Prickly Pear Margarita

Prickly Pear Margaritas are one of my favorite cocktails to make, simply because of how pretty they turn out every time. The pink color is always so vibrant, and I love garnishing the glasses with a coarse margarita salt rim, lime wedges, and pineapple leaves for an extra tropical look!

They’re a smooth cocktail that’s refreshing to drink, so don’t be surprised when you’re asked to make another batch! Just be careful, as this smooth drink is made with a good amount of tequila and cointreau.

So let’s get in to what makes these margaritas so tasty, shall we? Prickly pear syrup is the star of the show and definitely one of my favorite flavors to use in drinks. It’s sweet, but not so sweet with a bit of tartness that balances it perfectly. The lime juice further adds to the tangy notes of the prickly pear syrup, while the cointreau mixes in a fruity citrus to the cocktail. All of these fruity, sweet, tangy and slightly sour flavors mix SO well with the tequila!

How to Make a Prickly Pear Margarita

This is a quick and easy margarita recipe, which is yet another reason I love making these during parties!

1. Shake it up! Add the tequila, cointreau, lime juice and prickly pear syrup in a cocktail shaker. Shake well to combine.
2. Rim it. Pour the salt onto a small plate or bowl. Rim the edge a margarita glass with a slice of lime to moisten and dip into salt.
3. Enjoy! Pour the margarita into glass over ice. Garnish with a lime slice and pineapple leaves.

How to Make Prickly Pear Syrup

I usually like to buy mine from the store to save some time, but making your own syrup is always a delicious way to impress.

1. To make prickly pear syrup, simply boil a pot of water and add about 3 pounds of prickly pears to the pot.
2. Lower the heat and add a lid to the pot, allowing the pears to seep for about half an hour. Once they’re tender, mash them with a potato masher or wooden spoon before straining the seeds out of the mix. Bring the juice (with none of the seeds!) to a simmer and toss some sugar in there. I find that two cups of sugar is sweet enough for me, but you can add more as desired.
3. Add the juice of one lemon to the mix, stirring to combine. Keep in mind that you can add more or less sugar and lemon juice as you see fit!