The perfect cupcakes for a girl’s night out (or in) are these margarita cupcakes. This recipe is printed with permission from the new recipe book “Cupcakes and Cocktails” by The Bonnie Marcus collection.
Margarita Cupcakes are a perfect Cinco De Mayo dessert and a lovely way to add a bit of fun to the table. These cupcakes have a bit of kick as the frosting has a little triple sec and the cake ingredients calls for tequila juice and lime zest. If you want to make them for a child’s party, you’ll have to modify the recipe a bit.
Cupcakes and Cocktails is available in hardcover from Amazon.com for only $8.99! So snag your copy and begin making some super fun desserts for you and your friends. (Please note that the amazon.com link is an affiliate link.)


- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 cup/1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup superfine sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1⁄3 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons tequila juice and zest of 1 lime
- 3 large egg whites
- 3⁄4 cup sugar
- 1 cup/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1⁄4 cup triple sec
- zest of 1 lime
- green food coloring
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 12-hole cupcake pan with paper cupcake liners.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.
- Put the butter and superfine sugar into a separate bowl and beat until pale and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
- Add half of the flour mixture and the milk, tequila, and lime zest and juice and beat until combined.
- Add the remaining flour mixture and mix.
- Spoon the batter into the paper liners and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, until a toothpick pushed into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 1–2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Put the egg whites and sugar in the top of a double boiler (or use a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water) and whisk over simmering water until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Remove from the heat and whisk the mixture for 4–5 minutes.
- Add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, and continue to whisk until the mixture holds stiff peaks.
- Add the triple sec, lime zest and 2 drops of food coloring and stir until just combined.
- Spoon the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a star- shaped tip and pipe it onto the cupcakes.
Those look really yummy. I’ve never tried that flavor before.
What beautiful cupcakes and perfect for Cinco de Mayo!
Oooh Scrumptious, I notice when you use liquor in cakes it’s so moist and I can’t wait to try this one! Thank you for sharing the recipe. (hopes my tequila makes it to the bowl lol jk)
Annie! I’m cracking up because I haven’t been on Stumbleupon in forever because of login issues and this am I’m on and here is your yummy recipe! This looks good. 🙂 *thumbs up*