Margarita cake is a delicious cake flavored with lime juice and zest. It is packed with lime flavor and topped with the best frosting.
Margarita Cake is so easy using a cake mix and the fresh lime juice gives it the best flavor. You will be so impressed with this cake recipe and how easy it is. It is such a fun dessert for a birthday cake, cookout, Cinco de Mayo Desserts and more. If you love easy cake recipes, also try Hummingbird Cake, Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Cake Mix and Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe.
We also make Carrot Cake Recipe and Heaven on Earth Cake and it’s so delicious! For patriotic ideas, try 4th of July Cake Ideas.
Table of contents
What is margarita cake?
This cocktail inspired cake is often served at Cinco de Mayo celebrations due to its infused lime flavor.
The cake has lime juice, lime zest, tequila and margarita mix in the cake mix and frosting. Each layer is super moist and the icing is rich and creamy.
The tartness of the lime in the cake balances perfectly with the rich and sweet icing.
Why we love this cake
- It starts with a cake mix.
- The recipe is effortless.
- The fresh lime flavor is unbeatable.
- Decadent homemade icing infused with lime brings it all together.
Ingredients
Cake
- White Cake Mix. You can use any brand you prefer.
- Nonalcoholic Margarita Mix. Make sure that you purchase the nonalcoholic version.
- Lime Zest. Don’t skip this ingredient as it gives it so much citrus flavor.
Frosting
- Tequila. Use your brand of preference.
- Lime Juice. Fresh is best and definitely recommended.
Topping
- Limes. Slice the lime to garnish the cake with.
- Lime Zest. The zest is used for another pretty garnish.
How to make margarita cake
FOR THE CAKE
- Step 1. Preheat the oven. It should be set to 350 degrees F. Grease and lightly flour 2 9 in round pans. Make sure to thoroughly grease all the edges so the cake comes out easily from the pan.
Step 2. Combine the cake ingredients. In a large bowl, beat together the dry ingredients and wet ingredients with a stand-up or hand-held mixer until combined (2-3 minutes). Pour the batter evenly into the 2 round cake pans. Then bake for 24-29 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
Step 3. While the cakes cool, make the frosting. Beat the room-temperature butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl until smooth. Then slowly add in the tequila, lime juice, powdered sugar and lime zest.
Step 4. Continue to mix on medium speed for 3 minutes until the frosting is creamy and smooth. Add more sugar if the frosting is too thin and add more tequila if the frosting is too thick.
Step 5. Trim the layers with a serrated knife.
Step 6. Start frosting the first layer. Spread a layer of the frosting on top of this cake. Then top with the 2nd cake and frosting the top of this cake as well. Then frosting the sides of the cake and decorate the top as desired.
Step 7. Garnish the cake. Top with lime slices and lime zest. This makes the cake look super fancy and so amazing.
Storage
Refrigerate any leftover cake covered for up to 5 days. Our family enjoys this cake so it never sticks around for too long.
Get more tips and learn How Long Does Birthday Cake Last.
FAQs
Yes, you can make this a day in advance but make sure to cover and refrigerate. You want to make sure it is airtight so that it stays fresh until ready to serve.
You can also make the layers in advance and freeze them undecorated. Just make sure they cool completely and then wrap in plastic wrap. I also like to place them in a freezer bag once wrapped.
Freeze the layers up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy thaw the layers and decorate as normal.
This option is such a time saver if you have an event you need to make this for. You will have more time to do other things on your to do list. The cake still tastes amazing and no guessed it had been in the freezer. This is definitely an option to save time if needed.
Yes, you can. It will alter the flavor but still be delicious with the lime and other ingredients. This is an option if you have children that you want to include in dessert.
It is tasty either way and comes down to personal preference. Feel free to adjust based on preference.
You may need to adjust some of the other ingredients slightly to make up for the loss of liquid. If you find it is too thick, add a little more lime juice.
Just be mindful of how much you add so that the frosting isn’t overpowered with too much lime flavor.
More easy cake recipes
- Cherry Chip Cake
- Margarita Poke Cake Recipe
- Cotton Candy Cake
- Easy 7 Up Cake Recipe
- Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe
- Sock It To Me Cake
Make this super easy cake today for a fabulous dessert. Please come back and leave a comment letting us know how it turned out.
Margarita Cake
Ingredients
- FOR THE CAKE:
- 1 box White Cake Mix
- 3/4 cup Nonalcoholic Margarita Mix
- 1/2 cup Water
- 1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Tbsp Lime Zest
- 3 Egg Whites
- FOR THE FROSTING:
- 1 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 4 Tbsp Tequila
- 2 Tbsp Lime Juice
- 8 cups Powdered Sugar
- 2 tsp Lime Zest
- FOR THE TOPPING:
- 2 Limes Slices
- 2 Tbsp Lime Zest
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease and lightly flour (2) 9 in round pans.
- In a large bowl, beat together the cake ingredients with a stand up or hand held mixer until combined (2-3 minutes).
- Pour the batter evenly into the 2 round cake pans.
- Bake for 24-29 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the cake pans for 10 minutes and then move the cakes to wire racks to cool completely.
- FOR THE FROSTING:
- Beat the butter in a medium size mixing bowl until smooth.
- Then slowly add in the tequila, lime juice, powdered sugar and lime zest.
- Mix on medium speed for 3 minutes until the frosting is creamy and smooth.
- Add more sugar if the frosting is too thin and add more tequila if the frosting is too thick.
- TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE:
- Use a serrated knife to trim the cake layers to make sure that both of the cakes are leveled.
- Place one of the cakes on a large plate or cake stand.
- Spread a layer of the frosting on top of this cake.
- Then top with the 2nd cake and frosting the top of this cake as well.
- Then frosting the sides of the cake and decorate the top as desired.
- Top with lime slices and lime zest.
- Then the cake is ready to slice, serve and enjoy!
This cake was full of flavor and well worth the effort. I really appreciate your tips such as using the parchment paper strips. I also appreciate that there was enough frosting for a crumb coat, the filling, the top coat and decorative flowers as well. It’s been forever since I made a layer cake, so I’m glad I chose this to try one. The outcome exceeded my expectations and resulted in numerous compliments. Thank you for this recipe!