What's the Best Cointreau Substitute? Here Are My Top Recommendations!

The right Cointreau substitute will save the day, especially when you're making a huge batch of cocktails and/or baked goodies. After all, Cointreau is one of the most expensive triple distilled liqueurs in the market. It's also on the mid-range price when it comes to alcoholic beverages.

Understandably, you might also be looking for non-alcoholic options. Thus, I made sure my list includes alcohol-free substitutes and those with alcohol content.

Jump to:

• 7 Best Cointreau Substitutes
• 2 Non-Alcoholic Cointreau Substitutes
• Successfully Adding Cointreau Flavors With the Right Substitute
• Recipe

7 Best Cointreau Substitutes

While you can find several orange flavored liqueurs that you can use to replace cointreau in your recipe, I find the following options the best:

1. Hiram Walker Triple Sec Orange Liqueur

Did you know that triple sec is the French term for triple dry or triple-distilled? And what is the best substitute for Cointreau than another type of triple-distilled liqueur, right?

Other triple sec liquors are made from brandy, orange peels, and distilled water, so they are less sweet and bitter than Cointreau. I also love that they have lower alcohol content, ranging from 20% to 30% ABV.

While you can use any brand of triple sec orange liqueurs, I highly recommend Hiram Walker Triple Sec. Not only is it an affordable option. Among the options I have tried and tested, this French liqueur was the one that added the right amount of citrusy flavor to my cocktails and decadence to my baked goodies.

Of course, feel free to try other triple sec liqueur brands if you want to.

That said, use a 1:1 ratio when replacing Cointreau with Hiram Walker Triple Sec liqueur. You can add more if you need more sweet, bitter, and citrusy flavors.

Best for just about anything.

2. Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge

If you're searching for a triple sec orange liqueur with the same ABV as Cointreau, I highly recommend Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge.

Some of you probably have heard of Grand Marnier, as it's a popular French liquor brand; in fact, it's even more famous in the US than Cointreau. Thus, expect that it's pricier than other orange liqueurs and slightly pricier than Cointreau.

Even though it's expensive, I still use it during special, intimate occasions or celebrations because Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge never disappointed me when it comes to the balance of flavor and overall quality.

The liqueur's ingredients include dried peels from bitter and sweet oranges, cognac, sugar, and distilled water. This gives Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur a strong citrusy flavor with vanilla and oaky notes and a sweeter taste than Cointreau.

This distinct flavor and aroma profile makes it an excellent substitute for Cointreau in margarita cocktails, other classic cocktails, crepes, dressings, and even savory dishes.

However, you don't want to use Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge in your white lady, fizz, and sangria drinks. It will give such drinks deeper tones and robust flavors that can be off-putting to most taste buds.

So, how will you use Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge in your recipes requiring Cointreau? Well, it will depend on what you're preparing.

For cocktail recipes, I recommend using half or three-fourths of the amount the recipe listed for Cointreau to ensure you don't serve overly sweet drinks.

When it comes to baking and cooking with Grand Marnier, I follow a 1:1 substitution ratio. If your recipes have other sweet ingredients like honey and pure maple syrup, I suggest following the same substitution ratio as when using it in your cocktails.

Best for margaritas, mimosas, mai-tais, champagne punches, b-52 shots, blood orange cocktails, salad dressings, sweet desserts, and savory dishes.

Related: 10 Best Amaro Nonino Substitutes to Upgrade Your Cocktails

3. Combier Liqueur d'orange

Combier Liqueur d'orange is one of my favorites because it's not only affordable; this French triple sec orange liqueur is also made from all-natural ingredients.

It contains dried peels from sweet and bitter oranges. The added sweetness also doesn't come from standard sugar but from sugar beets.

With Combier Liqueur d'orange you're sure to serve cocktails with the right amount of sweetness and a slightly bitter finish. It also gives your drinks the right amount of booze since it contains 40% alcohol, like Cointreau.

To use, add the same amount of Combier Liqueur d'orange as what the recipe calls for Cointreau.

Best for caipirinha and cosmopolitan.

4. Orange Curaçao Liqueur

Compared to the last three orange liqueurs I discussed above, Curaçao is a Venezuelan triple-dry liqueur instead of a French triple sec liqueur variety. Its alcohol content ranges from 15% to 40% ABV, so you can easily choose a substitute with a lower than or the same amount of spirit as Cointreau.

I also love that this liqueur comes in different colors, from a red Curaçao variety to a blue Curaçao one. Who wouldn't want to have the freedom to serve cocktails in various colors without affecting the taste, right?

Even better, Curaçao is available in different flavors, but, of course, make sure you pick the orange flavored liqueur variety when substituting Cointreau in your recipes.

Whichever brand of this orange flavored liqueur you purchase, the base ingredient are sun-dried sweet and bitter orange peels and sweet brandy. As such, it has a citrusy flavor with hints of bitterness and is a bit sweeter than Cointreau.

Yes, you can find less sweet varieties of this orange liqueur, but the problem is, they usually have added spices or flavors like vanilla, cloves, and nutmeg. You can use them in your baking and cocktail recipe, as long as they won't affect the overall balance of flavors.

Substitution-wise, I suggest using one-half or three-fourths of the amount of what the recipe calls for Cointreau, whether you choose a plain, Curaçao orange liqueur or a Curaçao with added spices.

Best for just about anything.

5. Luxardo Triplum Triple Sec Orange Liqueur

Moving on to an orange flavored liqueur originating from Italy, Luxardo Triplum is made from three different varieties of dried orange peels: tangerine, bitter, and sweet oranges. It's an affordable but premium orange liqueur that's drier and richer than Cointreau but is lower in alcohol content by 1% ABV.

Its well-balanced sweetness, bitterness, and citrusy flavor won't disappoint, no matter what you're using it for. You can substitute Cointreau in your cocktails, baked goodies, desserts, and even savory dishes! It also has a characteristic fruity note that will make whatever you're preparing smell more appetizing.

When substituting Cointreau with Luxardo Triplum, simply add the same amount as what the recipe calls for.

Best for just about anything.

6. Patron Citronge Orange Liqueur

Every time I need an affordable substitute for Cointreau in margarita and tequila-based cocktail recipes that I can easily grab from local liquor and grocery stores, Patron Citronge Orange Liqueur is on top of my list.

This all-natural premium orange liqueur has a vibrant, zesty, or citrusy taste and aroma and a 40% ABV, like Cointreau. It is flavored with dried peels of Haitian bittersweet oranges and Jamaican sweet oranges.

Its alcohol base is tequila, which isn't surprising because the Mexican brand specializes in tequila production. For added sweetness, the manufacturer also incorporated a bit of sugar.

To use, add the same amount of Patron Citronge Orange Liqueur as what the recipe requires for Cointreau.

Best for margaritas and tequila-based cocktails.

7. Orange Extract

As a home baker, I'm sure you have an orange extract in your pantry, which you can use to substitute for Cointreau in your recipes when you're in a pinch. It will give your baked goodies, savory dishes, and cocktails the same tanginess but not enough booze.

Yes, most orange extract products have alcohol as one of their base ingredients, but the liquor used is low-proof and diluted.

That said, one of the things I love most about orange extract is that a little goes a long way. Just a teaspoon of it can replace a tablespoon of Cointreau in any of my recipes.

Best for just about anything.

Related: Best Lime Juice Substitutes for Your Recipes

2 Non-Alcoholic Cointreau Substitutes

What if you're not looking for the best Cointreau substitutes with similar or lower alcohol content? Rather, you need to tweak your recipes to serve mocktails and alcohol-free dishes or goodies.

Then, go ahead and choose from the following ingredients that will still give your recipes a bold flavor and citrusy aroma.

1. Orange Juice Concentrate Plus Orange Zest

If you have a bittersweet or sweet orange in your kitchen, use its freshly squeezed juice to make non-alcoholic margaritas, mojitos, and more! You can even use it to replace Cointreau Orange Liqueur in your baking and cooking recipes.

Make sure you also zest the orange peel to add some bitterness to the orange juice.

Definitely, it will not give your drinks the same texture as when you use Cointreau, but, of course, I have a solution to this. Simply make an orange syrup out of the two ingredients.

In your saucepan, combine two parts of the orange juice concentrate and one part of the orange zest. Allow to simmer over low heat, making sure you're stirring occasionally to avoid burning. Once the orange juice and zest mixture turns syrupy, remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool.

Once ready, use two to three tablespoons of the orange juice syrup to replace ¼ cup of Cointreau.

Best for just about anything.

Related: 13 Best Orange Zest Substitutes for Flavorful Food and Beverages

2. Orange Flower Water

I consider orange flower water as one of the best Cointreau substitutes because of its strong orange flavor that combines bitterness and sweetness. Like orange extract, a little goes a long way so you have to be careful when using it.

While it might not require an extra step like when using orange juice with zest, it will require some trials and errors. You will need to add it gradually to your recipes. I suggest just starting with one drop and then adding more when you need or want to.

Usually, I only use two drops for every tablespoon of Cointreau required in my recipe, but I still recommend that you do your own experiments. After all, every cook, baker, and mixologist has different taste buds and taste preferences.

Best for just about anything.

Successfully Adding Cointreau Flavors With the Right Substitute

Initially, you might have the misconception that Cointreau Orange Liqueur's complex flavor is challenging to replicate in your drink, baking, and cooking recipes.

Now, you're fully aware that you have a wide range of options. From other popular French brands offering triple sec liqueurs to liquor brands from other countries, giving your recipes a good balance of sweet and bitter orange flavors isn't impossible. You can even find options with lower alcohol content and even alcohol-free replacements.

With my list of the best substitutes above, you can serve classic cocktails and orange-flavored baked goodies, and savory dishes originally made from Cointreau. You can even serve children alcohol-free mixed drinks and food using your Cointreau- based recipes.

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