Coconut Cream and Lime Margarita

This recipe comes from Williams-Sonoma Cocktails: Modern Favorites to Make at Home. The book claims this: “Bringing a 21st-century approach to mixology, this essential book from our Test Kitchen will have you mixing, shaking and stirring drinks like a pro.”

I don’t own the book; I discovered the recipe on the Wiliams-Sonoma website and was intrigued. I love margaritas, and this one is almost a cross between my favorite traditional margarita and a wonderful cocktail we discovered in Hawaii, called a Coconut Willy.

This margarita uses silver or blanco tequila. From the cocktail book, “Blanco tequila is a pure form of the agave-based alcohol; unlike reposaddo and anejo tequila, it isn’t aged in wood. Here the lightest tequila gets a rich and creamy texture from coconut cream, to which the standard margarita ingredients, orange-flavored liqueur and lime juice, are added.”

The recipe also includes simple syrup but I ignored that. I don’t like overly sweet drinks.

Coconut Cream and Lime Margarita
Makes one

Kosher salt, grated lime zest and sugar for rimming glass
2 lime wedges
2 ounces coconut cream or cream of coconut
1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce Cointreau or other orange liqueur

On a small plate, combine equal parts salt, lime zest, and sugar and spread in an even layer. Gently rub 1 of the lime wedges around the rim of a rocks glass. Holding the base of the glass, dip the rim into the salt mixture. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Just before serving, fill the glass with ice. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the coconut cream, tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau.

Cover, shake vigorously until well chilled and strain into the ice-filled glass.

I could still do with a bit more lime juice, but these are yummy!

And thank you Jil for the beautiful flowers. It felt like spring!

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

44 Comments

  1. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen May 23, 2022 at 8:20 AM - Reply

    This sounds really delicious Mimi! Love coconut anything, and this is perfect for summer. Thanks for the tequila info!

    • Chef Mimi May 23, 2022 at 9:11 AM - Reply

      It is definitely perfect for summer! And so pretty!

  2. neil@neilshealthymeals.com May 23, 2022 at 9:43 AM - Reply

    You and my Lynne would get on well Mimi. She loves Margaritas. I’m more of a wine and whisky person myself. But I have been know to enjoy the odd Margarita or two on holiday…… Ha ha!

    • Chef Mimi May 23, 2022 at 11:52 AM - Reply

      I usually only have two margaritas! I never had a bad experience with tequila cause I actually didn’t drink alcohol in my young years. But it kind of scares me! I wish I enjoyed whisky.

  3. BERNADETTE May 23, 2022 at 11:46 AM - Reply

    Great recipe and your photos are fabulous.

    • Chef Mimi May 23, 2022 at 11:52 AM - Reply

      Oh, thank you Bernadette!!!

  4. Fran @ G'day Souffle May 23, 2022 at 5:01 PM - Reply

    Mimi, last night I had a dream about you and your blog. I dreamed that for your last post, viewers had to answer a series of questions about your post before they could submit their comment. I persevered and answered all the questions but one lady got frustrated and didn’t! Your cocktail here looks delicious (and I wouldn’t mind answering and questions about it)!

    • Chef Mimi May 23, 2022 at 6:11 PM - Reply

      Hahahahahaha! I wonder who that was….. That is so funny! And a great idea! No, not really. Very funny. This is a great cocktail!

  5. Tandy | Lavender and Lime May 24, 2022 at 1:34 AM - Reply

    What stunning photos! I find coconut cream so sweet already that adding more sugar would take it over the top for me. I cannot recall the last time I had a margarita!

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 7:10 AM - Reply

      There’s no sugar added, just some orange liqueur. The rim mixture is sugar, salt, and lime zest, which I really liked!

  6. 2pots2cook May 24, 2022 at 5:45 AM - Reply

    Absolutely delicious! Perfect summer drink !!!

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 7:08 AM - Reply

      It really is! Thanks.

  7. Hannah Kaminsky May 24, 2022 at 6:56 AM - Reply

    Margaritas are serious business here in Texas, so I’m always happy to find a new twist. I love how this version looks both refreshing and rich! Such a delicious contrast.

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 7:11 AM - Reply

      I spent many years living in Texas, which is where I discovered the margarita. Thank goodness!

  8. David Scott Allen May 24, 2022 at 9:53 AM - Reply

    Oh, wow — these sound great. I accidentally bought coconut cream a couple of months ago (instead of milk) so I have a can just waiting for cocktails. And the lime availability issue seems to be over, so I plan to make these over the weekend. Glad to know you skipped the simple syrup — definitely doesn’t need to be any sweeter!

