I made these Frozen Strawberry Vodka Drinks and I swear they’ll be the thing everyone fights over at your next party.

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I love blasting this Frozen Strawberry Margarita at any party. I’m obsessed with the slushy edge of frozen strawberries and a hit of blanco tequila that makes it sing.

It’s loud, sticky-sweet and tart all at once, and everyone always reaches for a second. But it’s not precious or fussy, just bright fruit, booze and ice colliding into one glorious mess.

Feels like the best of Alcoholic Frozen Drinks and somehow beats the other Easy Mixed Drinks To Make in my rotation. I want bowl, I want someone who likes lime.

I get smugly happy and kind of braggy now.

Ingredients

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Frozen strawberries: bright berry chill and sweet color, it melts into slushy goodness.
Blanco tequila: clean agave punch, it keeps things lively and not too sweet.
Triple sec or Cointreau: citrusy orange kick, adds a gutsy sweet note.
Fresh lime juice: zippy tang that wakes up the whole drink.
Simple syrup: balances tartness, you can dial the sweetness up or down.
Ice: controls thickness and chill, makes it slushy or smooth depending.
Coarse salt or sugar rim: adds texture and that first-sip pop.
Lime wedges: fresh aroma and a quick squeeze if you want extra zing.
Fresh strawberries: cute garnish and an extra fresh berry bite.

Ingredient Quantities

2 cups frozen strawberries, slightly thawed

1 cup blanco tequila (8 fl oz)

1/2 cup triple sec or Cointreau (4 fl oz)

1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4-5 limes)

1/4 cup simple syrup, more or less to taste

1 to 1 1/2 cups ice, depending on how thick you want it

Coarse salt or sugar for rimming glasses (optional)

Lime wedges for garnish (optional)

Fresh strawberries for garnish (optional)

How to Make this

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1. Slightly thaw the 2 cups frozen strawberries for 5 to 10 minutes so they blend easier but still cold and slushy.

2. If you want rimmed glasses, rub a lime wedge around rims, dip in coarse salt or sugar and set glasses in freezer while you make the drinks.

3. Add the strawberries to a blender first, then pour in 1 cup blanco tequila, 1/2 cup triple sec or Cointreau, and 1/2 cup fresh lime juice.

4. Add 1/4 cup simple syrup and start with 1 cup ice; you can add up to 1 1/2 cups if you want it thicker or slushier.

5. Blend on high for 30 to 60 seconds until smooth; stop and scrape down sides if bits are stuck, pulse a few times and finish blending.

6. Taste and tweak: add more simple syrup if too tart, or another splash of lime if it needs brightness. If too strong add a few more ice cubes and re-blend.

7. Pour into prepared glasses immediately so it stays frosty and thick.

8. Garnish with lime wedges and fresh strawberries on the rim or floated on top, serve with straws and a napkin because these go down easy.

9. Leftovers can get icy fast, so if you make a big batch keep it slightly under-blended and stir or re-blend briefly before serving more.

10. Drink responsibly and remember alcohol content is high since this uses 8 fl oz tequila and 4 fl oz triple sec total for the recipe.

Equipment Needed

1. High speed blender — for crushing the semi frozen strawberries and ice until perfectly smooth
2. 1 cup and 1/2 cup measuring cups plus a 1/4 cup measure — for tequila, triple sec, lime juice and simple syrup
3. Citrus juicer or reamer — makes quick work of 4 to 5 limes
4. Large spoon or rubber spatula — to scrape down blender sides and stir if needed
5. Cutting board and sharp paring knife — for lime wedges and strawberry garnishes
6. Small shallow plate or bowl — for rimming glasses with salt or sugar
7. Freezer or ice tray and a tray for chilling glasses — keep rims frosty and drink extra cold
8. Cocktail glasses, straws and napkins — serve immediately so they stay thick and easy to sip

FAQ

Can I use fresh strawberries instead of frozen? Yes, but you'll need to add more ice to get that slushy texture since fresh berries have more water. For best results, chop and freeze fresh strawberries for a few hours first or use about 3 cups fresh plus 1 to 1 1/2 cups ice.

How can I make it less sweet or more sweet? Start with the 1/4 cup simple syrup and taste. Add a tablespoon at a time until it’s right. If you want less sugar overall try agave or honey, but remember they taste stronger so add slowly.

What if I don't have triple sec or Cointreau? Triple sec or Cointreau gives orange flavor and sweetness. You can substitute 1/2 cup orange liqueur you have on hand, or use 1/4 cup dry orange liqueur plus 2 tablespoons orange juice or a little orange zest if you want less sweetness.

How do I make a virgin (nonalcoholic) version? Replace the tequila and triple sec with 1 cup chilled white grape juice or sparkling water plus 1/4 cup orange juice. Add an extra splash of lime so it still feels margarita-like. Keep the proportions of strawberries and ice the same.

