Margarita ice cream recipe with bright lime flavor and a smooth creamy texture inspired by the classic cocktail. Made using the Master Ice Cream Method for a refreshing dessert.
This margarita ice cream recipe transforms the bright, refreshing flavors of the classic margarita cocktail into a smooth, creamy dessert. Fresh lime adds vibrant citrus flavor while a touch of tequila brings the unmistakable character of the traditional drink. The result is an ice cream that is both refreshing and sophisticated, with a balance of sweet creaminess and lively citrus.
The idea for this recipe grew out of travel experiences where the flavors of lime and tequila appear everywhere—from seaside cafés to festive celebrations. The margarita has long been associated with warm climates, relaxed gatherings, and the simple pleasure of fresh citrus paired with good tequila. Turning those flavors into ice cream captures the spirit of those moments in a dessert that feels both playful and elegant.
Like many recipes on this site, this one reflects The Master Pantry philosophy: begin with a reliable master technique and adapt it with ingredients and inspirations discovered through travel and local food traditions. By using the Master Ice Cream Method as the foundation, the bold flavors of lime and tequila become part of a silky, balanced ice cream that brings a taste of the margarita glass into frozen form.
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Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Table of contents
What it is
This recipe for Margarita ice cream makes a smooth and decadent tequila ice cream with ribbons of lime and sprinkled with salt – all the flavors of a Margarita cocktail.
What is a Margarita
A margarita is a popular tequila-based cocktail composed of tequila, orange liqueur (such as triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier), and fresh lime juice – often served in a salt-rimmed glass.
Ingredients
We started with the best ingredients, and that’s what makes this the best margarita ice cream recipe. Brands vary in quality, so we have listed what we used.
The tequila and orange liqueur were easy to put in our ice cream recipe, since we usually put alcohol in to lower the freezing temperature of the mix. We made the ice cream using our master ice cream recipe, because we knew it made a perfect vanilla ice cream. Then we used the tequila instead of the vodka and added the triple sec and lime marmalade for flavor.
However, getting enough lime flavoring in the ice cream was difficult. It was impossible to get enough lime flavor without the ice cream becoming icy. We found the answer was to add a ribbon of lime preserves. This is like marmalade, but made with lime instead of oranges. A vendor at our local farmers’ market, Midway, makes some incredible lime marmalade, so this part turned out to be easy.
The ice cream stayed creamy, the preserves did not freeze solid, and the flavor was a big hit of lime. Surprisingly, the tequila and orange liqueur flavor did not get lost, but rather added just enough flavor to taste like a margarita. The final touch was serving it with a few salt crystals on top.
Lime Marmalade
We realized that we could not get enough flavor using fresh fruit without the ice cream becoming icy and grainy. Cooking the fruit into a jam with sugar and pectin prevents this. We could have made the jam ourselves, but we found some at the local farmers’ market, made by a local chef sold by her company The Midway.
Tequila
Alcohol lowers the freezing point, keeping the ice cream smooth as it hardens. Too much, and the ice cream won’t freeze. One tablespoon of an 80 proof alcohol is needed, but we used a little more in this recipe. The alcohol was one tablespoon of tequila (we used Don Julio), and also a teaspoon of orange liqueur (we used Grand Marnier, a triple orange liqueur that is from France), since margaritas usually have some orange liqueur in them. The alcohols were top shelf because they are there to add flavor and even this small amount makes a difference. We were going for the best margarita ice cream recipe.
Cream
Horizon Organics Cream is a high quality product – Organic and produced sustainably from pasture raised cows. It has a rich, sweet, and fresh dairy flavor.
Sugar
Wholesome Regenerative Organic Certified Cane Sugar – produced from organic sugar cane fields that are green cut and are not burned or treated with herbicides or synthetic fertilizers.
Vanilla
Heilala Vanilla – Ethically sourced and harvested, produced using environmentally sustainably methods.
Crème Fraîche
We use crème fraîche in the recipe to keep the ice cream from freezing solid. And to make sure it’s the best, we made it ourselves from Horizon cream and a real crème fraîche starter. It’s actually very easy. See the link to our recipe below.
No Affiliates Statement
We call this our “no affiliates” statement because we accept no advertising, have no affiliates and accept no payment. We are not paid to mention brands – we just love buying the best, sharing that information and saving the planet at the same time. The effort put into writing and photographing the blog is solely based on our dedication to the cause.
Sustainability
True to The Master Pantry philosophy, every ingredient in this recipe is chosen with intention—favoring quality, seasonality, and sustainable production practices whenever possible.
With a background in agriculture and years of experience working alongside farmers, regulators, and researchers, I’ve seen firsthand how the way our food is grown affects not only flavor, but soil health, ecosystems, and long-term food security.
This recipe reflects that understanding. Above, you will notice that the description of each ingredient includes some mention of how it is sustainable and why it matters—so you can cook with both confidence and care.
Method
This recipe uses an easy, foolproof method that requires only a few minutes of active time. Check out our Master Ice Cream Method for a more detailed explanation on how this works.
- Measure the ingredients by weight
- Simmer the syrup mixture while whipping the sugar and egg mixture
- Slowly add the syrup mixture to the egg mixture, then add the rest of the ingredients
- Chill the mixture
- Freeze in an Ice Cream Maker
- Chill in the Freezer
This recipe uses our Master Ice Cream Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making ice cream.
Why this Works
The cream and syrup are heated while the egg and sugar are whipped. Then the cream mixture is added to the egg mixture, which brings the egg to a high enough temperature that it is safe to use in ice cream without having to temper the mixture, which can be more difficult to do. The flavors are added afterward so they are not cooked, which might reduce the flavor.
The highest quality ingredients are used, and flavor is added at every opportunity – Horizon cream, tequila, orange liqueur, Wholesome sugar, and lime marmalade.
This recipe is made with ingredients that help keep the ice crystals small while the ice cream is churning and afterwards while it is hardening. This keeps it smooth and creamy. The ingredients that are key to keeping the ice crystals small are:
- Cultured cream – the beneficial bacterial culture in Crème fraîche
- egg – the fat and protein in the egg, and cooking the egg denatures the protein
- invert sugar – the concentration of sugar in relation to water lowers the freezing point
- alcohol – the alcohol lowers the freezing point
- marmalade – the fruit has been cooked with sugar and has less water so will not freeze solid like fresh fruit does.
Celebration in Mexico
We created the best margarita ice cream recipe to celebrate Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe this year. This is a smooth and decadent ice cream made with tequila and triple sec, like a margarita drink, ribbons of lime and sprinkled with salt, like the salt on the rim of the glass.
We were in Mexico city on December 12 for Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe. It is a day to honor Our Lady of Guadelupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe (Spanish: Virgen de Guadalupe), and a day of celebration. We visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe where thousands of pilgrims were gathering.
Celebrations also included plenty of food. Fruits and Ice cream from the street vendors, flowers from the markets, and candy from the specialty shops.
This year we are celebrating by creating a Mexican inspired ice cream with the flavors of a margarita. After working out how to incorporate the ingredients that are usually found in a Margarita, we created a recipe that was perfect for a celebration, and my new favorite flavor.
RECIPE
Equipment
CHOOSING BRANDS:
For certain products, the choice of brand will make a big difference in the outcome of the recipe and in your carbon footprint. So, for those products, we have listed the brand. We are not paid to mention a brand and have no affiliates.
Ingredients
- 450 grams Horizon cream
- 85 grams corn syrup
- 1 large egg
- 70 grams Wholesome regenerative organic sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 50 grams Creme fraîche homemade from Horizon cream
- 1 Tablespoon tequila
- 1 teaspoon orange liqueur
- 1 zest of one lime
- 60 grams lime marmalade
- Maldon salt
Instructions
PREPARE THE STORAGE CONTAINER
- Put a glass storage container in the freezer.
MEASURE THE INGREDIENTS
- Use a scale to measure the ingredients – zeroing the scale between measurements. Into a small saucepan, measure the cream and corn syrup.Into the mixing bowl of the stand mixer, measure the egg, sugar and salt. Into a small bowl, measure the crème fraiche, tequila, orange liqueur and zest.Into a small bowl, measure the marmalade and place it in the freezer.
MIX THE INGREDIENTS
- In the stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk together the egg, sugar and salt for at least 2 minutes on medium speed.
- While the stand mixer is whisking the egg and sugar, put the saucepan on the stove and bring the cream and corn syrup to a simmer, and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring to combine and keep from scalding.
- Switch the mixer to low speed and very slowly add the cream and corn syrup mixture. This should take about a minute to add.
- Continue whisking on low and add the crème fraiche, tequila, orange liqueur and zest. Continue whisking just until combined.
- Cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight, or you can use an ice bath to bring it down to 45° F, if you are in a hurry.
FREEZE THE MIXTURE
- Pre-chill the ice cream maker by letting it run for 5 minutes before adding the mixture.
- Pour into the ice cream maker and freeze according to the directions.
- When the ice cream maker is finished, quickly transfer the ice cream into the glass container that has been in the freezer, cover, and put the container back in the freezer for ten minutes.
- Remove the ice cream and the marmalade from the freezer. Working quickly, spread the marmalade in two stripes down the center of the ice cream. Fold the ice cream over the marmalade and spread back and forth in just a couple of motions to mix together. Quickly put the ice cream back in the freezer over night to harden.
- Serve with a few crystals of salt sprinkled on top.
- Can be stored in the freezer for up to a week
Nutrition
WHY THIS RECIPE IS A GAME CHANGER:
This recipe is a total game-changer — crafted with the finest [brand name] ingredients, simplified using a master recipe with pro-tested techniques from top chefs and bakers, and designed for deliciously sustainable cooking made easy.”
A Variety of Flavors from this one Master Ice Cream Method
These recipes use our Master Ice Cream Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making ice cream.
True to The Master Pantry philosophy, this recipe combines the best seasonal ingredients and quality brands with homemade methods to maximize both flavor and sustainability. It was inspired by our travels and works well as a holiday recipe.
Photos by Tony Fitzgerald Photography
Recipes created by Lisa LeCoump — Food Photographer, Agricultural Expert, and Home Baker. Sharing master recipes, chef secrets, and sustainable baking for every kitchen. Featured on various publications.