How do you turn a favorite candy into a cocktail? These Sour Patch Kids Margaritas are easy to make: simply infuse tequila with Sour Patch Kids and then shake it up with lime juice, simple syrup, and ice. Enjoy this perfectly sweet with a touch of sour candy cocktail!
Call me crazy, but I've been wanting to make these cocktails for a long time. Though I'm a chocolate candy lover 90% of the time, that other 10% of the time, I crave candy that's sugary sweet. And sour.
Sour Patch Kids are my favorite non-chocolate candy and I couldn't stop thinking about how delicious they'd be in cocktail form. So, I did it. I infused tequila with Sour Patch Kids and made margaritas.
These Sour Patch Kids margaritas are brightly colored and perfectly sweet with a hint of sour. They'd be so fun to serve at a party, but are also very nice for a Friday evening at home.
How to Make Sour Patch Kid Infused Alcohol
You can infuse pretty much any alcohol with Sour Patch Kids and it's very easy to do! I obviously recommend using white/clear liquor so you can get the full beautiful colors of the candy and think tequila, vodka, and white rum are your best bets.
Start by choosing your favorite colors of the candy- you'll want to separate them out. You can use multiple colors or make a larger batch of just one color. Either way, I recommend using about 10 Sour Patch Kids per ½ cup of liquor.
Add Sour Patch Kids and liquor to small jars and let rest for at least 12 hours (though you can certainly make these ahead and let them sit for much longer!). Shake them up every now and then if you think of it.
And that's it! You can use the Sour Patch Kids infused liquor for any type of cocktail you want... Or can even take it as a shot. I used my tequila to make margaritas!
How to Make Sour Patch Kid Magaritas
Once your tequila is infused with candy, making the margarita is easy. I always have simple syrup ready to go in my fridge, but if you don't, it's easy to make.
Just combine water and sugar in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and let simmer until sugar is dissolved and syrup begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. Pour into a jar or bowl and let cool.
If you don't feel like making simple syrup, you can use a little agave syrup or honey instead. You can also purchase pre-made simple syrup.
Now, fill a shaker with ice and add 2 oz. infused tequila, 1 oz. lime juice, and 1 oz. simple syrup. Shake well and pour into a sugar-rimmed glass. Repeat with each color tequila.
Note that I served my margaritas in small coupe glasses. If you a larger margarita, I recommend doubling all of the ingredients.
Garnish with a cocktail pick skewered with Sour Patch Kids candies. These arrow cocktail picks are similar to the ones I have pictured.
Such an easy cocktail that makes a big impression! Since you'll infuse the tequila ahead of time, these Sour Patch Kids margaritas are really easy to make for parties. Prepare the garnishes ahead of time, too, and then simply shake up the cocktails and serve them!
This is a sweet drink thanks to the infusion of the tequila and the addition of simple syrup. But it's also nice and tart, again thank to the infusion of the tequila, but also the addition of lime juice.
That sugar rim is pretty essential, though you can also use salt if you want to cut some of the sweetness and add another flavor element.
How to Make Sour Patch Kids Mocktails
These Sour Patch Kids margaritas are so bright, colorful, and fun... But are unfortunately not kid-friendly.
If you want to make these as drinks your kids can enjoy, too, you can make them mocktails! Instead of infusing tequila with Sour Patch Kids, I recommend infusing a clear soda like Sprite or 7-Up.
If you don't want to use soda, you can use a white grape juice or other white-colored juice, but just note the juice flavor will be prevalent instead of allowing the Sour Patch Kid flavor to shine.
Once infused, pour soda or juice into a sugar-rimmed glass and add in some lime juice for a little more sour. I don't recommend adding simple syrup to the mocktail as the soda/juice already has sugar in it.
Something tells me your kids will be thrilled with this Sour Patch Kids mocktail!
More Creative Cocktail Recipes
I love a good candy cocktail! While I only have a couple other drink recipes made with actual candy, I have several sweet and fun cocktails that step outside the box. Here are some of my all-time favorites:
- Tequila Thyme Lemonade
- Strawberry Coconut Daiquiri
- Cinnamon Pear Sangria
- Candy Corn Martini
- Blueberry Coconut Margarita
- Red Wine Affogato
- Strawberry Vanilla Love Potion Cocktail
- Bourbon S'mores Milkshake
- Rosé Sour Patch Kids
- Butterscotch White Russians (from The Blond Cook)
- Ginger Prosecco Cocktails (from Freutcake)
Even if you're just making these Sour Patch Kids margaritas for a quiet evening at home, I hope they make your life just a little bit sweeter and more fun!
What candy do you wish you could turn into a cocktail?
Sour Patch Kids Margarita
Ingredients
- 12 oz. (1 ½ cups) tequila
- 30 sour patch kids (10 each of 3 different colors or 30 of the same color)
- 6 oz. (¾ cup) freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3 oz. simple syrup (recipe below)
- Coarse sugar, for rimming glass
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Start by infusing tequila with sour patch kids. If you're making three different colors, pour 4 oz (½ cup) tequila each into three jars. Add 10 of the same color Sour Patch Kids into each jar (I did red, green, and blue). Let sit for at least 12 hours. Shake occasionally. The longer you let the Sour Patch Kids infuse, the better the tequila will be!
- To make margaritas, fill a shaker with ice and add 2 oz. infused tequila, 1 oz. lime juice, and ½ oz. simple syrup. Shake well and pour into a sugar-rimmed glass. Repeat with each color tequila.
- Serve with Sour Patch Kids garnish.
Simple Syrup
- Combine water and sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
- Bring to a simmer and let simmer until sugar is dissolved and syrup begins to thicken, about 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and pour syrup into a heat-proof jar or bowl and let cool completely. Keep in fridge until ready to use.
Notes
- This recipe makes small coupe glass size margaritas. For larger margaritas, double amounts of tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup you add to each glass.
- If you don't want to make simple syrup, you can use agave or honey instead. You can also purchase pre-made simple syrup. My simple syrup recipe makes more than enough for these 6 small cocktails, but should stay good in your fridge for at least a month (and can be used in so many different cocktails!).
- To adhere sugar to rims, I recommend brushing glass rims with a little simple syrup (or agave or honey) and placing upside down on a plate of coarse sugar to coat.
Liz says
I love how much flavor and color the sour patch kids add to this awesome drink! The vibrant colors drew me in, and the nostalgic flavors kept me coming back for more! Delicious!!