Margarita Cake

My margarita cake features a super moist white cake spiked with tequila topped with a fluffy lime frosting. It tastes like a margarita in cake form.

We love margaritas and cake around here. Combining them into margarita cake makes a dessert you’ll never forget.

We all know how delicious that first sip of a margarita is, right? Imagine combining that with the taste of the moist, delicious cake. It’s like having a nightcap and a late-night snack, all in one. 

If you’re looking for a unique and delicious cake, this margarita cake recipe needs to happen ASAP. You’ll enjoy eating every single bite.

Perfect For

• Cinco de Mayo
• 21st Birthday
• Summer Parties

Why I Love This Cake

• Boozy Cake: What’s better than cake? Boozy cake. Our homemade cake batter is moist, fluffy, and spiked!
• Stable Frosting: Using shortening and butter in the frosting helps it keep its shape. The lime also prevents from being “too sweet.”
• Showstopper: This impressive cake looks like it came from a bakery.

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: Be sure to replace these ingredients every 6-12 months as they can lose their effectiveness.
• Butter: If you don’t have unsalted butter on hand, use salted butter and omit the added salt.
• Egg Whites: Separate eggs by pouring them back and forth between the shells. There are also a number of egg-separating gadgets out there.
• Tequila: Use a mid-shelf brand you enjoy drinking. I like Patron or Jose Cuervo.  Use leftovers in our Sangria Margarita or our Blue Margaritas
• Milk: Use whole milk for the best results. 
• Lime Juice: Use freshly squeezed lime juice if possible. The bottled stuff tends to be too acidic and can taste artificial. 

How To Make a Margarita Cake

1. Make the Batter: Combine dry ingredients. Combine with wet ingredients. 
2. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes.
3. Make the Frosting: Combine all frosting ingredients. 
4. Assemble: Stack cake layers and frosting.
5. Garnish: Garnish with lime slices and lime zest.

Leftovers

• Storage: Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months. 

Tips

1. Non-Alcoholic: Replace the tequila with additional milk to make this treat nonalcoholic. 
2. Zest: Be sure to zest just the green part of the lime. The white pith underneath is bitter.
3. Juice: Microwave for 20-30 seconds, then roll the lime on the counter to get the most juice possible. If you don’t have a juicer, use your muscles and give each lime half a good, hard squeeze.
4. Cake Board: Build your cake on a cake board for easy transport. 
5. Cake Leveler: Get flat cake by layers using a cake leveler to cut off the domes. 
6. This recipe also makes great cupcakes.

More Cakes To Try

Snickers Cake

Strawberry Cake Roll

Cookie Monster Cake

Still Thirsty?  Follow Baking Beauty on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram so you don’t miss a recipe. Subscribe to our newsletter too!

Margarita Cake

A super moist white cake spiked with tequila topped with a fluffy lime frosting. It tastes like a margarita in cake form.

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 Slices

Calories: 1632kcal

Author: Krystle Smith

Ingredients

For the Cake

• ▢ 6 Cups Flour
• ▢ ½ Teaspoons Baking Soda
• ▢ 3 ½ Teaspoons Baking Powder
• ▢ 2 Teaspoons Salt
• ▢ 3 Cups Unsalted Butter Softened
• ▢ 4 Cups Sugar
• ▢ 4 Egg Whites
• ▢ 3 Teaspoons Vanilla
• ▢ 1 ½ Cup Whole milk
• ▢ ½ Cup Lime Juice
• ▢ 1 Cup Tequila
• ▢ Lime Slices and Zest For Garnish

For the Lime Frosting

• ▢ 1.5 Cups Butter Softened
• ▢ 1.5 Cups Shortening
• ▢ 6 Cups Powdered Sugar
• ▢ 1.5 Tablespoons Lime Zest
• ▢ 3 Tablespoons Lime Juice

Don't lose this recipe. Pin for later!

Instructions

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease (3) 9-inch cake pans with pam baking spray.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• In another large bowl, cream butter, vanilla, and sugar. Stir in lime juice, tequila, and lime zest. Stir in egg whites.
• Gradually add dry ingredients a little at a time until just combined.
• Evenly divide the batter between the 3 cake pans.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.

For the Frosting

• In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Mix until smooth.

Assembly

• Scoop around 1 cup of frosting onto the first cake layer and spread until smooth. and smooth evenly
• Repeat with the second layer. Then top with the third layer.
• Frost the sides and top of the cake. Pipe dollops of icing using a star tip if desired.

Notes

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: Be sure to replace these ingredients every 6-12 months as they can lose their effectiveness.
• Butter: If you don't have unsalted butter on hand, use salted butter and omit the added salt.
• Egg Whites: Separate eggs by pouring them back and forth between the shells. There are also a number of egg-separating gadgets out there.
• Tequila: Use a mid-shelf brand you enjoy drinking. I like Patron or Jose Cuervo. 
• Milk: Use whole milk for the best results. 
• Lime Juice: Use freshly squeezed lime juice if possible. The bottled stuff tends to be too acidic and can taste artificial. 

Tips

1. Non-Alcoholic: Replace the tequila with additional milk to make this treat nonalcoholic. 
2. Zest: Be sure to zest just the green part of the lime. The white pith underneath is bitter.
3. Juice: Microwave for 20-30 seconds, then roll the lime on the counter to get the most juice possible. If you don't have a juicer, use your muscles and give each lime half a good, hard squeeze.
4. Cake Board: Build your cake on a cake board for easy transport. 
5. Cake Leveler: Get flat cake by layers using a cake leveler to cut off the domes. 

Nutrition

Calories: 1632kcal | Carbohydrates: 177g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 97g | Saturated Fat: 51g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 29g | Trans Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 187mg | Sodium: 656mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 127g | Vitamin A: 2184IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 3mg

Tried this recipe? I want to see!Mention @BakingBeautyBlog or tag #BakingBeauty!