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 6:54 PM - Reply

      No, it’s definitely sweet enough as is! They’re a fun drink, but still rich.

  9. terrie gura May 24, 2022 at 10:02 AM - Reply

    This looks and sounds so refreshing, Mimi! I love the lime zest incorporated onto the rim. I made a similar version with mango recently and agree with you that this kind of cocktail doesn’t need additional sweetener. I generally consider the cream of coconut to be a simple syrup in its own right. I’d like to give a heads up on that nifty squeeze bottle though. You may want to store it in the fridge with the cap side UP. Mine was in the door with the cap down as intended and it leaked all over everything. Mercy, what a sticky mess!

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 6:55 PM - Reply

      Oh no…. Mine is cap up, but I can definitely see not thinking about those consequences! Yikes!

  10. For the Love of Cooking May 24, 2022 at 11:38 AM - Reply

    Now this is my kind of cocktail! Delicious.

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 6:56 PM - Reply

      It’s rich and sweet, but very fun.

  11. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats May 24, 2022 at 11:43 AM - Reply

    This is such a nice twist on the classic!

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 6:56 PM - Reply

      Thanks, Ronit!

  12. Ann Coleman May 24, 2022 at 4:45 PM - Reply

    That sounds quite refreshing! I don’t like overly sweet drinks either.

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 6:56 PM - Reply

      I don’t like overly sweet anything! You name it!

  13. Debra May 24, 2022 at 6:38 PM - Reply

    Oh my but YES! And you’ve made the rim so pretty. I can’t imagine anyone not thinking this was pretty great. :-)

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2022 at 6:56 PM - Reply

      Thank you Debra!

  14. Pauline May 25, 2022 at 1:34 AM - Reply

    Mimi this looks like an absolutely delightful Summer cocktail. The flowers and your photos are beautiful.

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2022 at 4:27 PM - Reply

      Oh, thank you!

  15. David @ Spiced May 25, 2022 at 7:14 AM - Reply

    What a fun idea to mix salt and sugar on that rim! I’ve seen sugared rims and salted rims, but never a combination – I’m going to have to keep that in mind. The drink itself sounds fantastic, too. It’s perfect for hot summer days!

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2022 at 4:27 PM - Reply

      I loved that idea as well. It would be good with a basic margarita as well.

  16. kitchenriffs May 25, 2022 at 9:52 AM - Reply

    Interesting looking drink! I, too, would skip the simple syrup — coconut cream already is too sweet. Fun combo of ingredients — thanks.

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2022 at 4:26 PM - Reply

      I know and agree. Some people really like SWEET.

  17. Jean May 25, 2022 at 12:47 PM - Reply

    My husband and I have been opting for cocktails over wine lately and this looks and sounds like one I would enjoy very much. I’ll be trying this!

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2022 at 4:26 PM - Reply

      It’s a bit more caloric than wine, but very enjoyable!

  18. Linger A Little May 26, 2022 at 9:40 AM - Reply

    Oh! My! Goodness! What an incredible blending of ingredients for a cocktail. I’ve never used cream of coconut with alcohol but now I’m so intrigued. It sounds absolutely fabulous. What a great treat for the weekend. Can’t wait to try it.

    • Chef Mimi May 27, 2022 at 9:02 AM - Reply

      Have you ever had a pina colada?! They’re fabulous. This one’s good, too.

  19. Valentina May 26, 2022 at 2:29 PM - Reply

    I wish I was more experienced in the world of mixology. It’s drinks like this that inspire me to get better at it. Yum! :-) ~Valentina

    • Chef Mimi May 27, 2022 at 9:03 AM - Reply

      I’m seriously the worst bartender! This one’s really easy.

  20. Healthy World Cuisine May 26, 2022 at 7:43 PM - Reply

    Ohh love this! Tropical and creamy… and so unique. I bet they go down far too easy.

    • Chef Mimi May 27, 2022 at 9:03 AM - Reply

      You are so right about that!

    • Jeff the Chef May 30, 2022 at 9:31 AM - Reply

      This sounds so refreshing! Thanks for the recipe.

      • Chef Mimi May 30, 2022 at 11:18 AM

        You are so welcome!

  21. Sherry M June 19, 2022 at 6:20 AM - Reply

    this sounds fabulous mimi. great photos.

    • Chef Mimi June 19, 2022 at 6:47 AM - Reply

      Thanks, Sherry!

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