• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Frosted Kitchen logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Decorating
  • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Decorating
    • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Cookie Decorating

    Margarita Buttercream Frosting Recipe

    Published: May 5, 2021 · Modified: Apr 12, 2023 by Courtney Karl · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    I have two very important questions to ask you before you make this margarita buttercream frosting:

    1. Do you like buttercream?
    2. Do you like margaritas?

    If your answer to both of these questions is 'YES' then this boozy cupcake frosting recipe is for you. You can top off any dessert with this frosting - cupcakes, cookies, cake, etc.

    Do Alcohol Infused Cupcakes get you Drunk?

    The short answer is yes it can. Even when you bake, sauté, simmer, etc. some of the alcohol may burn off, but there are many factors that will play into how much alcohol will remain. I found a great source from Idaho State News from a registered dietitian where she goes into more detail about the various factors that contribute.

    Since this buttercream recipe is not baked or heated in any way, all of the alcohol content from the tequila will remain. There almost 2 shots of tequila in this recipe, though it is spread out across 24 decorated cupcakes. So will it get you drunk, probably not. But you should not consume this recipe if you cannot consume alcohol for any reason including pregnancy, religious beliefs, recovery, health reasons, etc.

    Cupcake with Margarita Buttercream Frosting

    What flavors pair well with Margarita Frosting?

    You can use any type of recipe including cookies, cakes, and cupcakes to go with this Margarita Buttercream Frosting. I would highly recommend a white, yellow, vanilla, or butter-based cake/cookie. I do not think chocolate would blend as well, but if you try it - let me know!

    I decided to use Funfetti cupcakes, because, well, who doesn't like Funfetti?!

    Ingredients for Tequila Lime Buttercream

    • Unsalted Butter
    • Powdered Sugar
    • Lime Juice & Zest
    • Margarita Mix
    • Tequila
    • Salt
    • Food Coloring

    Supplies to Decorate Margarita Cupcakes

    • Stand Mixer (hand mixer will work too)
    • Large Piping Bag
    • 1M Piping Tip
    • Paper Straws
    • Lime wedge for topping
    • Coarse sugar for topping
    • Cupcakes, cake, or cookies to decorate

    How to Make Tequila Lime Buttercream Frosting

    Measure out 4 ¼ cups of powdered sugar (465g) in a bowl, set aside.

    Add your butter to a large bowl. Make sure the butter is room temperature to slightly cool (it should not be softened). Cream on high for about 2 minutes until the butter starts to lighten in color. If you are using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, you will begin to hear the butter slap against the bowl.

    Process picture - whipping butter for buttercream

    At this point, turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time. Continue adding in ½  cup increments until all of the powdered sugar has been added and incorporated. The mixture will be very thick, clumpy, and will kind of look like a big glop of butter.

    Process Shot - Adding powdered sugar to butter

    Add the lime juice, zest, tequila, margarita mix, and salt. Turn your mixer up to high and beat for about 4 minutes. You will start to see the margarita buttercream frosting come together. The mixture will begin to smooth out, thicken, and expand.

    whipped butter for frosting

    After the 4 minutes, add your green food coloring, and beat for another minute. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure all of the icing has been mixed and the color is consistent.

    Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and using a spatula, mix the frosting to remove the air bubbles and get a final smooth finish.

    Lime Green Buttercream

    Decorate Margarita Cupcakes

    Add your buttercream to a piping bag. Proceed to decorate your boozy cupcakes (or whatever dessert you picked).

    For my decorations, I piped a swirl of margarita frosting on each cupcake using a 1M piping tip. Then I sprinkled coarse sanding sugar on the edges of each frosted cupcake.

    I cut up paper straws to shorter lengths and popped one in each cupcake, and garnished with a lime wedge!

    With this recipe, you will be able to decorate about 24 cupcakes with a heaping amount of frosting. Each of my cupcakes had approximately 33g of frosting on top.

    decorating the margarita buttercream cupcakes

    Can You Make Buttercream Ahead of Time?

    You can make margarita buttercream frosting ahead of time. To store, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or the freezer for up to 3 months. When you remove it from the refrigerator or freezer, let it come to room temperature. Unwrap and place in your mixing bowl, beat for 3-4 minutes on high.

    I hope you enjoy this fun margarita buttercream! If you try this recipe, please tag me in your creations on Instagram.

    • Royal Icing Margarita Glass Tutorial
    • Ultimate Guide to Royal Icing for Beginners 
    Pinterest Image - how to decorate margarita cookies
    Cupcake with Margarita Buttercream

    Margarita Buttercream Recipe

    Easy tequila and lime flavored buttercream frosting for delicious boozy margarita cupcake or cake.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Keyword: Buttercream, Margarita
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes

    Ingredients

    • 4¼ cups Powdered Sugar (465g)
    • 2 cups Unsalted Butter
    • 1 lime Juice and Zest
    • 6 tablespoon Margarita Mix
    • 5 tablespoon Tequila
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3-5 drops Green Food Coloring

    Instructions

    • Measure 4¼ cups of powdered sugar in bowl, set aside.
    • Add room temperature to slightly cool butter to stand mixer with the paddle (you can use a hand mixer but you will need to add beating time). Beat on high for about 2 minutes until butter turns lighter in color and starts to make a slapping sound against the bowl.
    • While beating on low, add ½ cup of powdered sugar to the butter. Continue until all of the powdered sugar is added. The mixture will be very clumpy.
    • Add the margarita mix, tequila, salt, lime juice from 1 lime, and a pinch of lime zest. Beat on high for about 4 minutes. The mixture will start to smooth and expand.
    • Add neon green food coloring and continue to beat on high for another 1 minute. Scrape sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure all of the sugars are mixed and food coloring is consistent.
    • Decorate your cupcakes, cake, or cookies!

    Notes

    • Once completed, if there are too many air bubbles, mix with a spatula to release. 
    • You can make the buttercream ahead of time (or store if there is extra). Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. When you want to use it again, remove and let it come to room temperature. Whip with a stand mixer for 3-4 minutes until smooth again. 
    • This recipe will decorate approximately 24 cupcakes. 

    More Cookie Decorating

    • Heart cookies on a wire rack with royal icing.
      Valentine's Day Heart Cookie Decorating Ideas (Royal Icing)
    • Airtight containers filled with cookies
      How to Freeze Decorated Sugar Cookies
    • Red velvet and chocolate cake pieces stacked on a plate.
      Red Velvet vs Chocolate: What is the Difference? 
    • Royal icing cookies stored in glass container.
      How to Store Royal Icing and Decorated Cookies

    Primary Sidebar

    picture of Courtney

    Hi, I'm Courtney! I have been baking and decorating cookies for over 10 years. I love turning sweets into works of art and can't wait to show you all my favorite tips, tricks, and recipes!

    More about me →

    Subscribe for Updates

    Popular Posts

    • crisco chocolate chip cookies in a bowl
      Ultimate Crisco Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • 5 royal icing bags on a drying rack
      How to Make Royal Icing Shiny 
    • piping bags filled with shades of pink royal icing
      The Ultimate Guide to Royal Icing Cookie Decorating {For Beginners}
    • 5 Peanut butter cookies sitting on a marble counter.
      Easy Peanut Butter Cookies Without Brown Sugar

    Never Miss a New Recipe




    Recent Posts

    • Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • How to Measure Flour the Right Way (Spoon & Level Method)
    • Easy Heart Shaped Cookies (Without a Cookie Cutter)
    • Decorated Snowflake Christmas Cookie Ideas
    • The Best Chocolate Drop Cookie Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 The Frosted Kitchen on the Seasoned Pro Theme

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Privacy Policy