Name: Best Orange Margarita
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1 Drink
Cuisine: Mexican

Cooking with Conks Verified

February 4, 2026

This really is the Best Orange Margarita recipe. It packs a citrus punch with the orange, lime, and Cointreau, and the sweet, smoky, salty, and slightly spicy rim adds additional depth of flavor, balance, and uniqueness. This margarita is the perfect accompaniment for tacos, enchiladas or chicken tortilla soup. Just make sure you have enough of each ingredient because you’re going to want to make another one!

From the Cook

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Best Orange Margarita

Cooking with Conks Verified

Ingredients

WarningSulphites allergen identified

Instructions

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Simple Syrup

Combine ½ cup of sugar with ½ cup of water in a pot set over medium high heat. Cook the sugar and water, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Remove the pot from the heat and allow the mixture to cool before adding it to the drink.

Note: This recipe makes about ¾ cup of simple syrup. You won’t need very much for this recipe, so be sure to save the leftovers for another cocktail or mocktail later. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 weeks. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays.

Sweet & Smoky Rim

Mix the sweet and smoky rim ingredients in a shallow bowl or plate. Run an orange wedge around the rim of a glass, and then press the glass into the sugary, smoky, salty, spicy mixture until the rim is coated. Set the glass aside.

Alternatively, you could brush some orange juice onto part of the side of a glass, then roll that part into the rim mixture.

The Drink

Add the margarita ingredients and a handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Place the lid and cap on the shaker and shake a few times to combine.

Add some crushed ice to the rimmed glass. Remove the cap from the shaker and strain out the liquid into the glass. Garnish with an orange and lime wedge, if desired.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Citrus Juice Freshness 🍊
Always use freshly squeezed orange and lime juice for maximum flavor complexity and brightness in your margarita.
Rim Technique Mastery 🧂
When creating the spicy rim, first wet the glass rim with a lime wedge, then dip at a 45-degree angle to ensure an even, perfectly coated rim.
Balanced Spice Blend 🌶️
Mix your chili and chipotle powders in a 2:1 ratio to create a complex, smoky-spicy rim that complements the citrus without overpowering the drink.
Ice Matters 🧊
Use large, dense ice cubes that melt slowly to keep your margarita cold without diluting the intense flavor profile.
Cointreau Calibration 🍸
Measure Cointreau precisely - too much can overwhelm the tequila, while too little reduces the cocktail's signature orange complexity.

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About the Cook

Cooking with Conks

We’re Rachel & Emily Conklin (“Conks” for short), sisters, lifelong foodies, and the voices behind Cooking with Conks. We grew up in Southern California, surrounded by bold flavors, big family meals, and the kind of kitchen chaos that turns into inside jokes