10 Midnight Margarita & Fall Cocktail Recipes

When the clock strikes midnight, only a margarita will do. These 10 recipes — from the classic midnight margarita to apple cider, pumpkin spice, and smoky mezcal versions — bring fall flavor to your favorite cocktail.

Each recipe below comes with a photo, a full ingredient list with quantities, and simple step-by-step instructions. Pin this post for later and let’s get cooking!

1. Classic Midnight Margarita

Dramatic, dark, and delicious — the signature sip with serious midnight vibes.

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz blackberry liqueur (for color)
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave nectar
• Black salt, for rimming
• Lime wheel, for garnish

Instructions

1. Rim a rocks glass with black salt.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Shake the tequila, blackberry liqueur, lime juice, and agave with ice.
4. Strain over the fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a lime wheel.
6. Serve immediately.

2. Blood Orange Margarita

Citrusy, crimson, and stunning — fall's most photogenic cocktail.

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz fresh blood orange juice
• 3/4 oz triple sec
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave nectar
• Tajín, for rimming

Instructions

1. Rim a glass with Tajín.
2. Fill with ice.
3. Shake the tequila, blood orange juice, triple sec, lime juice, and agave with ice.
4. Strain over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a blood orange slice.
6. Serve immediately.

3. Apple Cider Margarita

Orchard-fresh and cozy — autumn in a margarita glass.

Ingredients

• 2 oz reposado tequila
• 2 oz apple cider
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz maple syrup
• Cinnamon sugar, for rimming
• Apple slice, for garnish

Instructions

1. Rim a glass with cinnamon sugar.
2. Fill with ice.
3. Shake the tequila, cider, lemon juice, and maple syrup with ice.
4. Strain over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.
6. Serve immediately.

4. Spiced Pear Margarita

Delicate pear with warm spice — elegant and unexpectedly delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1 1/2 oz pear nectar
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave nectar
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• Sugared rim

Instructions

1. Rim a glass with sugar mixed with a pinch of cinnamon.
2. Fill with ice.
3. Shake the tequila, pear nectar, lime juice, agave, and cinnamon with ice.
4. Strain over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a thin pear slice.
6. Serve immediately.

5. Cranberry Margarita

Tart, festive, and ruby-red — the holiday party starter.

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 3/4 oz orange liqueur
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Sugared cranberries, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Shake the tequila, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, lime juice, and syrup with ice.
3. Strain over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with sugared cranberries.
5. Add a rosemary sprig for flair.
6. Serve immediately.

6. Blackberry Sage Margarita

Herby, jammy, and sophisticated — the craft-cocktail margarita.

Ingredients

• 2 oz reposado tequila
• 1 oz blackberry syrup
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave nectar
• 4 fresh sage leaves
• Blackberries, for garnish

Instructions

1. Muddle the sage leaves with agave in a shaker.
2. Add the tequila, blackberry syrup, and lime juice with ice.
3. Shake well.
4. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
5. Garnish with blackberries and a sage leaf.
6. Serve immediately.

7. Pumpkin Spice Margarita

Yes, pumpkin spice belongs in margaritas too — creamy, spiced, and fun.

Ingredients

• 2 oz reposado tequila
• 1 1/2 oz pumpkin spice creamer
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave nectar
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Graham cracker rim

Instructions

1. Rim a glass with crushed graham crackers.
2. Fill with ice.
3. Shake the tequila, pumpkin creamer, lime juice, agave, and spice with ice.
4. Strain over fresh ice.
5. Dust with extra pumpkin pie spice.
6. Serve immediately.

8. Pomegranate Margarita

Jewel-toned and tangy-sweet — a gorgeous sip for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• 3/4 oz triple sec
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Pomegranate seeds, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Shake the tequila, pomegranate juice, triple sec, lime juice, and syrup with ice.
3. Strain over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.
5. Add a lime wheel.
6. Serve immediately.

9. Smoky Mezcal Fall Margarita

Smoky, complex, and unforgettable — for the adventurous cocktail lover.

Ingredients

• 2 oz mezcal
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave nectar
• 1/2 oz apple cider
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
• Smoked salt rim

Instructions

1. Rim a rocks glass with smoked salt.
2. Fill with ice.
3. Shake the mezcal, lime juice, agave, cider, and bitters with ice.
4. Strain over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a dried orange slice.
6. Serve immediately.

10. Caramel Apple Margarita

Liquid caramel apple with a kick — dessert and cocktail in one.

Ingredients

• 2 oz caramel vodka
• 1 oz blanco tequila
• 2 oz apple cider
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• Caramel sauce, for rimming
• Apple slice, for garnish

Instructions

1. Drizzle caramel inside a rocks glass and fill with ice.
2. Shake the vodka, tequila, cider, and lemon juice with ice.
3. Strain into the prepared glass.
4. Garnish with an apple slice.
5. Drizzle extra caramel on top.
6. Serve immediately.

Which Will You Try First?

With 10 delicious options, there’s something here for every craving. Save this post, share it with a fellow food lover, and tell us your favorite in the comments!