How do I rim the glass so it looks pro? Rub a lime wedge around the glass rim, then dip into coarse salt or sugar on a small plate. For a pretty look chill the glasses first so the rim holds better. If you like a mix, do half salt half sugar for a sweet-salty vibe.

Can I make this ahead and store it? You can blend and freeze in a sealed container for up to 24 hours, but texture will firm up. Let it thaw in the fridge a bit, then re-blend with a splash of lime or water to get the slushy back. Avoid freezing longer or the flavors get dull.

Frozen Strawberry Margarita Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Frozen strawberries: swap with frozen raspberries or frozen mango chunks. Raspberries give a tangy punch, mango makes it sweeter and creamier if you like it tropical.
Blanco tequila: use reposado tequila for a smoother, oakier flavor, or try silver mezcal for a smoky twist. Vodka works too if you want a neutral boozy base.
Triple sec or Cointreau: sub with Grand Marnier for richer orange notes, or use dry curaçao. If you dont have any orange liqueur, a splash of fresh orange juice + a little extra simple syrup can work in a pinch.
Simple syrup: replace with agave nectar (use a bit less, its sweeter) or honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water). You can also blitz in a ripe banana or extra frozen fruit to sweeten naturally.

Pro Tips

1. Let the berries sit just long enough to loosen up, not melt, or you’ll get a watery drink. If they’re too hard your blender will fight them and leave chunks, but if they’re too soft the slush won’t hold. Tip: poke a frozen strawberry with a knife — if it slides in with slight resistance you’re good.

2. Chill the glasses before you pour, that helps the cocktail stay thick longer. If you rim them, do the salt or sugar right before pouring so it doesn’t dissolve and fall off. Also, rimming is easier if you wipe excess lime off the lip first, then press gently into the salt or sugar.

3. Add the fruit to the blender first so the blades can catch it, then the liquids, then the ice. If things stick to the sides, stop and scrape down once or twice, pulse a few times, then finish blending. Over-blending will warm it up and make it runny, so less is more.

4. Taste and fix it like you would food: too tart, add a little more simple syrup, too boozy, add more ice and blend briefly or add a splash of orange juice to mellow it. For leftovers, under-blend on purpose so you can re-blend small portions quickly without the whole batch turning icy.

Frozen Strawberry Margarita Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

I made these Frozen Strawberry Vodka Drinks and I swear they'll be the thing everyone fights over at your next party.

Servings

servings

Calories

208

kcal

Equipment: 1. High speed blender — for crushing the semi frozen strawberries and ice until perfectly smooth
2. 1 cup and 1/2 cup measuring cups plus a 1/4 cup measure — for tequila, triple sec, lime juice and simple syrup
3. Citrus juicer or reamer — makes quick work of 4 to 5 limes
4. Large spoon or rubber spatula — to scrape down blender sides and stir if needed
5. Cutting board and sharp paring knife — for lime wedges and strawberry garnishes
6. Small shallow plate or bowl — for rimming glasses with salt or sugar
7. Freezer or ice tray and a tray for chilling glasses — keep rims frosty and drink extra cold
8. Cocktail glasses, straws and napkins — serve immediately so they stay thick and easy to sip

Ingredients

2 cups frozen strawberries, slightly thawed
1 cup blanco tequila (8 fl oz)
1/2 cup triple sec or Cointreau (4 fl oz)
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4-5 limes)
1/4 cup simple syrup, more or less to taste
1 to 1 1/2 cups ice, depending on how thick you want it
Coarse salt or sugar for rimming glasses (optional)
Lime wedges for garnish (optional)
Fresh strawberries for garnish (optional)

Directions

Slightly thaw the 2 cups frozen strawberries for 5 to 10 minutes so they blend easier but still cold and slushy.
If you want rimmed glasses, rub a lime wedge around rims, dip in coarse salt or sugar and set glasses in freezer while you make the drinks.
Add the strawberries to a blender first, then pour in 1 cup blanco tequila, 1/2 cup triple sec or Cointreau, and 1/2 cup fresh lime juice.
Add 1/4 cup simple syrup and start with 1 cup ice; you can add up to 1 1/2 cups if you want it thicker or slushier.
Blend on high for 30 to 60 seconds until smooth; stop and scrape down sides if bits are stuck, pulse a few times and finish blending.
Taste and tweak: add more simple syrup if too tart, or another splash of lime if it needs brightness. If too strong add a few more ice cubes and re-blend.
Pour into prepared glasses immediately so it stays frosty and thick.
Garnish with lime wedges and fresh strawberries on the rim or floated on top, serve with straws and a napkin because these go down easy.
Leftovers can get icy fast, so if you make a big batch keep it slightly under-blended and stir or re-blend briefly before serving more.
Drink responsibly and remember alcohol content is high since this uses 8 fl oz tequila and 4 fl oz triple sec total for the recipe.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.