Pineapple Jalapeño Margaritas Recipe

jalapeno margarita
Jennifer Perillo
Prep: 70 mins
Cook: 6 mins
Total: 76 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 cocktails

Cinco de Mayo, TGIF, kicking back on a relaxing summer day—these are just a few thoughts that come to mind when we think about mixing up a batch of margaritas. While you can’t go wrong with the standard combination of sour mix, tequila, and orange liqueur, there are plenty of ways to take this classic cocktail to a whole new level.

Let’s start with the base ingredient: sour mix. Store-bought sour mix works in a pinch, but when you want to pull out all the stops, homemade sour mix is the way to go, and well worth the advance planning. It’s super easy to make, and can be done ahead of time.

Making your own sour mix also means you can get creative with the overall flavor of your margarita, infusing it with fresh herbs, spices, or even swapping out some of the lime juice for something more special-event worthy, like blood oranges.

In this version, we stayed true with lime juice, but jazzed things up by infusing the sour mix with fresh jalapeños. The mix can be prepared up to one week in advance, then stored in a tightly sealed jar in the fridge (skip straight to Step 2 if making the sour mix ahead of time).

Instead of the usual salty rimmed glasses, a combination of sugar, salt, and smoked paprika ensures your margarita stands out among a sea of overcrowded cocktails. Chile pepper can be substituted for an extra kick.

And don’t forget the finishing touch—the garnish. A pineapple jalapeño margarita wouldn’t be complete without a pineapple wedge, but we’ve also included a twist with candied jalapeños. You might want to double up on that part of the recipe, as they’re a pretty addictive, albeit spicy, snack, and a great add-in for salads. If you’re pressed for time, sliced, fresh jalapeño work well, too, but the candied ones are a fun accessory to a sweet, smoky cocktail that's sure to impress friends and family at your next gathering.

Ingredients

Candied Jalapeño:

  • 1 whole fresh jalapeño

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

  • 1 teaspoon water

Jalapeño Simple Syrup:

  • 1 whole fresh jalapeño

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup lime juice

  • 1/4 cup water

Spicy Sugar Rim:

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika

  • 1 lime wedge

Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita:

  • 1/4 cup pineapple juice, unsweetened

  • (3/4 cup) 6 ounces tequila

  • (1/4 cup) 4 ounces Cointreau

  • 4 pineapple wedges

Steps to Make It

  1. Cut one jalapeño into thin slices. Combine 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar with 1 teaspoon of water in a small, nonstick skillet. Heat over medium flame until sugar is melted, and the mixtures is lightly golden. Add the jalapeño slices, and cook, shaking the pan frequently until peppers are fully coated, and the syrupy mixture is deep golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a fork, transfer the jalapeños to a parchment-lined plate.

  2. Split the remaining jalapeño in half. Add it to a small pot with 1/4 cup sugar, lime juice, and 1/4 cup water in a small pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until sugar is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from burner, and let cool completely. Discard the jalapeño pieces.

  3. In a shallow bowl or small dish, combine the remaining teaspoon of sugar, salt, and smoked paprika.

  4. Use the lime wedge to swipe around the rim of four rocks glasses. Dip the rims in the paprika-sugar-salt mixture, shaking off any excess.

  5. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the lime-jalapeño syrup, pineapple juice, tequila, and Cointreau. Shake until beads of sweat form on the outside of the shaker.

  6. Fill the glasses with ice cubes. Divide the cocktail between the glasses. Garnish each with a pineapple wedge and a few pieces of candied jalapeño. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
274 Calories
0g Fat
31g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 274
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 268mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 34mg 172%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 114mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)