✔ Updated · fixed drink strength + added a mocktail version
My White Christmas margarita is a creamy coconut margarita made with silver tequila, orange liqueur, coconut rum, lime and coconut milk, served in a sugar-and-coconut rim.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Whisk the coconut cream into the other ingredients before shaking. Cold coconut cream clumps, and a smooth base gives a silky, snowy-white drink.
It contains alcohol, so it's for adults of legal drinking age, and there's a mocktail version below.
Why You'll Love This Christmas Margarita
- Creamy and snowy white, with coconut milk and coconut cream softening the tequila and lime.
- A festive look in seconds: a coconut-sugar rim, red cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
- Easy to batch for a holiday party, with a simple mocktail for anyone skipping alcohol.
What Is a White Christmas Margarita?
It's a coconut margarita dressed up for the holidays, and it is the drink I pour at my December parties. Silver tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime keep the classic margarita backbone, while coconut milk and coconut cream turn it creamy and white, like fresh snow.
This drink contains alcohol (tequila, orange liqueur and coconut rum) and is for adults of legal drinking age. If you want an alcohol-free version, I make the mocktail below keeps the same creamy coconut-lime flavor.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Shake the can of coconut milk first. The cream separates from the liquid in the can, so shake it well or stir it smooth before measuring.
- Use fresh lime juice. Bottled juice tastes flat next to the coconut. Three juicy limes give about 3 ounces.
- Shake, don't just stir. A hard 15-second shake chills, dilutes and whips the coconut into a light froth. Work in two batches so the shaker isn't overfilled.
- Balance to taste. Coconut cream and simple syrup vary in sweetness. Add syrup a teaspoon at a time, or a squeeze of lime if it tastes too sweet.
- Rosemary is for show. The sprig adds a pine aroma and a festive look. Use small, soft sprigs and don't stir the drink with them.
White Christmas Margarita
4
drinks10
minutes355
kcal10
minutesA creamy coconut Christmas margarita made with silver tequila, orange liqueur, coconut rum, fresh lime juice, coconut milk and coconut cream, shaken with ice and served in a coconut-sugar rimmed glass with cranberries and rosemary. Contains alcohol: for adults of legal drinking age only.
Ingredients
- For the Rim
1 lime wedge
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons sweetened shredded coconut, finely chopped
- For the Margaritas
6 ounces silver (blanco) tequila (3/4 cup)
2 ounces orange liqueur, such as triple sec (1/4 cup)
2 ounces coconut rum (1/4 cup)
3 ounces fresh lime juice, from about 3 limes (6 tablespoons)
4 ounces full-fat canned coconut milk, well shaken (1/2 cup)
2 ounces coconut cream (1/4 cup)
4 ounces coconut water (1/2 cup)
2 ounces simple syrup, plus more to taste (1/4 cup)
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract (optional)
ice
- To Garnish
12 fresh cranberries
4 small rosemary sprigs
Directions
- Rim the Glasses
- Mix the sugar and finely chopped coconut on a small plate. Run the lime wedge around the rims of 4 glasses, then dip each rim into the coconut sugar. Chill the glasses in the freezer while you mix.
- Mix and Shake
- Add the tequila, orange liqueur, coconut rum, lime juice, coconut milk, coconut cream, coconut water, simple syrup and coconut extract (if using) to a pitcher. Whisk until the coconut cream is completely smooth.
- Taste and adjust: add a little more simple syrup if it is too tart, or a splash more lime juice if it is too sweet.
- Working in two batches, pour half the mixture into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds, until the shaker feels frosty.
- Strain into the chilled, rimmed glasses. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.
- Garnish and Serve
- Garnish each drink with 3 fresh cranberries and a small rosemary sprig. Serve right away, while the margaritas are cold and frothy.
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White Christmas Mocktail (Alcohol-Free)
For guests who don't drink, or anyone under the legal drinking age, make the same drink without the spirits. It still tastes creamy, tart and festive.
- Swap the spirits: replace the tequila, orange liqueur and coconut rum with 4 ounces of coconut water, 2 ounces of orange juice and a splash of sparkling water.
- Keep the rest: use the same lime juice, coconut milk, coconut cream, simple syrup and coconut-sugar rim.
- Shake and garnish: shake with ice, strain into the rimmed glasses and top with the sparkling water, cranberries and rosemary.
- More ideas: try our virgin margarita or the blue lagoon mocktail.
Making a Pitcher for a Holiday Party
- Scale it up: multiply every ingredient by the number of rounds you need. Each batch in the card makes 4 drinks.
- Mix ahead: whisk the mix (without ice) up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate it, covered. Whisk again before serving, since the coconut separates as it sits.
- Keep the ice separate: shake each round with fresh ice just before serving, so the pitcher never gets watered down.
- Rim the glasses early: rim them an hour ahead and leave them upright at room temperature so the sugar sets.
- Serve responsibly: offer the mocktail alongside, label which pitcher contains alcohol and keep plenty of water out.
Variations and More Holiday Drinks
- Frozen: blend the mixture with about 3 cups of ice for a frosty, slushy version.
- Cranberry swirl: drizzle 1/2 ounce of cranberry juice down the inside of each glass for a red-and-white look.
- Coconut tequila: use a coconut-flavored tequila in place of the silver tequila and skip the coconut rum. See our coconut tequila drinks.
- More margaritas: try a pineapple margarita or watermelon margarita, or browse our tequila cocktails.
- Another holiday sip: the sugar cookie martini and coconut rum cocktails are both crowd-pleasers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a White Christmas margarita?
This version uses silver tequila, orange liqueur, coconut rum, fresh lime juice, coconut milk, coconut cream, coconut water and simple syrup. It is shaken with ice and served in a glass rimmed with sugar and shredded coconut, then garnished with cranberries and rosemary.
Can I make a Christmas margarita mix ahead of time?
Yes. Whisk everything except the ice up to 24 hours ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. The coconut may firm up or separate when cold, so whisk or shake it again before serving, then shake each round with ice.
How strong is a White Christmas margarita?
Each drink has about 1 1/2 ounces of tequila plus 1/2 ounce each of orange liqueur and coconut rum, so it is roughly as strong as a classic margarita. It contains alcohol and is only for adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
How do I make a White Christmas margarita without alcohol?
Replace the tequila, orange liqueur and coconut rum with 4 ounces of coconut water, 2 ounces of orange juice and a splash of sparkling water. Keep the lime, coconut milk, coconut cream and syrup the same, then shake and garnish as usual.
Can I blend it instead of shaking it?
Yes. Blend the mixture with about 3 cups of ice until smooth for a frozen Christmas margarita. Taste and add a little extra simple syrup, because the extra ice dilutes the sweetness. Serve immediately in the rimmed glasses.
🎄 Holiday party? Try more Christmas drinks and festive cocktails, including alcohol-free options.
