HELLO! It’s been a while (moving, adjusting, dropping the ball, chilling…etc, etc.) and I thought I’d ease back into things with a margarita because a) it’s Cinco de Mayo this week (also, how is it MAY ALREADY?! and why does the passage of time always get me?) and b) why not? These Pineapple Vanilla Bean Margaritas are my offering for this years #MargaritaWeek hosted by the lovely and inspiring Kate of ¡Hola! Jalapeno–I love seeing snippets of her life on IG and be sure to check out her stunning Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margaritas asap. These margaritas start by roasting pineapple with sugar and the insides of a vanilla bean to make a heady syrup that sweetens and flavors this cocktail. The vanilla bean speckled pineapple syrup is cooled and mixed together with fresh lime juice, pineapple juice, and tequila…of course. Then, glasses are rimmed with a salted mint sugar for a pop of sweet-salty herbal brightness.
Mix these up in a carafe, pour over ice and chill 😎

- for the syrup:
- 2 cups chopped, fresh pineapple
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- for the margaritas:
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 1 cup tequila
- ½ cup lime juice
- ½ cup cold water
- ¼ to ½ cup pineapple vanilla bean syrup
- for the salty mint sugar:
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup packed mint leaves
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Make the pineapple syrup several hours, or even a day, ahead of time. Preheat your oven to 425°F. combine the chopped pineapple, sugar, and vanilla bean plus scraped seeds in a baking dish. Roast the pineapple for about 1 hour, until the juices are bubbling and the pineapple has cooked down by about half. Cool and strain out ½ cup of the syrup, save the remaining syrup and pineapple for another use (like stirring into yogurt, topping ice cream, or waffles!). Store the cooled syrup in a lidded jar until ready to mix.
- In a pitcher stir together the pineapple juice, tequila, lime juice, water, and pineapple vanilla bean syrup (to taste). Serve on the rocks in salty mint sugar rimmed glasses.
- To make the salty mint sugar:
- In a food processor pulse the sugar, mint, and salt together until the mint is finely chopped. To rim, wet the edges of your glasses with a wedge of lime and dip into the sugar.
These look amazing!
TY! <3
I am loving all the pineapple and vanilla cocktails that are popping up for Cinco de Mayo. I am definitely making this for our party this weekend! I’m lazy so I love cocktails that are easy to serve at parties. I just want to make jugs and jugs of cocktails
Yes!!
I’m looking for an easy tropical drink that I can make for a party of about 50 people… Any suggestions??
Yessss! Yum what a fabulous spin on a margarita I would of never thought to make this combo. Thanks for sharing!