This Thanksgiving Margarita is sweet, sour, and reminiscent of fall. All you need is 4 simple ingredients. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, apple slice and a sprig of fresh rosemary for the perfect hosting touch!
Hosting Thanksgiving this year? This apple-cider margarita pitcher is the perfect make-ahead cocktail to keep guests happy while you finish the turkey. It's cozy, citrusy, and so easy to batch!
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Ingredients and Substitutions
- Apple cider. For the best-flavored apple cider margarita, I recommend using unfiltered apple cider, which has a stronger apple flavor and is less processed. The only ingredient on the label should be apples.
- Tequila. Use your favorite or what you've currently got on the bar cart. If you are a fan of tequila drinks, try my Tequila Espresso Martini next!
- Limes. When making margaritas, it is very important to use fresh lime juice. You simply can't make a good margarita with pre-bottled lime juice. To get the most out of your fresh limes, roll them using the palm of your hand on a cutting board before slicing. This will loosen up the membranes inside and allow the juice to squeeze out more easily. You can also throw a hard lime in the microwave for about 30 seconds to get more juice out.
See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Use a spiced apple cider. Original apple cider contains just apples. Spiced apple ciders contain added cinnamon, ginger, cloves, star anise, and more. This will add a little bit of a kick to your Thanksgiving margarita and be absolutely delicious! If you can't find a pre-made spiced apple cider in stores, make your own apple cider at home. Or, simply stir ½-1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice into your margarita pitcher or a pinch into each individual margarita glass.
- Add a splash of your favorite cranberry juice or pear juice for even more fall flavors.
- If you prefer spice, add a dash of cayenne pepper to your glass.
Instructions
Prepare your glasses. Add lime juice to a small plate. In a separate shallow dish, mix together ½ tablespoon of cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar or a little brown sugar. Dip your drinking glasses first in the lime juice, then in the cinnamon sugar to coat the rim of the glass.
Step 1: In a cocktail shaker, pour in your tequila.
Step 2: Add in the apple cider and orange liqueur.
Step 3: Squeeze in the lime juice, secure the lid and shake to combine.
Step 4: Fill the glasses with ice. Pour about 4 ounces of the cocktail into each glass. Garnish with a lime slice, cinnamon stick and fresh sprig of rosemary.
How to Make a Thanksgiving Margarita Pitcher
This is the perfect cocktail to make as a large batch and serve at your friendsgiving dinner or to use as a centerpiece on your Thanksgiving table.
In your favorite pitcher, combine the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and apple cider. Garnish the pitcher with apple slices and lime slices. Stir to combine with a large spoon. Add ice just before serving or just add it to each cocktail glass before pouring.
Recipe FAQs
This fall-inspired margarita is more sweet! I like to call it my apple cider margarita because it contains the sweet flavors of apple, orange liquor, and warmth from the cinnamon.
The most popular choice is margarita glasses with a stem and wide rim. However, you can pour your margaritas into any glass of your choosing. I prefer a highball whiskey glass. They're more versatile, less likely to tip and spill.
For an apple cider margarita, I recommend using a blanco tequila. Blanco tequila is unaged and has a more mild flavor that pairs well with apple cider. You can also use a reposado tequila, but it will have a slightly more complex flavor.
Sarah's Top Tips
- Go all out on the garnish! This is what will make your margaritas feel extra special and restaurant-worthy. Friends and family may even request them every year.
- Slice the apples right before serving. Apples oxidize quickly and will begin to brown if they are prepared too early.
- Juice the limes with a citrus juicer. This will allow you to get as much out of the limes as possible and make the whole process as fast as possible.
- Don't add too much orange liqueur. Apple cider is already pretty sweet, so adding too much orange liqueur may make it overly sweet. Adjust the ingredient amounts at the end after tasting. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, add some agave nectar, honey or maple syrup.
Serving
I like to garnish this tasty Thanksgiving margarita recipe with apple slices, a cinnamon stick and fresh rosemary. A lime wedge on the side is also a great idea. You can even top off your drink with a splash of club soda.
Here are a few of my favorite fall dishes to serve with this apple cider margarita.
Storage
If you are prepping this Thanksgiving margarita for your holiday dinner or party, mix the margarita ingredients together in the base of a pitcher, then tightly cover it with plastic wrap.
Place the pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This will keep for up to 3 days. Mix in the ice and sliced apples and limes right before serving at your Thanksgiving dinner.
More Thanksgiving Recipes to Try
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below-I'd love to hear how it turned out! THANK YOU!
Thanksgiving Margarita (Apple Cider Margarita)
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Ingredients
Cinnamon Sugar Rim
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
To Make 2 Cocktails
- 3 ounces silver or blanco tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur, triple sec or Cointreau
- 1-2 ounces lime juice
- 4-6 ounces apple cider, (more or less depending on your preference)
- Ice
To Make a Pitcher (8 Servings)
- 1 ½ cups silver or blanco tequila
- ⅔ cup orange liqueur, triple sec or Cointreau
- 1 cup lime juice
- 3 cups apple cider
- Ice
Garnishes (Optional)
- Apple slices
- Lime slices
- Cinnamon sticks
- Fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Prepare your glasses by dipping the rims in lime juice followed by the cinnamon sugar mixture.
To Make 2 Cocktails
- In a cocktail shaker, add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, apple cider and ice. Secure the lid and shake to combine.
- Fill cocktail glasses with ice and pour about 4 ounces into each glass. Garnish with apple and lime slices, cinnamon stick and rosemary.
To Make a Pitcher
- In a large pitcher, add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and apple cider. Top with ice and garnish the pitcher with apple slices and lime slices. Stir to combine with a large spoon.
- Fill the glasses with ice and pour about 4 ounces into each glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and rosemary.
- Serve and enjoy!
Sarah's Tips
- Go all out on the garnish! This is what will make your margaritas feel extra special and restaurant-worthy. Friends and family may even request them every year.
- Slice the apples right before serving. Apples oxidize quickly and will begin to brown if they are prepared too early.
- Juice the limes with a citrus juicer. This will allow you to get as much out of the limes as possible and make the whole process as fast as possible.
- Don't add too much orange liqueur. Apple cider is already pretty sweet, so adding too much orange liqueur may make it overly sweet. Adjust the ingredient amounts at the end after tasting. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, add some agave nectar, honey or maple syrup.
- If you are prepping this Thanksgiving margarita for your holiday dinner or party, mix the margarita ingredients together in the base of a pitcher, then tightly cover it with plastic wrap.
- Place the pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This will keep for up to 3 days. Mix in the ice and sliced apples and limes right before serving at your Thanksgiving dinner.
Tools I Use for This Recipe
- Cutting board
- Pitcher optional
Linnea says
delicious!
Amber D’Costa says
Could I use gold tequila? Or silver is ideal?
Sarah Hill says
You can use whatever you like! I prefer silver but gold is fine also.
Arianna Zatos says
Just made a pitcher of this for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it! I didn’t use rosemary only because I didn’t buy it 😉 I served each glass with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. Definitely making this again!!
Sarah Hill says
Hi Arianna, so happy you all enjoyed the margaritas!
Macie says
Made this for Friendsgiving and it was so good! Would make again!
Sarah Hill says
Hi Macie, it's the perfect Friendsgiving cocktail! Glad to hear everyone enjoyed it 🙂
Lilly Lowe says
My new go-to fall cocktail! Not too sweet and easy to make. 10/10 recommend!
Sarah Hill says
Yay glad to hear it!