Frozen Watermelon Margarita
These frozen watermelon margaritas are a delicious mix of chilled watermelon, sugar, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. The ideal drink for hot summer days!
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Table of Contents
- About Frozen Watermelon Margarita
- How do you freeze watermelon?
- How long can you freeze watermelon?
- Can you substitute Grand Marnier for Cointreau?
- Do you have to use triple sec?
- Can you make this drink in advance?
- How to pick a watermelon
- Notes & tips for this watermelon margarita
- Other fun drink recipes
- How to make a watermelon margarita
- Recipe Details
About Frozen Watermelon Margarita
I’m always down for a good mixed drink, but there was something about these frozen watermelon margaritas that stuck with me.
Maybe it was the tasty sweetness, which was “there” but still so very delicate watermelon perfection.
Or maybe it was the fact that this drink doesn’t include ice, so it never waters down and loses its flavor. This drink isn’t immune to heat, of course, but it will taste the same no matter how hot it gets outside.
Or maybe it was the fact that I got to serve this frozen margarita with even more slices of watermelon as a garnish along the rim. And I may have dunked those slices into the margarita a time or two.
Well, actually, I dunked them eight times, because it was as delicious as it sounds.
I could keep going, but I think you get the picture by now.
There’s no shortage of reasons why fans of watermelon or margaritas are sure to love this drink.
How do you freeze watermelon?
I recommend cutting the watermelon into cubes (one or two inches in size) before freezing. Watermelon should freeze solid within four to six hours, depending on the temperature of your freezer.
Another tip: Whenever I’ve frozen watermelon in the past, I’ve always stored it in a durable freezer bag or a strong sealable container, because the juice in the watermelon almost guarantees that it will freeze into one giant piece. You’ll need to knock it against the counter a few times in order to break up the cubes.
How long can you freeze watermelon?
The magic of this recipe hinges on using frozen watermelon, so you might be wondering just how long watermelon can last in the freezer.
The marvelous part is that when kept properly (or in other words, placed in airtight containers or freezer bags and kept consistently frozen), watermelon can be stored and remain at best quality for 10 to 12 months.
If you ever need to thaw the watermelon, it should be kept in the refrigerator until ready to use. Watermelon can be kept in the refrigerator (still in a sealed container) for up to three to five days.
Can you substitute Grand Marnier for Cointreau?
I still have a lot to learn when it comes to spirits, so when a reader asked me this question, I had to do some research… and was surprised by the answer.
While Cointreau and Grand Mariner can both be classified as an orange-flavored liqueur, Cointreau is technically a triple sec. This means that while Grand Mariner is orange in color and made with brandy, Cointreau is colorless and made with neutral spirits.
So could you use Grand Marnier in place of Cointreau? Yes, so long as you don’t have an aversion to brandy. Aside from that, both liqueurs will have a pleasant orange flavor that will do just fine in this frozen margarita.
Do you have to use triple sec?
There are many purists out there that would never add triple sec to a margarita.
And they’re not wrong. A margarita is all about the tequila, so why would you cover it up?
The choice is ultimately about personal preference. I personally like the dash of orange, so it’s included in this recipe. But if you don’t want to tarnish your margarita with triple sec, that’s totally fine. Just replace the triple sec with a dash more tequila and you’re good to go!
Can you make this drink in advance?
Actually, yes!
Once you’re done blending everything together, just store it in the freezer until you’re ready to serve. The alcohol will ensure that it will never totally freeze solid so a few minutes on the counter should be all you need to get it the perfect pourable consistency.
How to pick a watermelon
- Check the stem. If it’s green, that means the watermelon was picked before it had a chance to become ripe. A brown stem is what you want.
- Pick a watermelon with a large yellow spot. This means the watermelon had some to sit and ripen in the sun.
- Aside from the yellow spot, check the other colors of the watermelon. It should be a deep, dark green, with creamy, light yellow stripes.
- The watermelon should look “dull.” A shiny watermelon is likely underripe.
- Press the watermelon with your thumb. If you feel it give a little, it means the watermelon is ripe.
- And finally, gently knock on the watermelon with your knuckles. If the watermelon sounds hollow, that means it’s full of juice, which is what you want. Aovid watermelons that sound like you’re tapping plastic.
Notes & tips for this watermelon margarita
- You’ll also need a trusty food processor for this recipe.
- Like the glasses used in these photos? It’s a classic martini glass.
Other fun drink recipes
How to make a watermelon margarita
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – In your favorite food processor, add frozen watermelon, sugar, silver tequila, triple sec (if using – see notes above), and lime juice.
Step 2 – Blend it all together until nice and smooth, about two to four minutes.
Step 3 – Serve and enjoy! I like to coat the rings in sugar and garnish with a slice of watermelon.
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Ingredients
- 4 cup seedless watermelon, cut into cubes, ideally frozen, plus slices for garnish (optional)
- 1/4 cup triple sec, such as Cointreau
Instructions
- On a small plate, add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar. Wet the rim of a glass with lime juice and gently dab the top the glass in the sugar, coating the rim. Prepare up to 4 glasses. Set glasses aside.
- Using a food processor, blend watermelon, sugar, silver tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice until smooth, about 2-4 minutes.
- Pour frozen watermelon margarita mixture into prepared glasses. Garnish with slices of watermelon (optional).
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
