Margarita Cupcake Recipe

margarita cupcake in a margarita glass with salt

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These sweet margarita cupcakes are topped with a swirl of lime buttercream frosting with a hint of tequila, and garnished with lime zest and a lime slice!

Prep Time15

Cook Time16

Total Time31

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cupcake recipe, easy dessert

Servings: servings

Calories: 246kcal

Author: The Chunky Chef

Ingredients

Margarita cupcakes

1 (14.25 oz) package white cake mix I usually use Betty Crocker Super Moist
3/4 cup margarita mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 tsp lime zest
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Tequila lime buttercream frosting

1 cup salted butter softened to room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar whisked to remove any lumps
2 Tbsp tequila I like to use gold or silver
2 Tbsp lime juice fresh is best, but bottled will also work
1 tsp lime zest

Garnishes

additional lime zest
lime wedge
sanding/sparkling sugar

Instructions

Prepare

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two standard muffin pans with cupcake liners and set aside.

Mix batter

To a medium mixing bowl, add 1 (14.25 oz) package white cake mix, 3/4 cup margarita mix, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 3 large eggs, 2 tsp lime zest, and 1/2 tsp kosher salt.
Use a handheld mixer and beat on MED until ingredients are well combined.

Bake

Spoon or scoop batter to prepared muffin pans, filling each cupcake liner about 2/3 of the way full.
Bake in preheated oven for 16-18 minutes. Cupcakes are done baking when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

Cool

Remove cupcakes from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Cool completely.

Make frosting

Add 1 cup salted butter to another mixing bowl and beat with a mixer until smooth and creamy.
Beat in 4 cups powdered sugar, about 2 cups at at time, mixing after each addition.
Add in the 2 Tbsp tequila 2 Tbsp lime juice, and 1 tsp lime zest. Continue beating with mixer until frosting is smooth and creamy.

Frost and serve

Transfer frosting to piping bag fitted with your desired decorating tip (or your desired tip), and once the cupcakes are completely cooled, pipe swirls of frosting onto cupcakes.
**Alternately, you can spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes with a butter knife or offset spatula.**
Garnish with a sprinkle of lime zest, sugar, and a lime wedge. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Recipe makes approximately 20 cupcakes, which you're free to divide into as many servings as you'd like.
You can add more lime juice or powdered sugar to adjust the consistency of the frosting, until it's to your liking.

Nutrition