Cool off with this refreshing Aperol Coconut Margarita—ready in 3 minutes with just 4 ingredients! It’s the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and spicy, making it your new go-to summer cocktail.
This Aperol Coconut Margarita is about to become your new favorite summer cocktail. Made with just 4 ingredients and ready in 3 minutes, it's the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and citrusy with a tropical twist. It's as if an Aperol spritz and a margarita had a tropical baby.
The Aperol brings its classic bitter orange flavor that pairs wonderfully with punchy tequila, creamy coconut and tangy lime. You can keep it classic or add a kick with a spicy salt rim or a muddled chili for a little heat. This easy aperol margarita recipe is not only fun and refreshing—it’s also a breeze to batch ahead of time for parties, BBQs, or laid-back weekends in the sun.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick & easy. Made in 3 minutes with just 4 ingredients!
- Tropical vibes. The coconut and lime make this drink taste like a vacation in a glass.
- Unique flavors. The aperol adds a bitter orange taste to compliment the sweet coconut and tart lime.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less coconut syrup.
- Uses common bar ingredients. Just Aperol, tequila, lime juice, and cream of coconut.
- Looks as good as it tastes—perfect for that Instagram snapshot.
- Easy to batch by stirring in a pitcher.
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free and vegan.
For more summer cocktail ideas, try my blended aperol spritz, peach basil sour, Italian wine-soaked peaches, or a skinny spicy margarita.
Ingredients
Here are all the ingredients you'll need to make this coconut aperol margarita:
- Aperol liquor—The bitter orange notes compliment the sweet coconut and tart lime very well! You could also use Campari, another bitter aperitivo.
- Tequila Blanco—Use the best tequila you can get. I prefer the lighter flavor of silver tequila, but you could use gold tequila for a deeper flavor.
- Fresh lime juice from 1 whole lime
- Cream of coconut—As pictured above, this is a sweet coconut syrup designed for cocktails. If you can't find this, use any coconut flavored syrup, or use 1 oz real coconut milk with ¼ - ½ oz simple syrup.
- Garnish: Rim your glass with lime juice and some salt or spicy Tajin if you want. A dehydrated orange slice and Thai chili also add some pretty color to the cocktail.
Substitutions
Want to change it up? Here are some substitution suggestions:
- Change the spirit. Campari would be the closest thing to Aperol. If you really don't like Aperol, you could simply use a total of 2 oz tequila for a coconut margarita.
- Adjust sweetness. If you like a really sweet cocktail, use 1 full oz of coconut syrup.
- Make it spicy. Muddle jalapeño slices or Thai chili slices in the cocktail shaker before adding the rest of the ingredients and shaking. Be sure to strain out the chilis. Be careful, since these can be quite hot.
How to Make an Aperol Coconut Margarita
Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full recipe.
(1) Rim a short glass with lime and spicy tajin or plain salt.
(2) Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until frosty.
Fill the glass with fresh ice and strain into the cup.
(3) Garnish with dehydrated orange or lime wheel and a little Thai chili if you dare. Enjoy responsibly!
Food Pairings
This margarita recipe is the perfect summer cocktail. Enjoy it with some of these zesty summer snacks and sides that are perfect for a party.
- Restaurant Style Blender Salsa
- Mango Pico de Gallo
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
- Bang Bang Shrimp
- Chimichurri Shrimp
- Italian Salami Pasta Salad
- Dirty Martini Olive Pasta Salad
- High Protein Pasta Salad
- Gluten-Free Burgers
Make Ahead
Note that this cocktail recipe is best served and consumed fresh after shaking.
Batching
Make a larger quantity of drinks by stirring the ingredients together in a pitcher. Multiply the ingredient quantities by the number of drinks you wish to make. Don't add ice to the pitcher, add it directly to the glasses when serving and garnish each individual glass.
Expert Tips
Here are some of my top tips and tricks for the perfect margarita:
- Use fresh lime juice—it makes a difference, bottled doesn't compare.
- Spice it up—muddle a jalapeño or chili pepper before shaking the ingredients. Be sure to strain it out.
- If you can't find the cream of coconut, use canned coconut milk and simple syrup.
- Shake well since the coconut syrup can be thick. Especially if you are using fresh coconut milk, it can separate a little.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aperol adds a slightly bitter, citrusy flavor with hints of orange. It balances out the sweetness of the coconut, boldness of the tequila, and the tartness of the lime really nicely.
This recipe has been developed to be the perfect level of sweetness with balance from the bitter aperol and citrusy lime. I don't like an overly sweet margarita, but if you do, add a full ounce of the coconut syrup.
Coconut water will give the drink a lighter, more subtle coconut flavor and a thinner texture. For a creamy, tropical feel, stick with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream syrup.
This Aperol Coconut Margarita recipe delivers the perfect mix of sweet, salty, and tropical—with a little spicy kick if you want it. It's insanely easy to make with just 4 common bar ingredients. It's guaranteed to be your new go-to cocktail all summer long!
More Cocktail Recipes
- Apple Cider Aperol Spritz
- Peach Basil Sour Cocktail
- Blended Aperol Spritz Cocktail
- Creamy Espresso Martini With Baileys
Have you made this Aperol Coconut Margarita? I'd really appreciate it if you leave a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and review below, and tag me on instagram @fromoliviaskitchen!
Recipe
Aperol Coconut Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz Aperol
- 1 oz tequila
- 1 oz fresh lime juice from 1 whole lime
- ¾ oz cream of coconut
- Spicy tajin rim, optional
Instructions
- Rim a short glass with lime and spicy tajin or plain salt.
- Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until frosty.
- Fill the glass with fresh ice and strain into the cup. Garnish with dehydrated citrus and a little Thai chili if you dare.
Notes
- I use Coco Reàl Cream of Coconut which is a sweetened coconut syrup for cocktails. You could alternatively use ¾ oz of real coconut milk and ¼ - ½ oz simple syrup depending on how sweet you like your drinks.
- Make this drink spicy by muddling in some sliced jalapeño or thai chili before adding the ingredients to the shaker. Be careful since these can be quite hot.
- Batching: Make a larger quantity of drinks by stirring the ingredients together in a pitcher. Multiply the ingredient quantities by the number of drinks you wish to make. Don't add ice to the pitcher, add it directly to the glasses when serving.
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