Tomorrow is our first day back to school for staff meetings. Our principal is setting up a taco bar for the teachers for lunch. What goes with tacos? Margaritas!!!! BUT Since we can’t drink margaritas at school, the next best thing is Margarita Cupcakes. Lime with a little bit of tequila baked in. Mmmm. These should help us get through the afternoon 🙂
Tequila Lime Buttercream
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 lb. powdered sugar (1/2 bag- give or take)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons lime zest
2 tablespoons tequila
1/2 tablespoon milk
Green& yellow food coloring: however many drops you want to make the frosting look lime-y- about 1 green drop to every 3 yellow (optional)
Cream the butter and shortening with your stand mixer. Add the vanilla, lime juice, zest, and tequila. Mix until combined. Add the powdered sugar. Start with about half the bag. Add the milk and if the frosting is too soft, add more powdered sugar. Add the food coloring if you want now and then Whip the frosting for 3-5 minutes and then frost your cooled cupcakes. After I frosted my cupcakes, I rolled the edges of the frosting in sugar (to mimic a margarita glass)
Check out a very similar post, but for a strawberry margarita cupcake and frosting recipe. YUM!
Good-bye Gluten 
Have a Cinco de Mayo party coming up. Did you just use the vanilla cupcake recipe?
Hi Rebecca,
You could just use a vanilla cupcake recipe. However, I used my favorite lime cupcake (basically just a vanilla cake with some lime zest and lime juice).
Good luck! You can’t go wrong with tequila & cupcakes 🙂
I’m confused. You say you can’t have margaritas at your work so you brought these in. The recipe is for the buttercream frosting and you say “Tequila baked in”. Am I missing something? You don’t bake buttercream frosting so the tequila is still alcholic?
I know it’s only two tbs over the entire recipe but can something be substituted for the tequila?
Hi Brittany!
We couldn’t drink margaritas at school so I brought these cupcakes instead 🙂
I did add 2 tablespoons of tequila to the buttercream and a little tequila to the cupcake batter (2 tablespoons). If you didn’t want to use tequila, you wouldn’t have to! It would just taste like lime (or a virgin margarita). I would add extra lime juice or milk to your frosting to make it the right consistency if you omit the tequila. It’s your choice!
Good luck 🙂
Do you have a recipe for your lime cupcake? 🙂
Hi Kristin!
I do have a recipe, but it’s my go-to recipe for cupcakes that I am currently selling. I had better not post it 🙂 Sorry!!
If you have a good vanilla cupcake that you like, just add about 2 tablespoons of lime juice and one tablespoon of lime zest.
If you don’t have a good vanilla cupcake, I think the secret is in the flour. Use 2 parts brown rice, 1 part white rice, and 1/2 part tapioca or sweet rice flour. That should do it 🙂
Hello!
What about the cupcakes… Those are not Gluten Free 😦
Hello!
The cupcakes are gluten free!!!! AND delicious 🙂
How much are you selling your cake recipe for? I have a good vanilla cake but like to try new things too!
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for stopping by!
Sorry, but my recipe isn’t for sale.
You can use your vanilla cake and add some lime/lemon juice and tequila to the batter with your liquid. Then top it with my tequila buttercream recipe! It should be delicious!
🙂 Nikki
How do you make the cupcakes? The frosting sounds yummy. Is the cake made a certain way?
Hi Shayla!
I use my vanilla cupcake, but then add lime to the batter and brush them with lime & Tequila when they are done. It adds a little punch 🙂
How many cupcakes does this recipe ice?
Hi Katherine!
It really depends on how much frosting you put on each cupcake. I would say it frosts between 12 and 18 cupcakes… That’s with a decent amount of frosting on each!
I make this frosting and put it on Betty Crockers Lemon cake… and it was a HUGE hit 🙂 The frosting is so good! I used Patrón – YUM!
Yay! Thanks Dani for your feedback. I’m glad it was such a hit 🙂
Pinned your image and recipe so I could easily post it on my page about finding ideas for Cinco de Mayo on Pinterest.
Let me know if you do not approve of the use.
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Why have I never seen your blog before????? This look amazing…this is my recipe to try this week. Thank you so much for posting this…I am setting up my blog from another server here on WP and I am excited to read more from you. By the way I am a mom of 2 gluten free kids and I am often called upon to help the newly diagnosed deal with going gluten free, I will refer people here
Awww, thanks!
I am horrible at updating it…. If you are ever looking for a specific baked good, shoot me an e-mail or message. I probably have a recipe floating around somewhere that I haven’t posted… OR I could make one 🙂
Thanks for stopping by! Nikki