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Keeping things festive and fun with this spicy, Naughty Nice Margarita. Homemade vanilla jalapeño honey syrup, mixed with tequila, orange liqueur (Cointreau), a squeeze of lime juice, and topped off with ginger beer. It’s a touch of sweet with a little bit of spice – the perfect “naughty nice” margarita. Rim your glass in ginger salt to create a Christmas cocktail that sparkles. Make it even more festive with sugared cranberries to really do it up this holiday season! It’s spicy, sweet, and festive – ideal for these cold winter nights. The punch and mocktail variations are both in the notes section.
December is here, and I have so many festive, yummy recipes to share. I’m looking forward to creating recipes that really get us into the holiday spirit this December. It’s going to be so fun!
Today, we’ve got another Christmas cocktail (with the mocktail variation too). It’s one I think we can all enjoy. A spicy, just slightly sweet, wintery margarita – and it is festive!
Here are the details
Step 1: start with the vanilla jalapeño honey syrup
Simply simmer honey with jalapeños, ginger, and star anise to infuse the honey with a ginger spiciness. Then add vanilla extract. It’s the perfect mix of warm holiday flavors.
Step 2: the salted rim
This next step is optional, but when I serve this margarita, I like to make a gingery salted rim for my margarita glasses. Mix flaky sea salt with a tiny amount of sugar and then a pinch of ginger.
The salty rim balances the tartness from the lime juice and makes your cocktails feel cute and sparkly too!
Step 3: mix your drink
Now, all that’s left is to shake up each margarita. I like to mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add the tequila, orange liquor (I use Cointreau), lime juice, and an extra dash of vanilla extract. If you think the vanilla sounds weird, you shouldn’t. It will make your drink just that much more delicious.
Then, rim each glass in salt and add some ice.
Pour the cocktail over the ice. Now, give your margarita some bubbles and an extra gingery kick by adding ginger beer.
If you want to add a little something extra, I also made sugared cranberries for a pop of red on top. This isn’t needed, but it is fun!
Make the punch version to serve this drink for a holiday party. It serves eight or so people but can easily be doubled or tripled. I’ll for sure be mixing this up as a punch when my family starts trickling in for Christmas come mid-December. This drink has all of their favorites together in one glass. I know they’ll love it!
Spicy Pomegranate Ginger Paloma
The Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail
Lastly, if you make this Naughty Nice Margarita, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Naughty Nice Margarita
Servings: 1 drink
Calories Per Serving: 389 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Vanilla Jalapeño Honey Syrup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1-2 jalapeños, sliced
- 6 slices fresh ginger
- 1 star anise
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Margarita
- 2 ounces (1/4 cup) tequila
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) orange liquor (Cointreau)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons vanilla syrup
- ginger beer for topping (optional)
Instructions
- 1. To make the vanilla jalapeño honey syrup. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, jalapeños, ginger, and star anise to a gentle boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let cool, stir in the vanilla, then strain the syrup into a glass jar. This makes enough for 6-8 drinks. The longer you allow the jalapeños to sit, the spicier the syrup.2. If desired, rim your glass with salt, then fill with ice.3. Combine the tequila, orange liquor, lime juice, vanilla, and vanilla jalapeño honey syrup in a cocktail shaker. Shake well to combine, then fill with ice and shake for 1 minute. Pour into your prepared glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with sugared cranberries, if desired.4. To Make a Mocktail: omit the tequila and orange liquor. In their place, use 2 tablespoons of orange juice, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Sugared Cranberries 1. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup honey and 1/3 cup water to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat. Add 2 cups fresh cranberries. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Strain the cranberries, then add them to a parchment-lined baking sheet.2. Toss the cranberries with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until all the cranberries are coated. Allow the cranberries to dry in a single layer for at least one hour.
Notes
Flaky Ginger Salt
1. On a shallow plate, mix 2 tablespoons flaky sea salt, 1 tablespoon coarse or granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger. Rim each glass as desired.
