Margarita Cake Recipe

This delicious Margarita Cake recipe will surely be a hit at any gathering! Whether you’re hosting a summer BBQ or need a Cinco De Mayo dessert, this tequila-infused cake is the perfect way to sweeten the occasion.

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Lime Frosting

With its refreshing and zesty lime flavors, this sweet and sour icing is sure to add a festive flair to cake or cupcake recipe.

• Unsalted sweet cream butter. Unsalted regular butter will work fine as well.
• Shortening.
• Powdered sugar (aka confectioners sugar).
• Lime zest.
• Fresh lime juice. Please don’t use the concentrated stuff in a lime-shaped bottle. If you want a bottled one use one that uses actual lime juice, I use the Santa Cruz brand.

Garnishes

• Lime slices
• Lime zest
• Sprinkles

Margarita Cake Mix

I use a stand mixer for all my mixing, but you could use a hand mixer for this part if needed.

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together, set it aside.

In the stand mixer, you’re going to want to cream the butter and sugar together. Do this until it’s light and fluffy, this will take a few minutes.

Next, you’ll add the egg whites and the vanilla and mix that in until it’s combined.

Now you’ll start adding the flour ingredients, a little at a time. I typically add a cup at a time, let the cake batter combine, and then add a little more.

Beat in the lime juice, tequila, and lime zest.

Divide the batter between the 3 8″ cake pans. If you only have 2 pans, let one of them cool before you use it again.

Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake.

Allow the cakes to cool completely before you frost them.

Margarita Cake Frosting Instructions

When adding the frosting ingredients to the stand mixer, I like to add it and start on low so the icing sugar doesn’t fly everywhere.

Increase the speed and beat until combined. The margarita frosting should be smooth and stiff with peaks when you lift the whisk.

Scoop 1 cup of frosting into the piping bag and set aside.

Decorating and Frosting the Cake

Okay, now it’s time for the fun party (or the stressful part, it depends on who you ask).

Start by taking a cake leveler (or a knife – a bread knife works well) and level each cake layer. You want them to be flat and even.

Place one cake round onto the cake board. Spoon 1 cup of frosting onto the cake and smooth it evenly. Get down to eye level and check that it’s not lopsided.

Add the second cake layer onto the top of the frosting. Scoop another cup of frosting onto the second cake layer and smooth evenly.

Repeat this process with the last cake round onto the top of the frosting.

Using the remaining frosting, frost the entire cake. You could do a crumb coat first if you would like (where you frost a thin layer, refrigerate and then frost the rest).

Pipe dollops of frosting onto the top of the cake using the reserved frosting you set aside earlier. I used a Wilton 1M and swirled it, starting in the center and moving out.

Add lime slices onto the frosting and zest a lime

Refrigerate for an hour to allow the frosting to harden up a bit. Cut into slices and enjoy!

Serving Sizes

This makes a lot of cake. It’s a tall cake with a lot of frosting (it’s my dream – I’m a frosting girl).

The photo shows 8 slices. There are 8 piped swirls in the center of each slice.

However, I would suggest piping it to at least 10 slices. Even that will be a lot.

As I said, it’s a tall cake, and you get a lot. You could probably get 16 slices out of this cake. They’ll be thin but you’ll still get more than enough per serving.

If you stick with 8 piped swirls, you can slice in the middle of each swirl to get 16 cake slices.

Sweet Recipes That Take Less Time

Let’s say what it is: this cake is a lot of work. It’s delicious but it’s definitely something I would do for special occasions or a once-a-week treat for my family (my daughter loves to decorate, so I could get her involved as well).

If you want to concur your sweet tooth with something that doesn’t take as long you can try these quick sweet recipes:

• Pistachio Cheesecake Dip Recipe
• 40+ Dessert Popcorn Recipes
• Easy Limoncello Cupcakes with Lemon Frosting