Passion fruit is so deliciously lush and tangy, it makes for the perfect cocktail with a bit of agave sweetener and tequila! The color is a vibrant yellow-orange, which is borderline golden when the sun hits it the right way. It’s my favorite passion fruit drink as summer transitions into fall. I mean, there’s a reason the Cheesecake Factory’s Passion Fruit Margarita is one of it’s most popular drinks. In NYC, I saw a couple on a date order these bright, beautiful golden drinks at Gansevoort Rooftop in NYC and immediately asked them what it was! It was the Ari Gold, essentially a passion fruit margarita with tequila and a spicy rim. This recipe is a recreation of this delicious cocktail!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
It’s a beautiful, golden color that screams summer in the tropics! It’s great for a summer backyard party. I give you all the tips and tricks on using fresh passion fruit, frozen passion fruit, or a cocktail syrup. If you go with a cocktail syrup, this recipe seriously takes less than 5 minutes to put together by cutting down on the time or processing fresh or frozen puree. This traditional margarita recipe provides you with 3 touch points to make it a spicy margarita - a spicy rim, muddled jalapeños, or hot honey.
The Ingredients - Notes and Substitutions
With only four main ingredients - this passion fruit margarita is incredibly simple and has a few substitutions to make it friendly for what’s in your fridge or pantry.
Passion fruit Syrup - If passion fruit isn’t it season, it is very difficult to come by fresh fruit! Thankfully, there are several companies such as Goya that sell frozen maracuya puree online or in stores. I’ve also seen Whole Foods carries frozen cubes as well as juice! I opted for a passion fruit cocktail syrup where the only ingredients were passion fruit and sugar. Agave Syrup - This is classic to margaritas but you can also use a 1-to-1 ratio of water to sugar to create a simple syrup. Omit or reduce the amount of syrup if you use a passionfruit syrup or puree with added sugar. Tequila - But of course. Use your favorite tequila! I used Casamigos, as an ode to how popular it is in NYC! Lime Juice - Adds a bit of freshness and acidity. Use fresh lemon juice or orange juice instead.
How to Make a Spicy Passion Fruit Margarita
Making a passion fruit margarita truly could not be any easier!
Chili Lime Salt - Adding a bit of spice to this margarita makes it so so good! I’m obsessed with a spicy rim. Use your favorite chili lime salt like Tajín or make your own at home - it’s super easy! Jalapeños - I LOVE when the cocktail itself is lightly spicy! Adding a few slices of jalapeño and muddling makes this cocktail especially spicy even without the rim. Remove the seeds for less heat. Hot honey - Add a teaspoon of something like Mike’s Hot Honey into the shaker in place of the agave for spicy and sweet.
You can also defrost frozen passion fruit puree, which is much easier to come by or would make a great frozen passion fruit margarita. One passion fruit should provide at least one ounce of pulp to work with. Alternatively, you can purchase a passion fruit cocktail syrup from popular companies like Monin and Torani, but the key is to find one where the only ingredients are passion fruit, sugar, and a natural preservative.
How to Serve a Margarita with a Spicy Rim
First, lets make the chili lime salt rim! You can purchase a fancy chili lime salt or Tajín which is easily accessible, but it’s also super easy to make at home. For a Indian Mexican-inspired night, enjoy these spicy passion fruit margaritas with this Cheesy Nachos Chaat. Follow it up with these Vegetarian Bean and Corn Enchiladas. For dessert, you’ll love this cozy Masala Chai Tres Leches Cake.
More Cocktails to try
Recipe
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