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    Home » Recipes » Beverage Recipes » Hot Honey Margarita Recipe

    Hot Honey Margarita Recipe

    Published: Jun 1, 2021 · Modified: Jun 30, 2021 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments

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    Margarita lovers, this one is for you! This hot honey margarita recipe takes a spicy margarita to the next level! It is smooth and sweet with a fiery kick that has just enough heat to make you want another sip.

    Close up of hot honey margarita with a jar of hot honey in background.

    Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure documents for more information.

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • Margarita Ingredients
    • Step-By-Step Directions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Cocktail Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    Hot honey is a trendy condiment that is used to add a spicy flavor to everything from biscuits to chicken. It is sweet, spicy, and incredibly addicting.

    In my Texas margarita recipe, I use agave nectar as the sweetener. I use a similar recipe here, simply replacing the agave nectar with hot honey. It is so good! With the first sip, you will be hooked!

    Where Spicy Chicken Soup brings me comfort in the winter, this spicy margarita more than fits the bill in warmer months!

    Margarita Ingredients

    Tequila - My personal preference for this drink is to use a top-shelf silver tequila, but you can use whatever tequila you have on hand.

    Orange Liqueur - This adds sweetness and accentuates the lime flavor in the margarita. I use Cointreau, but triple sec will also work.

    Fresh Limes - I recommend freshly squeezed lime juice instead of bottled, as it has a brighter flavor and fresh ingredients just produce the best results.

    Hot Honey - This takes the place of simple syrup or sweet and sour mix. You can use your favorite hot honey in this recipe. Or if you do not have any on hand, there are directions in the recipe card for a quick and easy hot honey recipe. It's a simple combination of honey, your favorite hot sauce, and a little bit of cayenne pepper.

    Chili Salt - The chili-salt rim is optional, but it makes for a beautiful presentation, and the salt adds a nice balance to the margarita. I mixed a few tablespoons of kosher salt with about a teaspoon of chili powder on a small plate. It isn't critical to be exact in your measurements. Just add enough chili powder to get the color that you want.

    Overhead shot of margarita ingredients.

    Step-By-Step Directions

    Step One: Pour the tequila and orange liqueur into your cocktail shaker

    I love to use a mason jar when making cocktails. A standard cocktail shaker also works well.

    Mason jar with silver tequila added, and hot honey on the side.

    Step Two: Add fresh lime juice

    Squeeze your lime with a citrus juicer or press, and add the fresh lime juice to your cocktail shaker.

    Squeezing lime juice into mason jar.

    Step Three: Mix in the hot honey

    This is the magical ingredient that makes will make your margarita so delicious! Plus it feels good to use honey instead of sweet and sour mix. Honey is good for you! Especially local honey. So it makes me feel like I am drinking a skinny margarita, and not indulging too much.

    Hot honey added to mason jar with other ingredients.

    Step Four: Shake well and pour into glass

    Once all of your ingredients are in the shaker, add some ice cubes and shake well. I like to shake the cocktail for about 30 seconds to help the honey integrate with the other ingredients.

    Pour into a chili-salt rimmed glass, if desired, and garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

    Hot honey margarita on a tray with a bottle of Tabasco and jar of hot honey.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make a big batch of this margarita recipe?

    Absolutely! This is a great recipe to serve for a Cinco de Mayo party or at happy hour, and because each ingredient is measured in ounces it is very easy to increase. Simply determine the total number of servings that you want, and multiply each ingredient. Prepare in a pitcher instead of a cocktail shaker, and stir well before serving. Everyone will love these spicy cocktails!

    How do I get the salt to stick on the glass?

    Rub a cut lime around the rim of a rocks glass or margarita glass, where you want the salt to stick. Then immediately dip the glass in the salt and twist the glass. The salt will adhere to the juice on the glass.

    Overhead shot of two margaritas, with hot honey, chili-salt mixture, tequila and lime framing the image.

    More Cocktail Recipes

    • Texas Margarita
    • PB&J Cocktail Recipe
    • Berry Mint Julep Recipe
    • Lavender Vodka Cocktail Recipe

    Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind the scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

    Recipe

    Rocks glass with hot honey margarita, chili-salt rim and a lime and hot pepper wedge.

