Nothing says Christmas in Texas like margaritas! Texans know there’s no such thing as tequila season and see no reason to relegate their cactus juice to the warmer months. Tequila is such a unique flavor that goes surprisingly well with seasonal holiday ingredients. Checkout our list of festive fermentations and cowboy up to a Texas Christmas!
Smokey Santa Rita
Ingredients
1 serrano chile
3 oz. fresh lime juice, plus wheels for rims and for serving
1 tsp. flaky sea salt
1 tsp. sumac (optional)
2 tsp. superfine sugar
2 tbsp. packed fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for serving
6 oz. 100% agave silver tequila
3 oz. Cointreau
Directions
Place chile directly over a gas flame, or in a dry cast-iron skillet preheated over high and cook, turning a few times, until blackened all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; let cool completely.
Rub a lime wheel around the rims of 2 rocks glasses. Combine salt and sumac on a small plate. Dip rims of glasses into salt mixture to coat. Halve chile lengthwise; remove stem, ribs, and seeds.
Divide chile, sugar, and mint leaves evenly between 2 glasses; gently pound with a muddling stick or the handle end of a thick wooden spoon until sugar dissolves and chile breaks down into tiny pieces.
Fill glasses halfway with ice. Divide tequila, liqueur, and lime juice evenly between glasses; stir to combine. Garnish each with a mint sprig and lime wheel and serve immediately.
Mistletoe Margaritas
Ingredients
½ c. whole cranberries
½ c. granulated sugar, divided
2 tbsp. kosher salt
1 wedge lime, for rim
2 c. cranberry juice
12 oz. silver tequila
8 oz. triple sec
½ c. plus 1 tbsp. lime juice, divided
12 c. ice
Mint, for garnish
Directions
In a medium bowl, toss cranberries with 1 tbsp. lime juice. Drain out lime juice, then toss with 2 tbsps. sugar. Pour onto a baking sheet to dry.
Combine remaining sugar with salt on a shallow plate and mix to combine. Using the lime wedge, wet rim of each glass, then dip in sugar salt mixture.
Combine cranberry juice, tequila, triple sec, remaining ½ cup lime juice, and ice in a large blender, working in batches if necessary. Blend until smooth.
Pour into prepared glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint and a couple sugared cranberries.
White Christmas Rita
Ingredients
1 (14-oz.) can unsweetened coconut milk
12 oz. silver tequila
8 oz. triple sec
¼ c. lime juice
4 c. ice
Lime wedge, for rimming glass
Sanding sugar, for rimming glass
Lime slices, for garnish
Cranberries, for garnish
Directions
Combine coconut milk, tequila, triple sec, lime juice and ice in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Rim glasses with lime wedge and dip in sanding sugar. Pour into glass and garnish with lime and cranberries.
Spiced Cider Rita
Ingredients
5 oz. spiced apple cider (regular cider works too)
1½ oz. silver tequila
½ oz. Grand Marnier
½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
For garnish: (optional)
Lemon wedge
2 tbsp. raw sugar
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
Cinnamon sticks
Apple slices
Directions
Start by rimming the glass. In a small bowl, combine the raw sugar and cinnamon. Moisten the rim of the cocktail glass with a lemon wedge, and then immediately dip the glass in cinnamon sugar. (You’ll have enough cinnamon sugar for about 4-5 cocktail glasses.)
Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well combined. Pour over ice into your rimmed cocktail glass and serve. Garnish with an apple slice, a cinnamon stick, and a dash of ground cinnamon.
Reindeer Rita
Ingredients
2 oz. tequila
1 oz. Irish Cream salted caramel
½ cup half and half
½ cup almond milk
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. cinnamon
2 cinnamon sticks
1 maraschino cherry
Directions
In a cocktail glass, add tequila, Bailey’s, half and half, almond milk, and vanilla. Stir.
Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
Add two cinnamon sticks pointing towards each side of glass to look like antlers.
Cut a small slit at bottom of cherry to place on rim.
Santa’s Little Rita
Ingredients
1 ½ oz. Silver Tequila
1 oz. Orange juice
1 oz. Cranberry juice
½ oz. Margarita mix
½ oz. triple sec
Fresh Cranberries
Margarita salt
Simple syrup
Directions
Add simple syrup to a plate, set to the side.
Add margarita salt to a plate then roll rim of the glasses in the simple syrup then into the margarita salt.
Set glasses aside. Add Ice to your glass.
In a bar shaker add your tequila, orange juice, margarita mix, and triple sec shake to combine. Pour your mix into your glasses and top with cranberry juice.
Garnish with fresh cranberries.
