Summertime Sips (Recipes: Homemade Strawberry Margaritas, Simple Syrup and Sweet & Sour Mix)

Poolside, dockside, deckside or inside, traditional margaritas are a summertime favorite. But what about those occasions when you want something different, or are craving something a bit more fruity?

That's when you shake things up with Strawberry Margaritas! 

Served ice cold in sugar-rimmed glasses, I adapted the following recipes from popular versions of margaritas, with a strawberry twist. Not quite frozen (there's nothing cool about brain freeze), but chilled enough to cool you to the core, these refreshing recipes are made from scratch and can be whipped up in a jiffy---I promise.

So get ready to gather your ingredients, break out the blender, and start rimming those glasses---we've got Strawberry Margaritas to make!

Two, Tasty Margarita Tips:

• Use a quality tequila, such as a blanco or reposado, that is produced entirely from the blue agave plant (check the bottle's label). For more information on tequila, see Miss Charming's tequila page---brief, but jam packed with information.
• Do yourself a favor and skip the store bought simple syrup and sweet & sour mix. It's so easy to make your own and and makes all the flavor difference in the world! Recipes and directions to follow.   

 

  Homemade Strawberry Margaritas

Yield: Serves 4

• 6 ounces blanco or reposado tequila (100% agave)
• 2 ounces Cointreau or Grand Marnier
• 4 ounces homemade sweet & sour mix (recipe follows)
• 2 cups frozen strawberries
  
• 2 cups crushed ice (using crushed ice versus whole cubes will help prolong the life of your blender blades)
  
• fresh limes, strawberries and granulated sugar for garnishing and rimming margarita glasses (optional)
  

Following the order listed, put first 5 ingredients (tequila through ice) in a blender and blend until mixture is consistently smooth. To garnish margarita glasses, run a freshly cut lime wedge around the lip of each glass, then turn glass over into a plate of granulated sugar and gently twist in sugar to coat. Pour margarita mixture into each glass; garnish with a fresh lime wedge and/or strawberry (slit at the bottom) if desired.

Quick Tip: Like your margaritas frozen? Simply chill prepared margaritas in the freezer until desired consistency is reached.

How to Make Simple Syrup

(required for making sweet & sour mix)

Making simple syrup is a snap, and you have two options:

1. Heat equal parts (in a 1:1 ratio) granulated sugar and water in a heavy-bottom saucepan, whisking or stirring until mixture comes to a boil and sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, allow mixture to cool completely, and store in a clean, glass bottle. Capped and refrigerated, this version of simple syrup should keep up to a few weeks in the refrigerator.
2. Easier yet? Mix equal parts (in a 1:1 ratio) granulated sugar and hot water in a glass jar, stirring until sugar has dissolved. When mixture looks clear and settled, stir thoroughly again, then pour into a clean, glass bottle. Capped and refrigerated, this version of simple syrup should keep up to a few weeks in the refrigerator.

Like your simple syrup sweeter? Increase the ratios above to 1.5 parts sugar to 1 part water if desired.

For those watching their sugar intake, try replacing all or part of the granulated sugar in this recipe with Splenda®.

Need more information? Check out The Hungry Mouse for an easy-to-follow photo tutorial on making homemade simple syrup.

How to Make Sweet & Sour Mix

Fresh squeezed lime, lemon-lime, and/or lemon juice is essential to making a satisfying sweet & sour mix. Once you have made simple syrup (which is super simple, no pun intended---see the recipe above), all you need is fresh lime juice (use limes to create a tasty sweet & sour mix for this strawberry margaritas) or a mixture of lime and lemon juice (for a traditional margarita). Using only fresh lemon juice would produce a mix more appropriate for use in a whiskey sour.

The principal behind sweet & sour mix is to create a mix that's as equally sweet as it is sour or tart. To strike that balance, begin with a ratio of 1 & 1/2 parts simple syrup to 1 part lime juice. For example, if you have 6 cups of homemade simple syrup, mix that with approximately 4 cups fresh squeezed lime (or lemon-lime) juice for most margaritas. If you have 3 cups of homemade simple syrup, mix that with approximately 2 cups fresh squeezed lime juice, and so on.

Now taste. If the mix seems too sour, add more simple syrup. Likewise, if the mix seems too sweet, add more lime juice until you strike the perfect balance. Once you have it just right, pat yourself on the back and make those margaritas. Stored in a clean, glass jar and sealed tightly, this sweet & sour mix should keep up to 3 months in the refrigerator, allowing you to make future margaritas on a moment's notice.

Enjoy!

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A Bloggable Life advocates safe driving: Never drink or text while operating a vehicle.

Comments

[Stella]

Awesome! I just saw this photo on F.G. and it made me want a glass of this-it's only 9 in the A.M. here. Maybe one sans the alcohol. Just for now though (smile).

[Sandie]

Stella - Thanks for stopping by! Glad you found the photo so enticing---amazing what a margarita can do at 9 AM! ;)

[Danielle]

Another alternative to sugar is stevia which can be found in liquid or powdered form. Agave syrup is also available as an alternative. All are generally found in any grocery store.