If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that I’ve been dipping my toes into the new reels feature. If you haven’t seen or heard of a reel, it is similar to the TikTok app; where you can make short videos for your Instagram feed and put it to fun music!  A few weeks ago, I posted a reel showing you a quick step by step on how to make a Vanilla Pineapple Margarita, and now I am sharing the full recipe with you here today! 

Over the summer, Ryan and I had so much fun being creative in the kitchen and experimenting with different cocktail recipes. This sweet and tropical Vanilla-Pineapple Margarita is an aromatic and fruity drink that’s ideal for these last few weeks of summer while the weather is still really warm. I may have to add that they are deceptively strong, so be careful! The pineapple mixed with the vanilla creates an incredibly smooth beverage. You can hardly taste the tequila in this margarita recipe, which can be a little dangerous! 

Tropical Vacation in a Glass

I know many of you had vacations, whether to a tropical destination or not, planned over the last 6 months that sadly had to be canceled and rescheduled due to quarantine and travel restrictions. I have certainly been having the itch to travel, especially after watching so many travel movies on Netflix.  Although we are still homebound, I think this recipe for Vanilla-Pineapple Margaritas will transport you to that beach or resort you were supposed to be at this year. When I make this drink, I get transported back to all the happy memories and delicious food and drinks from our vacation in Maui back in February before quarantine was even a thing. It feels like forever ago! The sweetness of the pineapple mixed with fresh vanilla creates an incredible tropical beverage that will surely make your taste buds feel like they are on vacation.

Drinks and Apps! 

This drink tastes delicious on its own for cocktail hour, but if you prefer to sip on your margaritas with some food, below are some of my favorite recipes that complement this fruity beverage: 

• Paleo Nacho Cheese Sauce (I like to use Siete Grain-free Chips and make fresh paleo nachos)
• Guacamole (you can also find a recipe on page 333 of my first cookbook Against all Grain)
• Sweet Potato Chips with Creamy Cilantro-Serrano Dipping Sauce, on page 86 in Against all Grain 
• Seven Layer Bean Dip Cups, on page 67 in Eat What You Love
• Cauliflower Hummus, on page 94 in Eat What You Love
• Plantain Chips and Everything Crackers, on page 98 in Eat What You Love
• Beef Tacos, on page 146 in Meals Made Simple 
• Carnitas on Tostones, on page 57 in Celebrations 

The Pineapple Juice 

For this recipe, I used store-bought Organic Pineapple Juice. You can definitely use your own freshly juiced pineapple if you prefer. I used store-bought for the convenience of it. When buying store-bought juices, you want to read the labels carefully. I like to look for organic and try to avoid the ones with added sugars and made from concentrate. There should really only be one ingredient and that is pure fruit juice! 

Another option is buying canned organic pineapple. It typically comes in chunks or circles. When I don’t have pineapple juice on hand, I like to drain the juices from the can and use that as my pineapple juice and then either eat the pineapples as is or add them to a different recipe!  

The Honey Syrup

My recipe for Honey Simple Syrup is a staple in my house for when I want to make cocktails, a quick lemonade recipe, or to drizzle on some pancakes. I added a splash of it here in this recipe for extra sweetness and flavor. You can also use my Vanilla Honey Simple Syrup that I posted on the blog last week too! Just skip the extra vanilla extract. If you prefer your drinks to be less sweet you can always reduce the amount or just omit it completely. 

Salt or Sugar Rim

I'm a fan of a salted rim. If you are too – take a little lime wedge and dampen the edge of your glass. Dip it in some kosher salt, then fill the glass with ice and top it with this delicious margarita recipe! If you prefer a sugar-rimmed margarita, you can follow the same step above, but use coconut sugar. 

Mocktails Version

Just like all my cocktail recipes, you can easily turn this Vanilla Pineapple Margarita into a paleo-friendly mocktail. Just omit the tequila, and replace it with sparkling water for a delicious and fruity kid-friendly beverage. 

If you and your kids are looking for even more mocktail recipes be sure to check out my recipe for Refined Sugar-Free Cherry Limeade or any of my other cocktails on the blog that can easily be turned into kid-friendly mocktails.

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