Soft Serve Margaritas

Soft serve margaritas have been popping up on menus all over the country, and we decided we needed a way to make them at home. Thankfully our version of the creamy, frozen drink needs no Ninja Creami or ice cream maker. That’s because we combine frozen pineapple and lime sherbet with the traditional lime, tequila and triple sec that make every margarita sing. Folks from Cleveland claim the soft serve margarita recipe as their invention, but anyone who has tasted lime sherbet knows it’s not a big jump to add tequila. (Or maybe that’s just me.)

I crave a good marg whenever I taste anything with lime, and this soft serve margarita is fantastic to keep on hand in your freezer for those spontaneous happy hours.

Soft Serve Margarita Ingredients

• Frozen pineapple chunks: Frozen pineapple gives the base its thick, scoopable texture and bright tropical sweetness—kind of like nature’s ice cube. No need to thaw the chunks, just toss them in the blender straight from the freezer.
• Lime sherbet: Lime sherbet is what makes this treat taste and feel like true soft serve, lending a creamy, tangy backbone with just enough dairy to make it swirl. Buy your favorite brand at the grocery store, or make your own lime sherbet for the ideal citrus punch.
• Tequila: Blanco tequila keeps the flavor clean and citrus-forward, letting the pineapple and lime shine instead of getting muddled by an aged, oaky spirit.
• Triple sec: This orange liqueur rounds out the citrus profile and adds a touch more sweetness, just like it does in a classic margarita. Upgrade to Cointreau for more complex orange notes.
• Fresh lime juice: A last splash of fresh lime juice brightens the soft serve and keeps the sweetness of the sherbet and pineapple in check. Fresh-squeezed limes are best, but we won’t tell if you use bottled juice.

Directions

Step 1: Blend the ingredients

Place the frozen pineapple, lime sherbet, tequila, triple sec and fresh lime juice in a blender. Cover and process them until they’re thick, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.

Step 2: Freeze until firm

Transfer the mixture to a resealable freezer container and freeze it until it’s firm, about four hours or overnight.

Editor’s Tip: Give the mixture a stir partway through freezing if you have the chance. It keeps the texture even and prevents one solid block of ice from forming near the bottom.

Step 3: Pipe and serve

Pipe the soft serve into two bowls or glasses, topping each with a swirl.

Editor’s Tip: Using a piping bag is a breeze, but a large resealable plastic bag works great in a pinch if you don’t have one on hand. Just spoon the mixture in, snip off one corner and squeeze.

Soft Serve Margarita Variations

• Swap the fruit: Try frozen mango or frozen strawberries in place of the pineapple for a different tropical spin. Pick a sherbet flavor to match.
• Make it a mocktail: Skip the tequila and triple sec and replace them with a splash of orange juice to make a nonalcoholic treat the whole family can enjoy.
• Go coconuts: Swap in coconut sherbet or add a splash of cream of coconut for a tropical twist along the lines of our coconut margarita.
• Rim the glass: Dip the rims of your glasses in lime juice and coarse salt before piping in the margarita for that classic sweet-and-salty contrast you’d get from a regular margarita.
• Keep it classic: For a traditional frozen margarita without the soft serve swirl, try our frozen margaritas recipe and skip the sherbet altogether.

How to Store Soft Serve Margaritas

Store any leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer. Because there’s alcohol in the mix, it stays soft enough to scoop straight from the freezer, so there’s no need to let it sit out before serving.

How long do soft serve margaritas last?

When stored properly in the freezer, soft serve margaritas keep well for up to one month, though the texture is best within the first week or so.

Can you make soft serve margaritas ahead of time?

Yes—in fact, you have to. Freezing the mixture for at least four hours or overnight is what gives soft serve margaritas their signature scoopable texture, so this cocktail was built to be made ahead. Whip up a batch before a party, and it’ll be ready to pipe the moment guests arrive.

Soft Serve Margarita Tips

Can you make soft serve margaritas without an ice cream machine?

Absolutely. This recipe skips the ice cream maker entirely and gets its soft serve texture from a blender and a few hours in the freezer. You can use a Ninja Creami or similar machine if you have it, but it’s not required for a great result.

How do you serve soft serve margaritas?

Pipe the frozen mixture into a bowl or glass using a piping bag fitted with a large star tip for that classic soft serve swirl. It’s a fun presentation for a Cinco de Mayo party or any summer gathering that calls for a fun margarita recipe.

What’s the secret to a creamy, airy soft serve texture?

The lime sherbet is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, since it has just enough dairy and air whipped into it to mimic true soft serve. Scraping down the blender as you go and freezing the mixture just long enough that it firms up without turning into a solid block are the other two keys to nailing that texture.