Chewy Margarita Cookies

These chewy margarita cookies are soft, salty and sweet, with zesty lime and orange flavors and a hint of tequila! Pair it with a tequila sunrise or margarita for the ultimate boozy combination.

Extremely popular opinion: Margaritas are wonderful. I love margaritas.

Wait, let me be more specific: I love freshly made margaritas with fresh juices and fresh fruit zest. If it’s out of a bottle of margarita mix or a frozen can, you need to see yourself out and take your pitcher of sad-ritas with you. I’m sorry, but you GOTSTA GO.

I got a craving for margaritas one day (okay fine, most days), but I also wanted something sweet. And it was also 11AM on a Wednesday.

Cookies became my dessert goal, and to combine my margarita craving with sweets I thought I’d give cookies spiked with tequila a try.  Can you imagine if I was craving a bloody mary at the time? [shudder]

Someone has recently told me she wanted to see more “boozy” dessert recipes on the blog. Well, ask and you shall receive, my dear.

You may be tempted to think of these as lime cookies, but do not be deceived. They have a subtle but distinct lime flavor, for sure, but they’re also accompanied by a subtle orange flavor (thanks to the Triple Sec) and a hint of tequila. If you top your cookies with my favorite garnish, you end up with a flavor palate very much reminiscent of a classic margarita: additional freshly grated lime zest, and a combo of margarita salt and coarse sparkling sugar.

To die for. I’m telling you.

I also made a batch where I gave them a quick coating of tequila as soon as they came out of the oven, and while the flavor was pretty freaking great, the texture of the tops of the cookies left a little to be desired. 

You could also add grated orange peel into the batter and/or as a garnish on top, if you were feeling like you need a little extra fruit in your life.

I’m writing this post and seriously regretting that there aren’t any margarita cookies left in the house. Not even a different kind of cookie. Not a single one. And my mouth is kind of watering a little, and I don’t know what to do about it.

It’s sort of stressing me out, and I’m rummaging through the pantry like there’s gold hidden somewhere.

My husband brought these to work and one of the guys said this was the best cookie he’d ever had. That’s a ringing endorsement if I ever heard one.

Even one of his coworkers that doesn’t normally drink was all over there. Mind you, that doesn’t mean you should trick your non-alcohol drinking friends into eating these. Nor should you give these to your kids. I mean, it might be kind of funny to tell them in 15 years that their first taste of tequila was in a cookie when they were 6… but that’s probably illegal and stuff so don’t do it, mmk? Mmk.

This recipe makes about 24 cookies, and while you may very much feel the desire to double the recipe, you probably shouldn’t. It’s going to give your mixer a hard time with that much dough, so if you want to make 48 cookies just make it in two batches and everything will be a-okay.

Want more tequila in your life?

• Watermelon Margaritas
• Frozen Mango Margarita by Whitney Bond
• Tequila Sunrise Cocktail
• How to Make Pineapple Infused Tequila by Hunger Thirst Play
• Strawberry Basil Margarita
• Honey Mango Strawberry Margarita by Taste and See

Want more boozy desserts in your life?

• The Best Jack and Coke Cupcakes
• Boozy Angel Food Cupcakes with Amaretto-Soaked Strawberries
• Tiramisu (for Two!)
• White Chocolate Champagne Truffles
• Bourbon Balls
• Red Wine Chocolate Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
• Bourbon Butter Pecan Ice Cream

After you’ve made this recipe, please leave a comment below with a rating – and if you came from Pinterest, add a photo to the Pin of what you make to the pin to share your experience!

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