I don’t remember my first margarita… but I do remember growing up in Syracuse, NY and going to my family’s favorite Mexican restaurant, Garcia’s. We’d go on special occasions, good grades on our report cards, birthday dinners, etc. Being about ten years old, I obviously never tried a margarita when I was there, but my parents would always get one. My sister and I would steal the colorful swizzle sticks that came decorating the salted rim glass and put them in our soda cups; suddenly our drinks became fancy and special too! Since then Garcia’s has shut down, and sadly been replaced by an “all you can eat” Chinese buffet… but I’ll always remember it as Garcia’s. Years later, I’ve definitely tried more than a few margaritas, some more authentic than others. From blended margaritas to flavored margaritas (strawberry, mango, you name it), I have to say, my favorite is simply the classic, made with tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Salt the rim, and it doesn’t get much better, unless of course, you invite a cupcake to the party! This cupcake pairs almost too well with a margarita; it’s a lime cake with a tequila frosting and just a pinch of sea salt sprinkled on top. Sweet, sour, and refreshing, I introduce: the margarita cupcake.

Margarita Cupcake

Cake Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

How: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, cream butter, eggs, and sugar. In a separate bowl, combine the flours. Slowly alternate adding the flour and the lime juice to the butter mixture until thoroughly combined. Add the vanilla extract. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full, and bake for 18 minutes, or until a fork comes out clean. Frost with Tequila Frosting and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt.

Tequila Frosting:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup tequila
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1 stick cold butter

How: Cream together cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Alternate slowly adding the tequila and the powdered sugar until the frosting is light and fluffy.

 

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Classic Margarita 

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces tequila, preferably reposado or blanco
• 1 ounce Cointreau
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Salt for garnish

How: Combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice in cocktail shaker filled with a handful of ice.

Wet rim of chosen glass, with leftover lime. Hold glass upside down and dip rim into salt.

Shake drink, strain and stir.

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