Breakfast Margarita
The breakfast margarita is the cocktail that earns its name with every sip. Tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh squeezed orange juice, a heaping spoonful of orange marmalade, and a touch of agave shaken hard with ice until the marmalade dissolves completely into a bright, slightly sweet, deeply citrusy drink that tastes like the best parts of a morning glass of orange juice decided to become a cocktail. Five minutes, one shaker, and a drink that is as good at brunch as it is at a backyard cookout.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Breakfast Margarita
- Main Ingredients: Ice, shot, shot, Juice of 1 fresh orange, heaping tablespoon orange marmalade, agave nectar, Orange wedge
- Why You'll Love It: A bright, citrusy twist on a classic margarita that tastes like sunshine in a glass.
The orange marmalade is what makes this margarita completely different from a standard orange margarita. Where orange juice alone adds straightforward citrus sweetness, the marmalade adds a slightly bitter, jammy, complex orange flavor from the peel that makes every sip taste more layered and intentional. Combined with the cognac depth of Grand Marnier rather than a standard triple sec, this is a margarita that tastes like it was designed rather than assembled.
Ingredients Needed to Make a Breakfast Margarita
Five ingredients and a cocktail shaker. Here is what you need.
The Spirits
Tequila is the base. A blanco or reposado tequila both work well. Blanco produces a cleaner, brighter citrus-forward result. Reposado adds a subtle oakiness that pairs nicely with the marmalade. Grand Marnier is the orange liqueur that adds both orange flavor and a cognac richness.
The Citrus and Sweeteners
Fresh orange juice squeezed from one orange provides the primary citrus volume. Orange marmalade adds a jammy, slightly bitter orange depth from the peel that transforms the flavor of the whole drink. Agave nectar adds a clean sweetness that balances the acidity without adding any competing flavor.
The Garnish
An orange wedge on the rim of the glass adds a visual finish and an invitation to squeeze a little more fresh juice into the drink before sipping.
How to Make a Breakfast Margarita
1
Fill a cocktail shaker generously with ice. The more ice the better since it chills the drink faster and more thoroughly during shaking.
2
Add the tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh orange juice, orange marmalade, and agave nectar to the shaker. The marmalade goes in last since it is the thickest ingredient and sits on top of the liquids.
3
Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for a full 20 to 30 seconds. The marmalade needs more shaking time than a standard cocktail to fully dissolve into the liquid. You should feel the shaker become very cold in your hands and hear the ice moving freely rather than the drink sounding thick and syrupy. Shake until it sounds and feels completely fluid.
4
Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice. Strain the cocktail over the ice through the shaker strainer. Garnish with an orange wedge on the rim and serve immediately.
Breakfast Margarita
Ingredients
- Ice
- 1 shot 1Ā½ ounces tequila
- 1 shot 1Ā½ ounces Grand Marnier
- Juice of 1 fresh orange
- 1 heaping tablespoon orange marmalade
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh orange juice, orange marmalade, and agave.
- Shake vigorously for 20ā30 seconds, until the marmalade is fully incorporated and the drink is well chilled.
- Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice and strain the margarita over the top.
- Garnish with an orange wedge and serve immediately.
