Margarita Cupcakes with Salted Tequila Frosting

Margarita Cupcakes with Salted Tequila Frosting make the PERFECT dessert for Cinco de Mayo, taco Tuesday, ladies night and more! This dairy free recipe, which makes SIX cupcakes, tastes like its boozy namesake. Lime zest and lime juice add tartness to the batter. Once baked, decorate with salty-sweet tequila frosting, then serve. Moist and flavorful, Margarita Cupcakes with Salted Tequila Icing are sure to be a winner at your next get-together!

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I like margaritas as much as the next person within reason… (Y’all know me and tequila have a long, dark history.)

But… and I know this is going to come across as a shock…

Why does Cinco de Mayo have to be all about the drinks?

Feel free to pick up your jaw off the floor any moment now. I know.

Yes, I realize this is the pot calling the kettle black. It’s well-known around these parts that I adore festive cocktails for all occasions. Heck, I’ve got a Cinco de Mayo drink recipe coming up later this week, but today?

Well, today, we’re making a boozy dessert that’s going to make tequila fans so freakin’ happy.

I’ve wanted to try my hand at baking a boozy cupcake for a while now, but I was unsure how it would go over. In my brain, the result would be clear: AMAZING or UTTERLY TERRIBLE.

^^ All caps was totally needed to add the dramaaaaaaa.

Turns out, if you want a fluffy, incredibly moist and flavorful boozy baked good, this Margarita Cupcake is the way to go.

The lime just sings in the cake. And the icing…

I’ll put it this way: If you don’t like margaritas or the taste of tequila you should try another recipe on The Speckled Palate (like these small batch strawberry cupcakes, which were the inspiration for this recipe!) instead of this one.

If you’re a margarita or tequila fan? Get excited.

These Margarita Cupcakes taste like their namesake, right down to that strong tequila kick after the lime does its tart-sweet thing, then the salty aftertaste. (Because who doesn’t love their margarita salted?!?)

I can see these cupcakes being dangerous, which is why I intentionally made this recipe a small batch to make just SIX cupcakes.

So while you could probably get drunk off these cupcakes, I advise sharing with friends as you celebrate whatever you’re celebrating, whether it’s a holiday, a birthday or a random weeknight.

Sharing is caring, after all.

And nothing says you care like a boozy dessert.

Margarita Cupcake Essentials

• Muffin tin.
• Cupcake liners.
• Zester.
• Citrus juicer.

Get the look!

• Threshold Round Basic Appetizer Plate.
• Green cupcake liners.

You ready to learn how to make this goodness?

It’s easy! Here’s how I did it:

5 from 1 vote

Print

Margarita Cupcakes with Salted Tequila Frosting

Margarita Cupcakes with Salted Tequila Frosting make the PERFECT dessert for Cinco de Mayo, taco Tuesday, ladies night and more! This dairy free recipe, which makes SIX cupcakes, tastes like its boozy namesake. Lime zest and lime juice add tartness to the batter. Once baked, decorate with salty-sweet tequila frosting, then serve. Moist and flavorful, Margarita Cupcakes with Salted Tequila Icing are sure to be a winner at your next get-together!

Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes

Total Time 23 minutes

Servings 6 cupcakes

Author Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate

Ingredients

Margarita Cupcakes

• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil melted
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed
• Zest of 1 lime
• 1 oz. silver tequila
• 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Salted Tequila Frosting

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 oz. silver tequila
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Make the Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place six cupcake liners in a cupcake pan, spray lightly with nonstick baking spray, then set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites and granulated sugar.

3. Measure in the coconut oil, vanilla extract, lime zest, lime juice and tequila. Whisk until all the wet ingredients are combined.

4. Add the flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl, and whisk until the ingredients are combined and smooth. (The batter will be very liquidy, so don’t be discouraged.)

5. Measure the batter evenly into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about ¾ of the way full.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

7. Let the cupcakes cool and come to room temperature before icing. (This should take 30 or so minutes, depending on how warm your kitchen is.)

Make the Frosting

1. In a large glass bowl, combine the powdered sugar and salt. Whisk together until combined, then pour in the tequila.

2. Whisk until the mixture is smooth. (It will be relatively thick.)

3. Transfer the frosting into a decorating bag or a plastic bag for decorating, then when the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost them.

4. Zest additional lime zest over the tops of the cupcakes, and serve!

How do you feel about margaritas?

Would you try a boozy cupcake?