Hot Pink Malibu Coconut Margarita Recipe

If Malibu Barbie were to craft herself a hot pink margarita worthy of her name, this would be it! This super easy cocktail recipe is vibrant and full of the flavors of fresh lime and tropical coconut.

Remember my viral hot pink Barbie Margarita on Tiktok? This is an upgraded version of that simple pink drink, this time with Malibu rum for a tropical twist. If you're on my email list, you know I've been doing a lot of experimenting with popular liqueurs that get a bad rap (think Malibu, Midori, blue curaçao, amaretto, etc).

Is it possible to make better, or more interesting cocktails with these (stereotypically too sweet or artificial) ingredients? So far, my answer has been a resounding yes. The key is knowing how to get the most out of these liqueurs, and not using too much of them!

All about Malibu and how to use it in cocktails

Although it's commonly referred to as "Malibu rum," Malibu is actually a coconut liqueur. This means that it's a sweet, coconut flavored, alcoholic ingredient, but not a liquor.

Malibu is made with Caribbean white rum, although it's alcohol content is about half that of your average bottle of rum. Malibu is 21%, while the average rum is 40%. It's also quite sweet.

In my recipe experiments, it can sweeten just about as well as simple syrup. I've found that the best way to use Malibu is to treat it like a sweetener, rather than like a base spirit. Typically one ounce is a good amount to add sweetness and coconut flavor to drink recipes. For a long drink, like my Lavender Coconut Lemonade, use one and a half ounces.

You might also like my easy Coconut Simple Syrup Recipe!

Treating Malibu like a regular white rum in cocktails will lead to overly sweet drinks, don't do it! Instead, use it in conjunction with an unsweetened base spirit. Even a super sweet Malibu and Pineapple Juice can be made more balanced by adding one and a half ounces of white rum, using one ounce or less of Malibu, and adding a generous squeeze of fresh lime juice.

What does Malibu taste like?

Malibu's flavor is sweet, syrupy coconut with a hint of vanilla and finishes with the warmth of white rum. It's smooth and a little bit fruity, making it easy to sip on or mix in simple, topical drinks like Malibu and pineapple juice.

It's coconut flavor is artificial, which is a sticking point for some. Love it or hate it, Malibu is an immensely popular liqueur, and it can make a very nice coconut mixed drink, too!

How to make a Malibu Margarita

If you love Margaritas and coconut, a basic, three ingredient Malibu Margarita is a great summer cocktail to have in your repertoire. A traditional Margarita is sweetened with orange liqueur, so for a Malibu Margarita we'll replace it with Malibu coconut rum liqueur.

Combine two ounces of tequila with one to one and a half ounces of Malibu (to taste) and one ounce of fresh lime juice. Shake with ice (and a pinch of salt), then strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.

My hot pink Malibu Marg takes the basic cocktail a step further by adding a half ounce of pink dragon fruit simple syrup. While it doesn't add a lot of flavor (it's a mild melon or pear-like flavor), it does add a LOT of color and just enough sweetness.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need for a Hot Pink Malibu Margarita:

• Tequila blanco
• Malibu
• Fresh lime juice
• Dragon fruit simple syrup
• Salt, optional

What tequila to use

You can use any tequila blanco you like, but I love to make this with Calirosa, a pink tequila that's aged in red wine barrels. Other great choices are additive-free tequilas like Cantera Negra, Mijenta, or Patron.

Dragon fruit simple syrup

This sounds fancy, but it's super fast and easy to make. All you need is a few minutes, a mason jar and a fine mesh strainer. I use Sambazon frozen dragon fruit cubes which I've had no trouble finding at both at my local Shaw's grocery store and Whole Foods.

Simple syrup is a mix of equal parts water and sugar, so we'll simply add some frozen dragon fruit to the warm syrup, then strain out any seeds and pulp. You can customize the color of your syrup by adding more or less dragon fruit. Learn more in my Dragon Fruit Simple Syrup Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup hot water
• ½ cup frozen dragon fruit cubes

Instructions:

To a mason jar, add the frozen dragon fruit and sugar. Next, pour the hot water into the jar and stir to combine. Continue stirring until all the sugar has dissolved and the dragon fruit has fully thawed.

The mixture will be mostly liquid with a layer of seeds and pulp floating on top. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer and store the syrup in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Add a pinch of salt or salt the rim

Salt makes a Margarita really pop by enhancing the sweet and sour flavors. I recommend adding a small pinch of salt directly to the cocktail shaker, or salting the rim. To salt the rim, cut a lime wedge and run the juicy side along the outside edge of your glass's rim. Next, dip the wet rim in a shallow dish of salt, then gently shake to remove any excess.

You may also enjoy these other Margarita recipes:

• Fresh Strawberry Margaritas
• Watermelon Margaritas
• Coconut Orange Blossom Anejo Margarita
• How to Make Perfect Frozen Margaritas