    Hot Honey Margarita Recipe

    Recipe by: Erin
    Hot honey brings a spicy twist to a regular margarita, giving you a smooth drink with a bold kick!
    4.91 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 1
    Calories 225 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 ounces Top shelf silver tequila (¼ cup)
    • ½ ounce orange liqueur (1 tablespoon)
    • 1 ounce lime juice (2 tablespoons)
    • ½ ounce hot honey (1 tablespoon)

    Quick and Easy Hot Honey

    • ¼ cup honey (2 ounces)
    • 2 tablespoons Cholula hot sauce (1 ounce)
    • 1 tablespoon Tabasco hot sauce (½ ounce)
    • â…› teaspoon cayenne pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and hot honey into a cocktail shaker with ice.
    • Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, then pour into a rocks glass and enjoy.

    How to Make Quick and Easy Hot Honey

    • Place the honey, Chalula, Tabasco, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
    • Stir well. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

    Notes

    Substitute the Cholula or Tabasco with your favorite hot sauce.
    Mix chili powder and salt together to create a flavored salt for the rim. Rub a lime around the edge of the glass, then dip the glass in the chili-salt mixture to coat the rim.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kelly

      November 07, 2022 at 2:40 pm

      4 stars
      how do you get the honey to mix. Mine just "globs" up in the shaker....shake before adding ice seems to work for me.....thoughts

      Reply
      • Erin

        November 07, 2022 at 2:58 pm

        Hi Kelly! It is important to work quickly once you have added the ice so that the honey does not get cold. You can definitely shake it or use a whisk before adding the ice to get it mixed in with the Then shake again with the ice.

        Reply
    2. Karina

      July 04, 2021 at 12:14 pm

      Haven't made it yet. I would love to know what pepper was the base for your hot honey. What I have is ghost pepper honey and I worry half an ounce might be too much. If I know what yours was, I can judge whether I want to cut it with a little regular honey.

      Reply
      • Erin

        July 05, 2021 at 11:12 am

        I use a combination of Cholula hot sauce, Tabasco, and cayenne. You can use half regular honey and half hot honey, if you prefer.

        Reply
    3. Edith

      July 03, 2021 at 8:52 pm

      How much tequila do I use?Dont know the exact measurements on any of the ingredients you listed😫it’s my first time making a mixed drink..How much honey...ect...Thank you:)

      Reply
      • Erin

        July 05, 2021 at 11:13 am

        Hi Edith! Click on the "jump to recipe" button at the top of the page or scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see the recipe card. It has the measurements for each of the ingredients. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Matt

      July 02, 2021 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      The perfect pairing for some fajitas!

      Reply
    5. Michelle Huston

      June 23, 2021 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      HOT HONEY made this a winner at my house for cocktails today! Thanks for sharing such a twist on a classic drink!

      Reply
      • Erin

        June 24, 2021 at 12:54 pm

        I am so excited that you loved it!

        Reply
    6. Kayla DiMaggio

      June 23, 2021 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      Ooh, I have some hot honey sitting in my pantry right now. This sounds perfect for a hot Summer day. I am looking forward to trying this!

      Reply
      • Erin

        June 24, 2021 at 12:56 pm

        That's awesome! I hope you love it!

        Reply
    7. Jeri

      June 23, 2021 at 9:03 am

      5 stars
      We love a little bit of spice in our drinks, and this hot honey added the perfect amount! This was my first time trying hot honey, and I loved it! It was so easy! This is our new favorite cocktail!

      Reply
      • Erin

        June 23, 2021 at 1:01 pm

        That makes me so happy to hear, Jeri! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    8. Amanda

      June 22, 2021 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      I usually make my spicy margaritas with jalapeño, but this was such a delicious twist! I just loved the honey flavor to go with the spice.

      Reply
      • Erin

        June 23, 2021 at 8:26 am

        I love a good jalapeño margarita! This hot honey margarita is a little bit spicier using the hot honey recipe in the post, though of course that can be adjusted to preference.

        Reply
    9. Alexandra

      June 22, 2021 at 7:55 pm

      5 stars
      Cheers to this delicious drink - the hot honey is such a fantastic addition!
      Love the kick it gives this margarita!

      Reply
      • Erin

        June 23, 2021 at 8:26 am

        I am so glad that you enjoyed the extra heat!

        Reply

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    Welcome! I'm Erin, wife, mom, and lover of great food. I am passionate about cooking mostly from scratch recipes that bring comfort, without spending all day in the kitchen. Most recipes on this site can be made in under 30 minutes! This approach to cooking allows me to provide delicious meals for my family while freeing up time to spend with those I love.

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