for so many occasions – Whether you serve it on holidays as a Halloween and Thanksgiving margarita or on a regular crisp fall day, you will love experiencing the fall flavors in this pumpkin pie margarita.
- Refreshing – So many drinks this time of year can be either really rich or hot and this drink gives you all the fall pumpkin spice flavor with a cool refreshing element.
Ingredient Notes
- Pumpkin purée: I always go with just the plain canned kind. Libby’s is a go-to brand. Having real pumpkin in the cocktail makes the pumpkin flavor really come through.
- Triple sec: Cointreau is a go-to brand for me. It gives way more flavor than other triple secs.
- Orange juice: Orange flavors pair really well with winter squashes like pumpkin, so it’s a good choice as a mixer in this margarita. Plus, it complements the triple sec.
- Lemon juice: This is a little change up from a traditional margarita that usually uses fresh lime juice. Something sour tasting is essential to balance the sweetness of the orange.
- Tequila: I recommend silver or blanco tequila for this recipe.
- Orange bitters: Adding a few dashes of orange bitters not only goes well with the orange flavors but also adds a tiny bit of bitter flavor to balance all the flavors into perfect harmony.
- Pumpkin pie spice and sugar: There is no added sugar or simple syrup in this cocktail, so the pumpkin spice-sugar rim is the perfect hint of sweetness that makes the drink taste well balanced.
- Garnishes: An orange peel and/or cinnamon stick are great garnishes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Pour the pumpkin spice and sugar on a small plate. Wet the rim of a cocktail glass with the juicy side of an orange or lemon wedge and roll the rim of the glass in the pumpkin spice sugar.
Step 2: Add the pumpkin puree, tequila, and orange liqueur to an empty cocktail shaker.
Step 3: Add the juices and bitters to the shaker and then add ice. Shake until well chilled.
Step 4: Strain into the rimmed glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange twist and/or cinnamon stick.
Substitutions and Expert Tips
- Instead of regular orange juice, try using blood orange juice instead.
- You can sub regular ground cinnamon if you don’t have any pumpkin pie spice on hand.
- Try using brown sugar instead of granulated sugar for the rim for a more complex flavor profile. If you don’t want to use sugar at all, you can go with classic margarita salt.
- Make sure you’re using 100% pumpkin puree and not the pre-made canned pumpkin pie mix.
FAQ
What type of tequila should I use?
I always say go with your favorite tequila, but I used silver or blanco tequila. You can definitely try a reposado tequila, but it will have a different flavor profile yet it will still work.
Can you make it frozen?
Of course! Instead of pouring over ice, simply add everything to a blender with the ice and pour it into a cocktail glass.
Can you make a big batch?
Yes, you can definitely make a big batch of this Pumpkin Spice Margarita recipe. Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you need.
I do recommend that you put the ingredients in a blender (without ice) to really blend in the pumpkin puree before adding it to a serving pitcher. You don’t want clumps of pumpkin floating around in the pitcher.
If the pitcher sits out for a while, make sure you have a long spoon to stir it up if the pumpkin settles to the bottom.
Can you make a batch in advance?
Yes, you can make a batch up to one day in advance.
Related Recipes
Did you love this cocktail?
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Pumpkin Spice Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- Pumpkin pie spice and granulated sugar to taste for the rim
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 2 ½ ounces orange juice
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 1 ½ ounces tequila blanco
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- Orange peel and/or cinnamon sticks for garnish optional
Instructions
- Pour the pumpkin pie spice and granulated sugar on a small plate. Run an orange slice around the rim of the cocktail glass and roll in the pumpkin spice sugar mixture.
- Add pumpkin, juices, orange liqueur, tequila, and bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well until well chilled.
- Strain into the cocktail glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with an orange peel and/or cinnamon stick.
Notes
- Instead of regular orange juice, try using blood orange juice instead.
- You can use regular ground cinnamon if you don’t have any pumpkin pie spice on hand.
- Try using brown sugar instead of granulated sugar for the rim for a more complex flavor profile. If you don’t want to use sugar at all, you can go with classic margarita salt.
- Make sure you’re using 100% pumpkin puree and not the pre-made canned pumpkin pie mix.
Nutrition
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Corrie
These sound so fantastic. I never would have thought of trying a pumpkin spice margarita. And especially with that tequila, it sounds like it would be absolutely wonderful! I will definitely have to include this at our next enchilada night.
Melissa
Yessss!!! Enchilada night will now be complete 🙂