An easy blackberry margarita recipe made with fresh blackberries, fresh citrus juice, agave syrup, and enough tequila to get the job done! It’s pure summer in a glass (without the sugar crash).
Say hello to your new favorite warm-weather cocktail: the Skinny Blackberry Margarita. It’s tart, slightly sweet, loaded with fresh fruit flavor, and absolutely stunning poured into a salt-sugar-rimmed glass. We’re skipping the triple sec, passing on the overly sweet pre-made stuff, and just using juicy fresh blackberries, fresh lime juice, a little fresh-squeezed orange, and a touch of agave to balance the tartness of the blackberries.
This is a solid blackberry margarita that’s bright and bold without being heavy. The muddled fresh blackberries give it a rich hue and a juicy punch, while the fresh lime and orange juice bring that signature margarita zing. It’s naturally lower in calories than a classic marg, but every sip still feels like a treat!
What is a Skinny Margarita?
A “skinny” margarita is made with fresh juices and minimal sugar. Margaritas from restaurants typically contain a syrup-y mix loaded with sugar, and little to no fresh juice. And while those certainly have a time and a place to be enjoyed, but this version is waaaay more balanced for a random Taco Tuesday kind of evening. The beauty of making your own margaritas at home is the ability to use fresh ingredients, and adjust your own margarita to fit your taste.
Ingredients
- 10 Fresh Blackberries
- 4 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
- 2 oz. Fresh Orange Juice
- 4 oz. Tequila Blanco (Silver Tequila)
- 2 tsp. Agave Nectar (aka Agave Syrup)
- 1 tbsp. Kosher Salt, optional: for the rim
- 1 tsp. Granulated Sugar, optional: for the rim
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh Blackberries: Juicy, plump berries are key. Frozen can work in a pinch, just let them thaw before muddling.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Always go fresh here. Bottled lime juice just doesn’t hit the same way.
- Fresh Orange Juice: Adds a mellow citrus note that replaces the need for orange liqueur. Fresh OJ is preferred, but there are so many good bottles of OJ on the market now. Feel free to snag one for this recipe (without pulp).
- Tequila Blanco (100% agave): Silver tequila is crisp, clean, and the best choice for citrus-forward cocktails.
- Agave Nectar: Just a touch is all you need for sweetness. You can swap in simple syrup if that’s what you’ve got. Or honey!
- Salt + Sugar Rim: A mix of the two gives the perfect salty-sweet contrast to every sip. The rim is totally optional though!
Directions
Step One: Rim the Glasses. Mix equal parts kosher salt and sugar on a plate. Run a lime wedge over the rims of two margarita glasses, and dip the rims into the salt/sugar mix. Set the glasses aside for now.
Step Two: Muddle the Blackberries + Build the Margarita Mixture. Muddle the blackberries in a large cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, then add the lime juice, orange juice, tequila, and agave syrup.
Step Three: Shake! Secure the lid onto the cocktail shaker. Shake it for about 30 seconds, or as long as you can before your hands freeze. 🙂
Step Four: Strain. Fill the margarita glasses with ice. Strain the margarita mixture into the prepared glasses. (This can be done through the strainer in the lid of the cocktail shaker, or through a fine mesh sieve for a more thoroughly strained liquid.)
Step Five: Garnish and Serve! Garnish with a fresh blackberry or two, and a lime or orange wedge!
Tips for Making the Perfect Skinny Blackberry Margarita
- Muddle the blackberries thoroughly. You want to really break down the berries to release their flavor (and gorgeous color). A cocktail muddler or the back of a spoon works just fine.
- Use a fine mesh strainer. For the smoothest sip, strain out the blackberry pulp and seeds before pouring.
- Chill your glasses! Throw them in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes before rimming and pouring for the ultimate icy finish.
- Adjust sweetness to taste. If your berries are on the tart side, add an extra ½ teaspoon of agave or a splash more orange juice.
I do recommend muddling the blackberries in the cocktail shaker before adding all of the other ingredients. You could probably get away with just throwing all of the ingredients in the shaker and shaking it super hard to break down the blackberries, but they probably won’t release as much juice that way. As for the rim of the glasses, I love combining sugar AND salt for these margaritas. The blackberries are tart, so a touch of added sweetness helps to balance the tartness.
Can I Batch This for a Party?
You absolutely can. Just multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you need, muddle the blackberries directly in a pitcher, and stir everything together (instead of shaking). Keep the pitcher refrigerated until serving, and strain into individual glasses over ice. Rimmed glasses optional but encouraged.
Just FYI, my entire website is packed with small batch recipes! If you’re often cooking for one or two people, feel free to sign up for my weekly newsletter. I only send one newsletter each week, but it’s packed with four small batch recipes, as well as a few tips and tricks for you!
More Small Batch Margarita Recipes
- Skinny Fresh Lime Margarita
- Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita
- Fresh Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita
- Grilled Pineapple and Jalapeno Margarita
- Blueberry Cilantro Margarita
- Spicy Serrano Grapefruit Margarita
All of them are delicious! The blueberry cilantro margarita is also really easy, as is the skinny fresh margarita recipe. The grilled pineapple one takes a bit of time and effort, but I promise you it’s worth it!
Whether you’re lounging by the pool, hosting a backyard happy hour, or just feeling a little extra on a Tuesday, this one’s ready to pour. Shake it up in your favorite cocktail shaker, strain over ice, and get fancy with a lime wedge and a blackberry garnish. She’s beauty. She’s grace. She’s also got tequila, so she’s ready to party if that’s where this goes. 😉
Cheers to your margarita making at home! Tag me on Instagram to show me your gorgeous cocktails! If you have any specific questions, feel free to shoot me an email directly! Feel free to leave a comment and/or star rating below if you have time – I always appreciate that SO much!
xx Sara
Skinny Blackberry Margarita Recipe (Makes 2)
Ingredients
- 10 Fresh Blackberries
- 4 ounces Fresh Lime Juice
- 2 ounces Fresh Orange Juice
- 4 ounces Tequila Blanco (aka Silver Tequila)
- 2 tsp. Agave Nectar
- 1 Tbsp. Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp. Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Mix the salt and sugar together on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the rims of two cocktail glasses, then dip the rims into the salt and sugar mix. Set rimmed glasses aside until ready to use.
- Muddle blackberries in the bottom of a large cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, then add lime juice, orange juice, tequila, and agave. Secure the lid onto the shaker, and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
- Fill the rimmed glasses with ice. Remove the lid from the shaker, and strain the shaker contents into the two glasses. Garnish with a lime wheel and blackberry!
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
These are so perfectly delicious for summer – or anytime 🙂
I first had blackberry margaritas while in Mexico many years ago and have been craving them lately.
Happened upon this recipe. Perfect. No sugary mix, just fresh. Thanks for this, it’s much appreciated and my new fav summer cocktail!
These are so perfectly delicious for summer – or anytime 🙂
I first had blackberry margaritas while in Mexico many years ago and have been craving them lately.
Happened upon this recipe. Perfect. No sugary mix, just fresh. Thanks for this, it’s much appreciated and my new fav summer cocktail!
I’m so glad you like them!! Thank you so much for making them – I totally agree that the fresh taste is so much better than a sugary mix. Cheers to you!