Emily Creamy, tropical and ready in five minutes — this coconut lime margarita is the drink that makes you feel like you are on vacation even when you are absolutely not.
The first time I made this margarita I put it in front of my husband and watched him go completely quiet for about ten seconds. Then he looked up and said “where did you buy this.” That is what cream of coconut does to a margarita. It turns something already good into something that tastes like it came from a poolside bar in Tulum rather than your kitchen counter.
The key thing most people get wrong when making this drink is confusing cream of coconut with coconut cream. They are not the same thing and they do not taste the same. Cream of coconut is sweetened and thick and meant for cocktails. Coconut cream is unsweetened and meant for cooking. Get cream of coconut and your margarita will be properly sweet and silky. Get coconut cream by mistake and it will taste like cooking oil with lime in it. You have been warned.
Coconut Lime Margarita
Creamy, tropical and completely irresistible — silver tequila, cream of coconut and fresh lime shaken until icy cold. Ready in 5 minutes.
- 2 oz silver tequila (100% agave)
- 1 oz cream of coconut (not coconut cream)
- 1 oz fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
- ½ oz triple sec or Cointreau
- ½ oz agave syrup (optional — add if you want it sweeter)
- Toasted coconut flakes for the rim
- Lime wheel to garnish
- Ice for shaking and serving
- 1Toast the coconut flakes in a dry pan over medium heat for 2 minutes until golden and fragrant. Tip onto a small plate and let cool.
- 2Rim two glasses by running a lime wedge around the edge then pressing the rim into the toasted coconut.
- 3Add tequila, cream of coconut, lime juice and triple sec to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice.
- 4Shake hard for 20 seconds. The cream of coconut is thick and needs a proper shake to fully combine with the other ingredients.
- 5Fill the rimmed glasses with ice. Strain the margarita over the ice and garnish with a lime wheel. Serve immediately.
📝 Notes
Cream of coconut is the key ingredient — look for Coco López or Coco Real in the cocktail mixer section of your supermarket, not the canned coconut section. It is thick, sweet and completely different from the unsweetened coconut cream used in cooking.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is the margarita for people who find regular margaritas too sharp and prefer something with a tropical, creamy edge. The cream of coconut softens everything and adds a rich sweetness that balances the tart lime beautifully. It still tastes like a proper margarita rather than a dessert drink but it is noticeably more indulgent.
It also comes together faster than almost any other cocktail — five minutes from fridge to glass, no cooking, no blending, nothing complicated at all.
“I took one sip and immediately made another batch for everyone at the table. This is now the only margarita I make for summer parties.”
Cream of Coconut vs Coconut Cream
This distinction matters more than almost anything else in this recipe. Cream of coconut is sweetened, thick and sold in the cocktail or baking aisle. It is what makes piña coladas creamy and sweet and it does the same thing here. The most common brands are Coco López and Coco Real.
Coconut cream is unsweetened and sold in the canned goods or Asian food section. It is designed for soups, curries and sauces. It does not taste right in cocktails and will make your margarita too oily and not sweet enough. Always check the label before buying.
What You’ll Need
- Silver tequila100% agave, not gold tequila. Silver tequila is cleaner and less sweet which balances the cream of coconut much better. Blanco or plata on the label means silver.
- Cream of coconutSweetened, thick, in the cocktail section. Coco López is the most widely available. Shake the can before opening as it can separate.
- Fresh lime juiceBottled lime juice will not give you the same brightness. Fresh lime is essential for the tartness that makes this drink balanced rather than cloying.
- Toasted coconut rimOptional but completely worth the extra two minutes. It adds texture, aroma and makes the whole drink feel more special.
Helpful Tips
- ✓Shake the cream of coconut well before measuring it as it can separate in the container. Give the bottle a good shake to recombine it before opening.
- ✓Use a cocktail jigger to measure accurately — cream of coconut is sweet enough that too much will make the drink overpoweringly sweet and not enough will leave it too tart.
- ✓If the margarita is too tart after shaking, add ¼ oz more cream of coconut and shake again. If it is too sweet, add a squeeze more lime juice.
- ✓Make a large pitcher version for parties by tripling the recipe and storing it in the fridge for up to 4 hours. Shake individual portions with ice before serving.
Variations
- Frozen versionAdd all ingredients to a blender with 1 cup of ice and blend until smooth. Perfect for hot summer days when you want something extra cold.
- Pineapple coconutAdd 1 oz pineapple juice to the shaker with all the other ingredients. It takes the tropical element even further and is outrageously good.
- Mocktail versionReplace tequila with coconut water and add a little extra lime juice and agave syrup. Still creamy and tropical and completely alcohol-free.
- Spicy coconutMuddle 2 slices of jalapeño in the shaker before adding the other ingredients for a coconut lime margarita with a genuine heat kick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Storage
🥃 Same Night
Best drunk immediately after shaking while the ice is still fully frozen and the drink is ice cold.
❄️ Make Ahead
Mix without ice and refrigerate in a pitcher for up to 4 hours. Shake over ice individually when serving.
🚫 Do Not Freeze
The cream of coconut separates when frozen and the texture becomes grainy. Always make fresh or refrigerate mixed but unshaken.
🍹 Large Batch
Triple or quadruple the recipe for parties. Keep the pitcher cold and shake each serving with fresh ice before pouring.
Making This for Your Next Summer Party?
Save this to your Drinks board — the tropical margarita everyone will request all season.
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