For tequila lovers, the perfect margarita recipe comes down to proportioned ratios of tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, agave syrup, and salt. To change up this classic combination, you can always follow Ina Garten’s unconventional advice for tastier margaritas by using both lime and lemon juice. However, when you want to imbue your next round of margaritas with more color and unique flavor, infuse your tequila with candy.
Candy-infused tequila is fairly simple to make and requires only two ingredients: tequila blanco and colorful candy. When mixed together, the candy breaks down over a short period of time, leaving you with vibrant sweet-tasting tequila. That being said, be mindful when making your candy selection. For the most pronounced taste, select varieties that have distinct colors and flavors such as Starburst, Jolly Ranchers, or Sour Patch Kids.
To create multiple batches of flavored tequila with one bag of Sour Patch Kids (for example), first separate the flavors and add each variety to a glass jar. Add tequila and allow your candy to dissolve for at least 12 hours. If you’re using harder candies like Jolly Ranchers, this may take one to two days. To speed up the process, crush your candy before infusing it.
Once the candy is dissolved, pour your tequila through a fine mesh strainer to remove excess particles. Depending on the resulting flavor of your tequila, your new and improved margaritas may need more or less triple sec, agave syrup, and lime juice. Upon assembly, serve these one-of-a-kind margaritas in clear glasses. If you infused tequila with chewy candies, use cocktail skewers to add extra pieces for a fun garnish.
How to make a wide variety of tasty margaritas with candy-infused tequila
If you like the idea of preparing candy margaritas but don’t necessarily have the patience to make special infusions, you have a few alternative options. First, simplify the infusion process with a sweet treat that dissolves rather quickly such as cotton candy. This fluffy alternative also serves as an impressive drink topping. When preparing your cocktails, feel free to incorporate a small amount of cream soda for a more pronounced taste. You can also go in a different direction and make slushy-style margaritas by blending ice with tequila, triple sec, a bit of lemon-lime soda, and Jolly Rancher candies.
Once you feel comfortable making your own version of this whimsical cocktail, feel free to make candy-inspired margaritas for all sorts of special occasions including major holidays. For Halloween, infuse tequila with candy corn for a bright orange, sweet-tasting result. Make candy cane margaritas for Christmas — and for Valentine’s Day, infuse tequila with chewy cinnamon candy such as Hot Tamales or Red Hots.
Whichever candy you choose, make sure to get creative with your presentation. Next to sugar and salt, edible glitter is safe to use on cocktails, especially when it’s composed of food-grade ingredients like sugar and cornstarch.
