This pumpkin margarita is the easiest way to bring fall flavor to a porch evening, a Friendsgiving table, or a game-day gathering.
Pumpkin season in the South does not stop at the pie. When the evenings cool off and the porch lights come on a little earlier, a glass with real pumpkin, warm maple, and a bright squeeze of lime feels right at home. It is smooth, lightly spiced, and made one glass at a time, so it works just as well for a quiet night in as it does for a crowd.
Porch Swing Pumpkin Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz Zumbador tequila
- 2 tbsp 100% pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- 1 oz Cointreau or orange liqueur (optional, can be substituted)
- ¾ oz pure maple syrup
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- ⅛ to 1 tsp ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- Ice
How to Make It
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, pumpkin puree, orange liqueur, maple syrup, lime juice, and cinnamon.
- Shake hard for about 15 seconds, until the shaker is very cold and the puree is fully blended.
- Strain over fresh ice in a margarita glass.
- Garnish and serve right away.
Tips for the Best Pumpkin Margarita
- Check the can. Use 100% pure pumpkin puree. Pie filling is sweetened and spiced, and it will throw off the balance.
- Start light on spice. The cinnamon range is wide, so begin with ⅛ teaspoon, taste, and build from there.
- Shake it well. Puree needs a hard shake to blend smoothly into the tequila and lime.
- Squeeze fresh lime. Bottled juice flattens the drink.
Variations
- Reposado or blanco: Reposado leans warm and oaky. Blanco keeps the drink crisper and more citrus-forward.
- No orange liqueur: Leave it out or swap in a splash of fresh orange juice, and taste before adding more maple.
- A Southern twist: Try cane syrup in place of maple for a deeper, more caramel note. Start with a little less and adjust.
- Alcohol-free: Skip the tequila and orange liqueur, then top with sparkling water or ginger beer.
