Homemade Margarita Recipe with Limoncello

This Homemade Margarita Recipe is a citrusy classic that adds a new refreshing twist with homemade limoncello liqueur. The perfect summertime, “relax-on-your deck” kinda drink. The core of this sweet-tart limoncello libation is frozen limeade, freshly squeezed lemons, orange liqueur, and of course, the thing that makes a margarita, the beloved tequila.

I love laid-back summer evenings, my husband and me sitting on the deck watching the sun disappear beyond the horizon. Believe it or not, here in Kansas City, in the middle of America, we have the most gorgeous sunsets. With shades of blue as its backdrop, the sky is lit on fire with the brilliant rich colors of crimson, oranges, and yellows.

Some days, as they fade into the evening, feel alive, productive, and purposeful. Others, well, not so much. But either way, this is a time for decompressing, evaluating and reassessing for the dawning of a new day tomorrow. One of my favorite ways to do this is with a drink in hand. And one of the BEST summertime drinks is this Limoncello Margarita.

Why I love this Homemade Margarita Recipe:

Depth and richness are added to this margarita because of the limoncello. Limoncello, a luxurious lemon liqueur that is both zingy and sweet, contributes a robust intensity to the drink. The flavors merge wonderfully together for an exhilarating finished product.

This recipe is not “over-the-top” sweet. Margaritas, in general, tend to be too sugary for my taste. But the Limoncello and tart frozen limeade take the place of simple syrup and tone down the candied-like flavor. It is sweet but not “too” sweet.

It’s super simple to throw together. Throw everything in a pitcher, stir and serve. It’s that easy!

This is a make-ahead recipe that can serve a crowd. Instead of playing bartender all night by making individual drinks, Limoncello Margaritas can be mixed up early that morning and stored in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, pour and add ice.

Limoncello – Italian Lemon Liqueur

The key to Limoncello Margaritas is the limoncello (homemade or store-bought) which is an Italian lemon liqueur. Limoncello is one of the most popular drinks in Italy, second only to Campari and served chilled many times as an after-dinner drink. When added to a regular margarita, the flavor is intensified to a whole new level. And gives it a little more jolt, if you know what I mean.

The homemade Limoncello that goes into these margaritas is not a last-minute throw together kind of drink. It’s a bit of a chore, but the outcome is much more appealing than the store-bought kind unless, of course, you get it imported directly from Italy. And by the way, it could become quite expensive. There’s no comparison though in the cost of making it yourself, which is what I did for this recipe.

Limoncello Margarita Cocktail Recipe – A Few Simple Ingredients

Limoncello, silver tequila, triple sec, fresh lemons, and frozen limeade concentrate … that’s it for the drink itself. Depending on how many servings you want, you can calculate how many of these ingredients you’ll need. This recipe serves four, but you can easily increase it for a crowd. Multiply it by five and it should give you a gallon’s worth of “party time” to serve about 20. Two gallons would serve about 40 and so on.

It’s remarkably easy to mix up.  Start with the juice of two large lemons, four ounces each of the liquors, and 1/2 cup of the frozen limeade concentrate. And literally, all you do is stir, pour into margarita glasses and add crushed ice. Then it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy the evening.

Sugar or Salt Rim?

In my opinion, the rim is what MAKES this drink come alive. I don’t know about you, but I’m a sugar-kinda girl. I’ve never acquired the taste for salt and margarita. It’s just not been my thing. But sugar, oh man, that’s the “cherry on top” for me. There are others that swear it’s not a true margarita if it doesn’t have the salted rim. I would love for you to share in the comments below which you prefer.

How to make Citrus Zested Sugar or Salt for the Rim

Using a cup of coarse sugar and the zest of two lemons, mix them together. You can use the zest of three limes as well. Either one gives you the extra zing on the rim. Pour it onto a saucer that you’ll use for dipping. The additional mixture can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.

How to rim a glass

First and foremost: If you have it, use a margarita glass. The wide rim allows for extra salt or sugar to enjoy throughout the drink experience.

You need to wet the rim of the glass in order for the sugar/salt to adhere to it. There are two ways to do this. You can either use a lemon or lime wedge and run it around the rim of the glass. Or, do what I did here and use a saucer of water, about 1/8-inch deep, turn the margarita glass upside down, and dip the rim into it. Shake the excess water off and dip the rim into the saucer of citrus sugar.

The Garnishment tops it off

A fun garnish to this Homemade Margarita Recipe is a slice of lemon with a mint sprig stuck in the middle. It makes a beautiful presentation as it floats on top of the margarita.

This Margarita Recipe has an Italian lemon twist compared to the limes of a traditional margarita. It’s a nice change of pace if you’re looking for something a little different.

Now the time has come for you to mix up a glass or pitcher, settle in for the evening and enjoy a delightfully refreshing libation. Be careful though, there is a lot of alcohol in this little power-packed drink.

If you’re looking for more summertime cocktail recipes, please check these out:

Moscow Mules with a Cucumber Twist

Berry Infused White Rum Mojito

Basil and Fresh Peach Bourbon Cocktail

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