This passion fruit margarita is my go-to summer cocktail with a tropical twist on the classic Mexican favorite. I shake up tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and sweet passion fruit purée over ice, then pour it into a glass rimmed with chili salt or tajín for that perfect spicy-sweet combo. I love topping it off with a slice of passion fruit and an edible flower to make it pop.
The Perfect Summer Cocktail!
“Club Tropicana drinks are free” - well, not exactly, but you’d pay good money for this sensational Passion Fruit Margarita! Why not turn bartender and shake up this vibrant tropical twist on a classic? Tart passion fruit meets smooth tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime in this bright and exotic cocktail perfect for when an occasion calls for fun, sunshine and…cocktails, of course! Serve it with my Mexican street corn nachos, stunning cilantro-lime chicken tacos, and reader-favorite Mexican corn dip. If you love fruity cocktails, don't miss my blood orange margarita!
Passion Fruit Margarita - Cocktail Highlights
- Classic Margarita Base: I stick to the essentials: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice for that crisp, balanced foundation.
- Agave or Simple Syrup: Since the passion fruit purée I use is already sweetened, I skip the agave or simple syrup. But if you prefer a sweeter cocktail, feel free to add a teaspoon.
- Mezcal: I list it as an optional ingredient. It adds an amazing smoky flavor, and I always use it in my margaritas. But some people don't like the smokiness of Mezcal, so feel free to skip it.
- Spicy Salt Rim: I like to rim the glass with a homemade chili salt—just red pepper flakes mixed with flaky sea salt—as this gives a great spicy contrast to the sweet and fruity cocktail. Tajín or plain flaky sea salt are also great options
- Edible Flower Garnish: I garnished this passion fruit margarita with a vibrant edible flower—orchids are my go-to since they’re safe to eat and make the drink look stunning. Use your favorite edible flower!
Best Tequila for Margaritas
I like to make this cocktail with silver tequila (also labeled as blanco or plata) because its clean, crisp flavor really lets the fresh citrus shine without throwing off the balance. That said, you can absolutely use any tequila you prefer—Reposado and Añejo work too, though they have more complex, oaky notes that I personally think are better for sipping or richer cocktails. For the brightest, freshest margaritas, I always reach for a good-quality blanco.
Passion Fruit Margarita
Ingredients
Must-Have Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila I used silver tequila (also labeled as blanco or plata)
- 1 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce passion fruit purée see notes
- pulp of half a passion fruit
- ice
Optional Ingredients
- ½ ounce Agave (1 tablespoon) for added sweetness
- ½ ounce Mezcal (1 tablespoon) to add smoky flavor if that's what you like
For rimming the glass
- lime wedge for rimming the glass
- chili salt flaky sea salt, or tajín, for rimming the glass
Garnish
- passion fruit slice for garnish
- edible flower for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it in chili salt or tajín. Set aside.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice then add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and passion fruit purée. Optionally, if you like a sweeter drink, add Agave syrup. Also, optionally, if you like smoky flavor, add Mezcal.
- Shake vigorously until the outside of the cocktail shaker feels very cold.
- Fill the glass you rimmed earlier with ice, add the passion fruit pulp then strain in the shaken cocktail.
- Garnish with a passion fruit slice and edible flower. Cheers!
- This Passion Fruit Margarita is best enjoyed as soon as it has been shaken and poured - before the ice melts! Enjoy.
Notes
Passion Fruit Purée options:
- Making passion fruit purée from scratch is simple enough but it does require several passion fruits. Slice 6 passion fruits in half and scoop the seeds and pulp into a pan. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of water. Simmer over a low heat until the mixture thickens then strain to remove the seeds. This option will give you around 4 ounces of purée which would be 4 cocktails.
- Alternatively, you could simply use 1 ounce of pulp from 1-2 passion fruits (the exact amount will depend on their size).
- Store bought purée or syrup which are generally sweetened are my preferred option. You might find other cocktail specific purées with a tropical base which will include fruits such as mango or pineapple along with passion fruit, these are all really good in a margarita.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
How to Make Passion Fruit Margarita (Step-by-Step)
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and passion fruit purée.
- Shake well until the shaker feels cold to the touch.
- Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a glass, then dip it into chili salt or tajín and set it aside.
- Add ice and the pulp of half a passion fruit to the prepared glass, then strain in the cocktail.
- Garnish with a slice of passion fruit and an edible flower. Cheers!
I made mine with Ceres passion fruit juice, dry curacao, went easy on tequila but did use mezcal. Agave not only makes it sweeter it also adds flavor, but I use half the amount you recommended. Next time I'll try it with real passion fruit if I can find it.
Hi Rick! That sounds like an amazing (and easy!) version! And yes, if you can get your hands on fresh passion fruit next time, it takes it to a whole new level. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Yummy - I make mine with orange bitters and use whatever juice I have .. . I like sweeter margaritas. Passion fruit puree worked great, thank you for inspiration!
Oh yes, we love orange bitters in our drinks, too! Thank you, Darren, for chiming in!