Delicious Strawberry Rum Rita (Rum Margarita)

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If you're looking for a fun and fruity cocktail to kick off summer, this strawberry rum rita recipe is it! Made with fresh, in-season strawberries and a splash of white rum, this easy blender drink is a refreshing twist on a classic tequila margarita.

It's a little sweeter, a little smoother, and it's just the thing for your next Cinco de Mayo party, backyard bash, or lazy pool day. With only a handful of ingredients and a quick whirl in the blender, you’ve got an instant summer crowd-pleaser that’s as pretty as it is delicious.

Red tray topped with a Strawberry Rum Rita, bowl of strawberries and limes and cocktail picks with a pitcher of extra margaritas and a red checked cloth to the side.

I love making a big batch of these strawberry rum margaritas because they’re so easy to scale up and are perfect for a crowd. Whether you're hosting a summer soirée or just soaking up some sunshine on the porch, this rum rita recipe is a must-have for your warm weather lineup.

If you are planning to have an al fresco get-together, you'll probably want to serve some light bites with this fruity cocktail too, like my make-ahead Georgia caviar and some fresh from-scratch guacamole.

For a heartier option, my Houston's Hawaiian ribeye is perfect. Serve it with crispy smashed potatoes and watermelon beet salad and you've got yourself an amazing summertime meal.

Ready to get make this delicious strawberry rum margarita recipe? Let's do it!

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Ingredients
Instructions
Easy Simple Syrup
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Tasty Tip
Frequently asked questions
Related
Pairing
🍽Get the recipe
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
Food safety

Ingredients

Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:

fresh strawberries
white rum
fresh lime juice
triple sec or other orange liqueur
ice cubes
simple syrup to taste (optional)

(See recipe card for quantities.)

Instructions

Now that we've got our ingredients, let's make those refreshing rum margaritas!

A pink paring knife with a colander filled with strawberries and some strawberries hulled and cut in half on a wooden cutting board.

First, remove the stems from the strawberries and the strawberries in half.

Halved strawberries, rum, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a blender.

Then, combine the strawberries, rum, lime juice, and Triple Sec in a blender. Process until smooth. Add enough fresh ice to reach desired consistency. Sweeten with simple syrup if needed.

Hint: When I made this recipe, strawberries were at the peak of being in season so they were super sweet. Add simple syrup if needed to sweeten the margarita. You can either buy simple syrup in the cocktail section of the grocery store or follow the recipe below.

Easy Simple Syrup

½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup water

Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook just until the sugar melts, about 3 minutes. Cool completely before using. Store in the refrigerator.

Substitutions

Need to make some ingredient swaps? Here are some suggestions:

Fresh strawberries - Instead of fresh strawberries you can use frozen and omit the ice cubes.
White rum - White rum is my go-to for this recipe, but you can also use gold rum or dark rum instead.
Triple Sec - Any orange-flavored liqueur will be great for this recipe. Try Cointreau or Grand Marnier if you prefer.

Variations

Check out these additional ways to change up this recipe:

Rum Rita on the Rocks - Instead of a frozen margarita, pour the mixture over crushed ice. You can also add a salt rim to your margarita glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
Spiced Strawberry Rum Rita - Use Captain Morgan spiced rum for a twist. This will add flavors of the warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and cardamom.
Strawberry Coconut Rum Margarita - Coconut rum will be delicious instead of white rum.
Traditional Strawberry Margarita - Make this a traditional margarita by using tequila instead of rum.
Miami Vice Cocktail - A Miami Vice cocktail is a swirl of a Strawberry Daiquiri (essentially the same thing as this strawberry rum margarita) and a Pina Colada. If you add a little rum to my Dole pineapple whip recipe, you've got yourself an easy Pina Colada perfect to swirl with this Rum Rita for a Miami Vice!

Equipment

Here's the equipment you'll need to make this delicious drink:

paring knife
blender
dry measuring cup
liquid measuring cup

Storage

For the best results, store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Tasty Tip

This is the perfect batch cocktail to make ahead of time, freeze, and pull out when you're ready to serve. Before adding the ice cubes, freeze the mixture in ice cube trays for ease. At party time, process the ice cubes along with more liquid. I recommend adding simple syrup to loosen up the mixture as well as sweeten it.

Frequently asked questions

What can I use instead of tequila for margaritas?

Rum, vodka, and gin are all great alternatives to tequila for margaritas.

What's the difference between daiquiri and margarita?

The main difference between the two is that a daiquiri uses rum and margaritas use tequila. You'll find lime juice and some sort of sweetener in both (often in the form of simple syrup or agave nectar), but a margarita will also include an orange-flavored liqueur while daiquiris will not.

Why do you put triple sec in margaritas?

Triple sec or other orange-flavored liqueur is meant to add sweetness and a citrusy flavor to balance out the tartness of the lime juice.

Can I still make this if strawberries are out of season?

You can! Substitute frozen strawberries instead. They are frozen at the peak of ripeness.

What's another fruit besides strawberries that I could use to make a rum rita?

Raspberries would be a great alternative to strawberries if you want the same bright pink color.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this strawberry rum margarita:

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