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This Key Lime Margarita Cupcakes Recipe Makes the Most Delicious Cocktail Dessert!

Who doesn’t love a good margarita, especially on a warm summer evening? The boozy favorite was the inspiration for our key lime margarita cupcakes recipe. A playful and delicious twist on traditional cupcakes, this recipe is infused with all the flavors of a real margarita, including sweet and zesty key limes. It’s even spiked with gold tequila in the tangy batter! Topped with from-scratch lime frosting and garnished with lime fruit slice candies and a sprinkling of light green decorating sugar, this adults-only sweet treat is a fun and flavorful way to enjoy a margarita in cupcake form.

Best of all, these crowd-pleasing cupcakes take just 20 minutes to prep. So if, on a whim, you get a cocktail craving, you can whip them up at the last minute! They’re perfect for your next girls’ night gathering, cookout or picnic. Give this recipe a try, then comment below to let us know your thoughts. 

Yields

18 Servings

Total Time

Prep Time

Cook Time

Ingredients

  • 1 (16.5 oz.) pkg. yellow cake mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1½ cups gold tequila
  • ⅓ cup oil
  • ¼ cup Key lime juice
  • ¼ cup grated lime zest
  • 1½ cups butter, at room temp.
  • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • Light green decorating sugar
  • Lime fruit slice candies, cut into wedges

Instructions

Print

Heat oven to 350°F. Line 18 muffin cups with cupcake liners. On low speed, beat cake mix, eggs, ½ cup tequila, ½ cup water, oil, 2 Tbs. lime juice until combined, 30 seconds. On medium speed, beat 2 minutes. Stir in 2 Tbs. lime zest.

Divide among liners. Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean. Immediately, using fork, poke 6 sets of holes into top of each cupcake. Brush tops with remaining 1 cup tequila. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on racks.

On low, gradually beat remaining 2 Tbs. lime juice and 2 Tbs. zest into frosting until just blended. On medium-high, beat until fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe frosting over cupcakes. Sprinkle edge of frosting with green sugar; garnish with candies.

Nutrition

  • Calories: 440
  • Total Fat: 23 grams
  • Saturated Fat: 12 grams
  • Cholesterol: 70 milligrams
  • Sodium: 350 milligrams
  • Total Carbohydrates: 48 grams
  • Dietary Fiber: 0 grams
  • Total Sugars: 38 grams
  • Protein: 2 grams

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