I’m not much of a drinker, I never really have been. I usually only drink on that rare occasion that I get out of the house to go out to dinner without the kids, which is starting to feel about as common as leap year. But when I do, my drink of choice is always, and I mean ALWAYS, the same. A nice, frosty margarita, with salt. I love margaritas, such a happy fun drink and you get salt (yeah, I love salt as well). A friend of mine sent out an invite this week for a Cinco De Mayo party, so I thought it would be fun to try out some dessert recipes based on margaritas. Let’s start with cookies!
These cookies are a really interesting flavor combo, kind of a buttery shortbread meets lime with a bite of tequila. My husband and I loved them. These are adapted from McCormick Spice’s Sugar Rimmed Margarita Cookies.
They are pretty simple to make, though the dough does need an hour to chill out in the fridge, so make sure to factor that in.
If you aren’t a tequila fan, you can absolutely leave that out of these, and just make a great lime cookie. But if you are a tequila fan, there’s just a hint of tequila flavor that comes through in the glaze. Yum, yum.
You add lime zest to your dough. I somehow do not own a microplane, and started using the grater I always use for zesting. It’s totally the wrong kind and all it does is collect all the zest in it’s grips and not let go. Total fail. Luckily I realized I had this handy little OXO Spice Grater which worked wonderfully.
After making your dough, you roll it into two logs and then let it chill in the fridge for about an hour.
Then when it comes out you roll it in a salt and sugar mixture. Yum yum.
Then it’s slice and bake. I knew I was going to leave the tequila glaze off of some of the cookies, so for those cookies I added some extra sugar and salt mixture to the tops.
After baking you allow them to cool, then make the glaze. As I mentioned you can leave the glaze off, or omit the tequila.
Because the salty part of a margarita is SO important to me, I sprinkled some of the sugar and salt mixture on top of the glaze. It also adds a nice crunch.
Salty. Sweet. Lime. Butter. Good stuff.
These delicious margarita cookies can be enjoyed with or without the addition of tequila. Adapted from McCormick Spice's Sugar Rimmed Margarita Cookies.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
- Green Food Coloring (optional - I used six drops McCormick Neon Green & 2 Drops McCormick Green)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel
- 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Orange Extract
- 1/2 cup sanding sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon tequila
Instructions
1. Mix flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and granulated sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg, lime peel, extract and food coloring if using; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Divide dough in half. Form each half into a log about 9 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in wax paper.
2. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
3. Preheat oven 350°F. Mix sanding sugar and kosher salt. Roll each cold dough log in mixture to coat evenly. Cut dough into 1/4-inch thick slices. Place on ungreased baking sheets. If desired sprinkle a bit of additional sugar and salt mixture on tops.
4. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
5. Drizzle Glaze over cooled cookies. If desired sprinkle lightly with salt/sugar mixture. Let stand until glaze is set.
Mix 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, and 1 tablespoon each water and tequila in small bowl until smooth. (Or omit tequila and use 2 tablespoons water.)
https://www.lovefromtheoven.com/margarita-cookies-with-salty-sweet-tequila-glaze/Cheers!
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You are always coming up with the most creative ideas. I’m filing these away for my Cinco de Mayo party!
these look absolutely gorgeous. I’ll admit I’ve never tried a margarita (or any cocktail of any kind) but I really want one of these cookies now!
Tash, if you like lime and sweet/salty – they are great! You can totally omit the tequila aspect if you like, and they are still great. 🙂
These sound like the perfect summertime treat! Do you think they would go well served with margaritas or would that be overkill?
Janine, oh no, not overkill at all. I think it’s a fabulous combo! 🙂
Love from the oven for sure, yumola!!!!
Thanks Sandra!
Oh, these sound fabulous. I love margarita cupcakes. I think I’m going to love these just as much. I’m a big fan of the sweet, tart and a little salty flavor combination! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.
I need these in my life right now!! 🙂 I pinned them for quick reference!! 🙂
Please join me at my Blog Hop this week! 🙂
http://www.pluckys-secondthought.com/pluckys-blog-hop-4-with-co-host/
What a fantastic concept for a cookie. I almost feel as if these should be “adult only” cookies just so that I can have more for myself. 🙂
yes! definitely pinning and making these!!
I must try these! Sounds yummy!
Also, I too find myself without a microplane and often use my grater. The best trick I have found is to use a pastry brush to brush the zest off the grater. It works surprisingly well. Note: the smaller the brush, the easier it is to remove as the bristles seems to stay a bit stiffer giving u the sturdiness you need.
u lady are an evil one!! j.k I could eat my weight in these things!! with a rita to wash them down!! thanks for sharing.
yesssssssssssssssssssss mama needs a cookie!
I made these and they were not the same shortbread-like consistency as shown in the pictures. Still delicious!! but because there was no rising agent, they spread out and looked a lot more like a flat regular cookies. Maybe i did something wrong!! but the flavor was delicious!
Hi, just wondering if you have to put the orange extract to get the margerita taste? Thanks.
Jenn, I’m pretty much a pure lime girl when it comes to margaritas, as in I don’t even like the triple sec in my drinks, so in my opinion, they are fine without any orange, but again, those are my tastes, you could certainly add some if you like the flavor!
I’m assuming self rising flour since they are cookies – is this correct? Thanks!
Connory, nope, just all purpose. I pretty much never use self rising flour.
I live in Okinawa and don’t have access to sanding sugar. I realize that regular sugar will melt in the oven, so it won’t have the same effect. Do you have any suggestions? Should I skip rolling the dough logs in the sugar/salt mixture and just put more sugar/salt on top?
Lori, do you have turbinado or raw sugar available? Those are usually larger sugar crystals and would work perfectly. Otherwise I would skip the rolling and just sprinkle some on top like you mentioned, I think that would work great as well.
Yum yum yum, these look amazing!!!!!!
I realize it has been quite a while since you posted your margarita cookies recipe, but I just found it. What about adding some freeze dried strawberries ground in a food processor to make strawberry Margarita cookies? Do you think the original recipe would need any changes?
Thank you
I haven’t tried it, but it sounds great!
Hi! These cookies look amazing! Quick question: How many cookies does this recipe make?
Thanks!
Hi Marissa, you should get about two dozen cookies depending on the size you make them.
I made the cookies but they totally flattened. What did I do wrong?
Hmm, how thick did you cut your slices? Mine don’t really rise all that much, they stay pretty close to the thickness of the slice. Different temperature issues could have an impact, as well as freshness of ingredients (not always easy to really tell with say flour).