Pumpkin Spice Margarita

Put a fun, seasonal spin on tonight's happy hour with this festive pumpkin spice margarita recipe! Flavored with a homemade pumpkin simple syrup, this fall margarita features warming spices that pair beautifully with an aged tequila, and then the citrusy lime juice adds the perfect pop of brightness to make one well-balanced cocktail. You'll want to sip on this pumpkin margarita at every fall gathering and holiday this season.

Course Beverages

Cuisine Mexican-American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Steeping Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings drink

Calories 218kcal

Author Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

Small saucepan
Fine-mesh sieve
Cocktail shaker
Jigger or small measuring cup
Citrus juicer

Ingredients

Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup

1 cup water
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
¼ cup pumpkin purée not pumpkin pie filling
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg preferably freshly grated
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pumpkin Spice Margarita

Lime slice for garnish, optional
Brown sugar and ground cinnamon for garnish, optional
2 ounces reposado tequila
1 ounce orange liqueur such as Grand Mariner, Cointreau or triple sec
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
½ ounce pumpkin spice simple syrup
Ice
Cinnamon stick for garnish, optional

Instructions

Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup

In a small saucepan, stir together the water, dark brown sugar, pumpkin purée, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves and ground allspice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring every so often to help dissolve the sugar.
When the mixture boils and the sugar dissolves, turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Allow the mixture to steep for a minimum of 15 minutes.
Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve over a shallow bowl in the sink. Stir the mixture in the fine-mesh sieve to help separate the syrup from the pumpkin purée. Let the mixture cool completely and then store in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator. Shake before using.

Pumpkin Spice Margarita

If you'd like a garnished glass, cut a slit in the middle of the lime slice and run it around the rim of the glass to moisten. On a small plate, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon and swirl the moistened rim into the mixture. Set the glass aside.
In a cocktail shaker, add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, pumpkin spice simple syrup and a handful of ice.
Secure the cocktail shaker top and vigorously shake for 15-30 seconds.
Remove the cocktail shaker top and strained into the garnished glass filled with ice. If desired, garnish with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Eight-serving pitcher: Pour 2 cups tequila, 1 cup lime juice, 1 cup orange liqueur and ½ cup pumpkin spice simple syrup into a large pitcher and stir well. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. After that, the lime juice starts to lose its brightness. Before serving, stir well again and pour about ½ cup per drink into a cocktail shaker and shake as originally directed. We still want to shake the drink for the proper dilution and aeration, especially since pumpkin syrup is a bit thicker.

You can store leftover pumpkin spice simple syrup in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three weeks.
Look for limes that have some give when you press your fingers into them to ensure they're ripe and juicy.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition