Cool, refreshing, and bursting with flavor, this Sage Blackberry Margarita Granita is the perfect blend of sweet, tart, and herbal notes.

photo of a blackberry sage margarita granita recipe in a bowl

Do you order your margarita blended or on the rocks? There are die hard fans of both options, and everyone seems to have a strong opinion in the Great Margarita Debate. (And don’t even get me started on salt or no salt debate!)

But I, Colleen am going to let you guys in on a little secret. My ultimate margarita isn’t blended OR shaken. It’s a margarita granita! First of all, no cocktail looks prettier than when it’s been frozen into thousands of gorgeous ice crystals.

Second (and not to get all technical) but one of the most tricky aspects of cocktail making is dilution or the amount of melted ice water that makes it into your final drink.

A yummy blackberry sage margarita granita recipe - sugar and cloth - cocktails

Table of Contents

What is a Margarita Granita?

A margarita granita is a type of frozen margarita. Yet, it has a frozen slushy texture similar to shaved ice. When you order your usual margarita cocktail and if it tastes too weak or too strong, dilution is often to blame. Dilution can also mess with the temperature of the drink, which will throw the sweet-sour balance off as well. (We taste sweetness more strongly at warmer temperatures).

So basically, dilution is often the culprit in a bad drink. In this granita, dilution is completely controlled. So it tastes the same — amazing — every time. And because of its snow cone like texture, it’s common to have a granita with a spoon. When we’re craving the ultimate margarita, this is what we crave. If you love a good marg (shaken OR blended), you really need to try this Blackberry Sage Margarita Granita!

Ingredients Needed

Blackberries
Tequila
Cointreau — Or any triple sec or orange liqueur of your choice
Fresh sage leaves — Sage pairs incredibly well with tequila, and tart, juicy blackberries add depth to lime.
Fresh lime juice
Simple syrup — The tartness of blackberries varies, so adjust the simple syrup to taste before freezing.
Water
Kosher salt

How to Make a Sage Blackberry Margarita Granita

1 — Blend the base: Combine tequila, Cointreau, blackberries, and sage leaves in a blender. Pulse twice, then blend on high for 4–6 seconds until just combined.

2 — Strain the mixture: Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a mixing bowl, stirring to speed up the process. Discard the solids.

3 — Mix and prep for freezing: Stir in the lime juice, simple syrup, water, and salt. Pour into a shallow baking dish (a 13×9-inch pan works best) and cover with plastic wrap.

4 — Freeze and scrape: Place in the freezer and stir thoroughly with a fork every 30 minutes, making sure to scrape the sides. Repeat for about 4 hours until the granita is fluffy and sorbet-like.

5 — Serve and enjoy: Spoon into serving dishes and serve immediately, or cover and return to the freezer until ready to enjoy.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Experiment: You can sub different liquors, fruits, and herbs into this recipe if you keep the proportions generally the same! A super easy swap is rum for the tequila, which makes a daiquiri granita.
Balance the sweetness: Blackberries can vary in tartness, so taste the mixture before freezing and adjust the simple syrup if needed.
Boost the Flavor: For a stronger sage infusion, muddle the sage leaves with lime juice before blending.
No alcohol version: For a mocktail granita, replace the tequila and Cointreau with sparkling water or orange juice for a refreshing, non-alcoholic treat.
How long will a margarita granita keep? A margarita granita is best when eaten within 2 days. If it becomes too hard and dry in the freezer, let it stand at room temperature for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork before serving.

More Easy Margarita Recipes

We’ll be making these all summer long for barbecues and porch parties. It’s easy to double or triple the recipe for a crowd, plus you can make it ahead of time and serve everyone at once! How fun would margarita granitas be for a Cinco de Mayo celebration?