This recipe started as a happy accident. My sister and I decided we’d end the night with a couple of margaritas. We’d been experimenting with some fresh orange juice, and on a whim, I decided to add a honey rim to add a little bit of sweetness. We both took a sip and immediately knew this one was a keeper—the Citrus Sunshine Margarita!
It was the kind of drink that turned a casual Thursday into something a little more festive, and that’s how our neighborhood sunset cocktail tradition started. Now, every Thursday, a small crew of us gathers in the backyard, chatting about our weeks and occasionally talking each other into a second round.
Sunshine Citrus Margarita
Makes 1 cocktail (scale as needed)
Ingredients:
- Salt, cayenne pepper, and honey, for the rim (optional)
- 2 ½ ounces tequila
- 1 ½ ounces Triple Sec
- 3 ounces fresh orange juice
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- Lime slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- If salting the rim, rim the glass with a light touch of honey and dip into coarse salt. For a spicy kick, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the salt before dipping.
- Combine tequila, triple sec, orange juice, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well.
- Pour over ice and garnish with a lime slice.
- If making a larger batch, you can store in a pitcher, in the fridge, for up to 3 days. Stir well before serving.
Submitted by Sarah (Orlando, Florida)
Why We Love It
This recipe is everything we love about eating and drinking locally: it’s simple, flavorful, and there are ways to highlight the ingredients grown right here in our community. Using fresh-squeezed juice (especially from a local purveyor) makes all the difference, and supporting a neighbor in the process is the cherry on top.
Make it local: When we tried this, we used locally produced Black Bee Honey and Natalie’s Juice.
Mix it up: Try swapping in blood orange juice when it’s in season, or adding a splash of sparkling water for a little fizz. A chili-salt rim? Yes, please. However you serve it, tag us—we want to see your spin.
Want Your Recipe Featured?
This Citrus Sunshine Margarita is just the beginning. The Grow Community Cookbook: Sharing Homegrown Goodness is a community-sourced cookbook celebrating local ingredients and the people who bring them to life. Whether you’ve got a go-to family recipe or a creative DIY using backyard herbs, we want to see it. Check out the terms & conditions for submission guidelines and let us know what’s growing at your table. Cheers to fresh sips, local love, and neighbors who bring the good ice.
