Some celebrations call for margaritas – and some celebrations call for Margarita Cake! Just in time for Cinco de Mayo and late night summer parties, this Margarita Cake has tequila in the mix – and lime in the buttercream.

Margarita Cake Recipe

If you think this cake looks amazing – just wait until you dig in!

All credit for this recipe goes to my friend, Kris. She suggested that I make a tequila cake for Cinco de Mayo, because hey – I made like 541 recipes with Bailey’s for St Patrick’s Day.

However, I wasn’t feeling as confident wielding a tequila bottle as I am with the Bailey’s, so Kris graciously stepped in.

As a non-tequila drinker, I could taste the tequila in the cake but it wasn’t overwhelming. Mostly, I just tasted a nice agave flavor that supported the luscious vanilla lime flavor of the rest of the cake. Kris used decent quality tequila in this recipe – silver tequila, but nothing top shelf. Unless you like the taste of amber tequila, skip it and get a cheap bottle of the silver for this recipe.

If you need to freeze this cake, bake and cool the cake layers fully before wrapping in plastic wrap. I’d also put the wrapped layers in ziptop bags to be safe. Freeze up to 3 months without a moisture or quality loss. 

If you are planning a Cinco de Mayo party, check out these recipes to round out your menu:

• Chicken Enchilada Dip
• Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas
• Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
• Apple Pie Enchiladas
• Mint Julep Margarita
• Mexican Instant Pot Recipes

Margarita Cake Ingredients

Tip: If you need to freeze this cake, bake and cool the cake layers fully before wrapping in plastic wrap. I’d also put the wrapped layers in ziptop bags to be safe. Freeze up to 3 months without a moisture or quality loss.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Three 9″ cake pans
• 10″ cake board, optional
• Cake Leveler
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Electric mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer
• Offset spatula
• 1 large piping bag, fitted with star tip <– a basic piping set will have all you need
• Mixing bowls
• Cooling racks <– I have and love these tiered cooling racks, they save so much counter space and are also oven-safe
• Microplane Grater

How to Make Tequila Cake

Preheat oven to 350F.

Grease and line 3 9″ cake pans and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Using a standing mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Add in the milk and beat to combine.

Beat in the egg whites and vanilla until combined.

Gradually beat in the flour ingredients until combined.

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

Divide the batter between the 3 cake pans.

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.

Allow the cakes to cool completely.

To make the lime frosting:

Using a standing mixer, combine all ingredients into the mixer and beat until combined, smooth and stiff with peaks, about 4 minutes.

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

To decorate the cake:

Using the cake leveler, remove the domes from the cakes to level them out

Place one cake round onto the cake board

Scoop 1 cup of frosting onto the cake and smooth evenly, using an offset spatula.

Place the second cake round onto the top of the frosting

Scoop 1 cup of frosting onto the second cake layer and smooth evenly.

Place the last cake round onto the top of the frosting.

Using the remaining frosting, frost entire cake.

Pipe dollops of frosting onto the top of the cake.

Place Lime slices onto the frosting.

Zest a lime all over the top of the cake.

Place into the fridge for an hour to allow the frosting to harden up a bit before serving.

Pin this Super Simple Tequila Cake recipe:

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Yield: 1 9" 3 layer cake

Margarita Cake

Print

A fun recipe for Margarita Cake - a tequila-infused cake recipe perfect for Cinco de Mayo!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups sugar
• 4 large egg whites
• 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 C Whole milk
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 cup tequila
• 4 Tablespoons lime zest

For the Lime Buttercream:

• 3 cups unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
• 3 cups shortening
• 12 cups powdered icing sugar
• 3 Tablespoons grated lime zest
• 6 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
• Sugar sprinkles, for decorating
• Lime slices, for decorating
• Lime zest, for decorating

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grease and line 3 9" cake pans and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
4. Using a standing mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
5. Add in the milk and beat to combine.
6. Beat in the egg whites and vanilla until combined.
7. Gradually beat in the flour ingredients until combined.
8. Beat in the lime juice, tequila, and lime zest until combined.
9. Divide the batter between the 3 cake pans.
10. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.
11. Allow the cakes to cool completely.

To make the lime frosting:

1. Using a standing mixer, combine all ingredients into the mixer and beat until combined, smooth and stiff with peaks, about 4 minutes.
2. Scoop 1 cup of frosting into the piping bag and set aside.

To decorate the cake:

1. Using the cake leveler, remove the domes from the cakes to level them out
2. Place one cake round onto the cake board
3. Scoop 1 cup of frosting onto the cake and smooth evenly, using an offset spatula.
4. Place the second cake round onto the top of the frosting
5. Scoop 1 cup of frosting onto the second cake layer and smooth evenly.
6. Place the last cake round onto the top of the frosting.
7. Using the remaining frosting, frost entire cake
8. Pipe dollops of frosting onto the top of the cake
9. Place Lime slices onto the frosting
10. Zest a lime all over the top of the cake
11. Place into the fridge for an hour to allow the frosting to harden up a bit before serving.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester Grater, 18/8, Black
• 
  PUCKWAY Cake Decorating Angled Icing Spatula Set of 6 8 & 10 Inch Wooden Handle Professional Stainless Steel Offset Frosting Spatulas
• 
  Wilton Cake Leveler, Small, 10-Inch
• 
  Hiware 9 Inch Non-stick Cheesecake Pan Springform Pan with Removable Bottom/Leakproof Cake Pan with 50 Pcs Parchment Paper - Black
• 
  Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack for Cookies, Cakes and More
• 
  ReaLime Lime Juice | Lime Juice From Concentrate | 2.5 oz Each Bottle | Pack of 4
• 
  el Jimador Silver Tequila, 750 ml, 80 Proof
• 
  Lime, One Medium

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 761Total Fat: 145gSaturated Fat: 79gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 58gCholesterol: 276mgSodium: 955mgCarbohydrates: 230gFiber: 2gSugar: 177gProtein: 10g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

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This tequila lime cake is such a fun option for Cinco de Mayo or a special birthday celebration. My friend Stacey is a huge tequila fan so this is going to be perfect for her birthday this year!

For more fun tequila recipes, check out our Frozen Strawberry Margaritas or our Mint Julep Margaritas.