These Margarita Cookies have the tang of lime juice and the kick of tequila; what’s not to love about that flavorful combination?

If you are looking for the perfect Cinco de Mayo dessert this chewy cookie recipe is the recipe for you. It would go great with these Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes.
I love making cookies because they only require a few simple ingredients and they come together so quickly. If you love delicious cookies you may also enjoy these Irish Oatmeal Cookies.
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Why Lime And Tequila Are Paired Together
Sometimes the tequila you get from a bar isn’t always the best quality, so people started having their tequila with salt and lime to cover the not so great taste of the cheap tequila. Since the flavors of lime and tequila compliment each other well, this combination is used often, including in these delicious cookies.
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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These tangy cookies are filled with sweet citrus flavor and are so easy to make. You and your friends will love these cookies.
- These cookies are so fun to make, especially because you get to roll the dough in sparkling sugar.
- Since there’s alcohol involved, this dessert is always a hit at parties.
- While your cookies are baking, your house will be filled with a delicious aroma.
If you love homemade cookie recipes like these, you may also enjoy these Funfetti Cookies.
🥘 Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to help you make this sweet cookie recipe. Gather these ingredients from your pantry or local grocery store and get ready to enjoy this sweet treat with your family and friends.
- Flour: You will need plain or all-purpose flour to make this cookie dough; any brand will work just fine.
- Butter: I like to use unsalted butter when baking. It has a lower water content, which makes it great for baking.
- Lime: You will need lime juice and lime zest for these cookies.
- Tequila: Use your favorite brand tequila to make this tasty treat.
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
🔀 Substitutions
Butter: If you don’t have unsalted butter, you can use salted butter instead.
Sprinkles: Don’t have sanding sugar? You can use crystal sprinkles instead.
🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins
Glaze: Whisk together a teaspoon or two of lime juice and two cups confectioners sugar to make a simple glaze to drizzle over these cookies.
Orange Extract: Add a teaspoon of orange extract to the cookie dough for some extra citrus flavor.
If you want a family-friendly version of a lime sugar cookie, try my Strawberry Lime Sugar Cookie Tarts.
🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
You only need a few kitchen tools to help you make this delicious recipe. Gather these tools and get ready to sink your teeth into these soft and zingy cookies.
🔪 How to Make Margarita Cookies
Making these cookies is so simple. Just follow the instructions below, or in the recipe card, and you will have some citrus flavored cookies in no time at all.
Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare your baking sheet
Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Step 2: Mix together the dry ingredients
Add the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder to a medium mixing bowl. Stir dry ingredients until combined, and then set the bowl aside.
Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients
Put the butter, sugar, eggs, tequila, lime juice and lime zest in a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to combine the ingredients until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes.

Step 4: Beat together the wet and dry ingredients
Slowly add in the dry ingredients until fully incorporated.

Step 5: Chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator
Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator to chill for one hour.

Step 6: Divide and shape the cookie dough
Put the Wilton sparkling sugar in a small shallow bowl. Roll the cookie dough into 2 inch balls, one at a time, and place in the bowl.
Step 7: Roll in the sugar crystals
Roll each cookie dough ball in the sparkling sugar and place on the cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure each ball is about 2 inches apart.

Step 8: Bake the cookies
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until they start to brown slightly. Allow the cookies to cool for 3-5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve these delicious lime cookies with your favorite Mexican-inspired dish, like these Instant Pot Tamales and enjoy this tangy Texas Margarita with it.

👩🍳 Pro Tips
Here are a few tips to ensure that the cookies turn out perfect for you every time that you make them.
- For best results make sure that your ingredients are room temperature before you start making the cookie dough.
- Cold butter or eggs will cause the dough to separate and be difficult to work with.
- Don’t over bake the cookies. Remove them from the oven when the edges are lightly brown.
- I like to line my baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat so that the bottoms do not brown too much. You can use baking spray instead, however your bottoms will brown a little more.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.
Yes, you can freeze these cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up three months.
Yes, tequila works well in baking, however be mindful about giving these sweets to kids.
🙏 Pairing
These are my favorite beverages to serve with these Margarita Cookies:
Ready to get cooking? Print off the recipe card below or toggle on Cook Mode to keep your screen from going dark while you follow along on your phone or tablet.
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📋 Recipe

Margarita Cookies
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Equipment
- cookie sheets lined with parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- hand mixer or stand mixer
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks butter softened (1 cup butter)
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons Tequila
- Juice from 1 lime
- Zest from 1 lime
- 8 ounces Wilton sparkling sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Add the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder to a medium mixing bowl. Stir dry ingredients until combined, and then set the bowl aside.
- Put the butter, sugar, eggs, tequila, lime juice and lime zest in a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to combine the ingredients until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
- Slowly add in the dry ingredients until fully incorporated.
- Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator to chill for one hour.
- Put the Wilton sparkling sugar in a small shallow bowl.
- Roll the cookie dough into 2 inch balls, one at a time, and place in the bowl.
- Roll each cookie dough ball in the sparkling sugar and place on the cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure each ball is about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until they start to brown slightly. Allow the cookies to cool for 3-5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For best results make sure that your ingredients are room temperature before you start making the cookie dough.
- Cold butter or eggs will cause the dough to separate and be difficult to work with.
- Don’t over bake the cookies. Remove them from the oven when the edges are lightly brown.
- I like to line my baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat so that the bottoms do not brown too much. You can use baking spray instead, however your bottoms will brown a little more.