Naughty Nice Margarita Punch
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 389 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1-2 jalapeños sliced
- 6 slices fresh ginger
- 1 star anise
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups tequila
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur (Cointreau)
- 1 cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ginger beers
- sugared cranberries, for serving
Instructions
- 1. To make the vanilla jalapeño honey syrup. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup water,the honey, jalapeños, ginger, and star anise to a gentle boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let cool, stir in the vanilla, then strain the syrup into a glass jar. This makes enough for 6-8 drinks. The longer you allow the jalapeños to sit, the spicier the syrup.2. If desired, rim your glass with salt, then fill with ice.3. In a punch bowl, combine the vanilla jalapeño honey syrup, tequila, orange liquor, lime juice, and vanilla. Stir to combine, chill until ready to serve. Before serving, add ice, then pour the ginger beer overtop. Serve with sugared cranberries (above), if desired.
Made the punch version, without the cranberry juice (that seems to be a typo) and added two bottles of ginger beer to it (not 6). This seems to be the perfect amount of punch as compared to other’s on this site I’ve made in this batch amount. Tastes great! The recipe for the punch gives it about 2T of syrup per drink, and the single drink recipe calls for 2-3T. I am interested in maybe trying this a little bit sweeter next time, so if I make the punch amount again I will try adding 1-1/2C syrup (instead of the 1C the recipe makes). This is a great slightly-spicy margarita with a kick of bubbles from the ginger beer (I used extra ginger beer, which is my favorite).
Thank you so so much Christina! I appreciate it! xT
Question! Is the syrup ok to make ahead? Would it need to be refrigerated?
Yes, you can refrigerate the syrup! xT
Tieghan,
Just made this last evening, and it was simply delicious! It honestly was one of the best mixed drinks I’ve made, and this would be fine as an all year round margarita imo. I didn’t even go as far as to add the garnish and cranberries and it was soooo good 🙂
Thank you!
-Chris
I made this ! I agree it’s not the best drink. Several of us have asked the question about the cranberry juice and no reply. It’s almost Christmas. Would like to try it the right way because it didn’t turn out the way the recipe call for.
Please answer our questions!!!!!
The question hasn’t been answered.
I made this ! I agree it’s not the best drink. Several of us have asked the question about the cranberry juice and no reply. It’s almost Christmas. Would like to try it the right way because it didn’t turn out the way the recipe call for.
Please answer our questions!!!!!
For the punch, should I use cranberry cocktail, straight cranberry juice, or no cranberry at all?
Hi Tieghan, can you please advise if 2 cups cranberry juice should be added to the punch version? This is listed in ingredients, but not mentioned in the instructions. I see the question being asked, but I do not see a response. Thank you!
Wonderful recipe! Thank you. Quick question re: sugar cranberries. How long do tbey last? I’m assuming same day only. Cheers. Xo
Hi there! Yes you could save them for about a day! xT
Love all the flavors!! So good
How much of the syrup for each drink?
I love the salt/sugar/ginger rimmed glass!!
I wish I could get an answer on this drink.
Maybe after that last post I shouldn’t try it!!!!
I tried to give this the benefit of the doubt, but this was really not good.
For one thing, this drink taught me there is a reason vanilla extract isn’t normally put in cocktails, even if it’s being drowned out by jalapeños, star anise (?), and ginger. Flavors were all over the map and way out of balance.
Thank you for the feedback Trish!
Do you add cranberry juice to the recipe? The punch says to add 2cups of cranberry juice. The other recipe doesn’t call for the cranberry juice.
I had the same question. Thank you.
Love this! I need to make this for about 20 people – should i just triple this recipe? Also going to do the Christmas Pomegranate Punch for the same group – so suggestions for that as well also welcome 😉
Hi Jess! Yes, I would probably triple the recipe for 20 people! 🙂 xT
Thank you! For the punch, is the recipe to include the cranberry juice? Comparing it to the single cocktail recipe, so just wanted to confirm – thanks so much! xx
If you’re trying to make the punch without alcohol, would you use the same proportions as the single serving mocktail? Thanks!
Yes, I would use the same proportions! xT
Is the punch version supposed to include cranberry juice? Thank you.