Torn between making a Tequila Sunrise or a frozen margarita? Fear not, amigos…This recipe for Frozen Sunrise Margaritas has the best of both boozy worlds and is perfect for celebrating warm weather in style.

Warm weather is upon us, and I’m ready to welcome it with open arms! This delightful adult slushie is the perfect way to kick things off.

Why I Love This Recipe

This recipe came from Breakfast for Dinner by the lovely bloggers over at Love & Olive Oil. There are so many delicious recipes I want to make in their book, but when I saw these citrus cocktails I knew I had to give them a try.

This delicious frosty cocktail boasts the flavors of orange, lime, and pomegranate and is spiked with the bite of my favorite spirit, tequila. And it wouldn’t be a proper margarita without that salty rim!

Sweet, sour, and salty, this beautiful layered drink hits all the flavor notes. It starts off more tangy and boozy, then becomes sweeter and more playful as you get closer to the grenadine at the bottom.

These Frozen Sunrise Margaritas might look super fancy, but I promise they’re a snap to make at home! In just five minutes, you’ll have drinks that could easily command a $12 price tag at your favorite bar, for a fraction of the price.

So go on and grab your blender and meet me in the kitchen. Before you know it, you’ll be sipping on a Frozen Sunrise while you watch the sunset.

orange juice, grand marnier, tequila, grenadine and fresh fruit laid out for making frozen sunrise margaritas

How to Make Frozen Sunrise Margs

First, grab a tall drinking glass and salt the rims. Spread a layer of salt in a shallow dish. Run the lime wedge around the rims of four highball glasses (or two goblets if you’re going for doubles); dip moistened rims in salt.

TIP: Want a little extra citrus flavor? Grate some orange and lime zest into your salt for rimming the glass! You could also go for a 50/50 mix of salt and sugar if you prefer a salty sweet kick.

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Next up, blend your cocktails! Place orange juice (fresh or bottled), tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a blender. Add ice and pulse until smooth. Divide drinks evenly among glasses. 

hand scooping frozen sunrise margarita from blender into salt rimmed glasses

NOTE: The original recipe calls for 6 ounces of tequila, but I actually only added 3 ounces. If you don’t have any kids and want to stay in bed all day, then by all means, add the extra tequila!

hand holding a collins glass filled with frozen orange margarita and pouring in the grenadine

The final step is what makes this drink look super professional. Tilt the glasses and drizzle one to two tablespoons grenadine down the side of each drink. The grenadine will sink to the bottom and create a sunset effect. MAGIC!

Garnish with orange slices and maraschino cherries and serve. Salud!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is grenadine?

Tart and sweet, grenadine is basically a pomegranate flavored simple syrup made from pomegranate juice and sugar. You can either purchase it from the store, or make your own!

What is the best tequila to use for these Frozen Tequila Margaritas?

I personally like the clean flavor of a tequila blanco for both Tequila Sunrises and Frozen Margaritas, so it makes sense that I’d reach for it in this mixed cocktail. There are a lot of brands out there, so I recommend you grab one that fits in your price point.

Can I make these frozen cocktails ahead of time?

Unless you’d rather eat these as adult popsicles, I wouldn’t recommend it. Frozen cocktails melt and separate over time, and if you store them in the freezer, they end up quite hard.

That said, boozy popsicles sound like an amazing idea! Pour the blended cocktail into popsicle molds and freeze until solid. You could even serve them tipped into a hard seltzer to act as a flavored ice cube if you wanted…

Can I make a virgin version of these yummy cocktails?

Sure! Simply omit the tequila and orange liqueur. Your kids and non-drinking friends will love them!

Need more cocktail hour inspiration?

Check out these other tasty margaritas to get your weekend started:

If you happened to give my Frozen Sunrise Margaritas a whirl (pun intended), please rate and review them below! Oh, and don’t forget to tag @muybuenocooking on Instagram so I can cheers you from a distance!

sideways shot of two tall collins glasses filled with frozen sunrise margaritas with a tropical plant background

overhead shot of frozen sunrise margaritas in tall collins glasses with salted rims

Frozen Sunrise Margaritas

4.80 (5 ratings)
This is basically two cocktails in one, a frozen margarita and a tequila sunrise. Genius! The first sip reminded me of an Orange Julius, but with a kick.
Print Pin Rate
Yield: 2 to 4 drinks
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • course salt for rimming glass
  • 1 lime wedge, for rimming glass
  • 2 cups orange juice
  • 3 to 6 ounces tequila
  • 1 ounce orange liqueur
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 3 cups ice
  • ¼ cup grenadine

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Instructions 

  • Spread a layer of salt in a shallow dish. Run the lime wedge around the rims of 4 highball glasses or 2 goblets to moisten; dip ribs in salt.
  • Place orange juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a blender. Add ice and pulse until smooth. Divide drinks evenly among glasses.
  • Tilt glasses and drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons grenadine down the side of each drink; grenadine will sink to the bottom and create a sunset effect. Garnish with orange slices and maraschino cherries and serve.

Notes

The original recipe calls for 6 ounces of tequila, but I actually only added 3 ounces. If you don’t have any kids and want to stay in bed all day then add the extra tequila. 
Calories: 367kcal, Carbohydrates: 59g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 16mg, Potassium: 496mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 44g, Vitamin A: 496IU, Vitamin C: 131mg, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Yvette Marquez
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican