When the summer heat starts to feel like Olaf’s dream come true, it’s time to cool down with a treat that’s as frosty and delightful as Arendelle itself. Inspired by Elsa’s icy magic, this Slushie Recipe offers a refreshing escape from the sun. This slushie, with its cool, crisp flavors and icy texture, is perfect for anyone looking to beat the heat and embrace their inner ice queen.
Whether you’re planning a Frozen movie marathon or simply seeking a delicious way to chill out, this slushie recipe is sure to make Elsa proud and leave you feeling refreshed and enchanted.
The best part… you don’t need a blender or any special equipment, just a few simple ingredients, a couple Ziplock bags, and some ice and you will have a delicious slushie in 5 minutes!
Ready to be the favorite mom on the block? These slushies (or “flushies” as my 3-year old would say) are the coolest thing ever. You throw them together, shake, and BAM – instant slushie. They are a HUGE hit with my kiddos and they taste just like the slushies that you get at the gas station. No high powered blender, no big mess, no freezer, no big chunks of ice, just smooth slushie goodness. This is the perfect drink for hot summer days when plain juice or soda doesn’t seem cold enough to quench your thirst and you don’t want to deal with melty popsicles.
You can make these with fruit juice or with soda. My personal favorite is making it with vanilla Dr. Pepper. You can buy a Slushy Magic Kit online for upwards of $10 or you can make your own homemade slushie at home for a few cents.
This is so easy to do, even a 3 year old can do it… really! You literally can be drinking a slushie in 5 minutes from now. I bet you have everything you need right at this moment. All you need is ice, salt, juice, and a couple Ziploc bags. That’s it!
Ingredients and Supplies
To make a 5-minute slushie, you’ll need the following ingredients and equipment:
- Your choice of juice, soda, or flavored beverage (prepared Kool-aid or drink mixes work great)
- Two sturdy, resealable Ziplock-style plastic bags (one small and one large)
- Ice cubes – the bigger ice cubes tend to work better and melt slower than smaller ones.
- Salt – Ice cream salt works best but coarse Kosher salt or even regular table salt will work fine.
- Gloves (optional, to protect hands)
How Does It Work?
A slushie’s science involves lowering the freezing point of a liquid. The salt in the outer bag lowers the temperature at which the mixture freezes. When the liquid is supercooled below its freezing point, agitating it creates tiny ice crystals throughout the liquid, giving it a slushie texture. So, when you drink a slushie, you’re enjoying a tasty mix of icy crystals and yummy flavors. It’s a cool and refreshing treat that’s perfect for a hot day!
How to Make a Slushie
Follow these simple steps to create a refreshing slushy in no time:
- Pick your flavor: Start by choosing your desired juice or soda.
- Packets of Ice: Take the larger resealable plastic bag and fill it halfway with ice cubes. Add salt over the ice cubes to speed up the freezing process.
- Small Bag Insert: Place the sealed small bag containing the flavored drink mixture into the larger bag of ice. Ensure both bags are sealed tightly.
- Shake and Knead: Hold onto the sealed ends of both bags and gently shake and knead the bags for about 5 minutes or until the liquid mixture inside the small bag has transformed into a slushy consistency. The bag gets VERY cold so we recommend using winter gloves to prevent injury. The ice will help rapidly chill and freeze the mixture.
- Check Consistency: After 5 minutes, carefully remove the small bag from the larger bag of ice. Open the small bag and check if the mixture has achieved the desired slushy texture. If needed, continue massaging the bag for a little longer until you reach the desired consistency.
- Enjoy: Transfer the slushie to a glass or slushie cup, grab a straw, and indulge in the refreshing taste of your homemade slushy. Sip, savor, and beat the heat with this quick and refreshing summer treat.
More Slushie Tips
Keep in mind that when you are shaking the bags, they get SUPPPERRRR cold. Especially when my kids are shaking them, I like to wrap them in a hand towel or dish towel so their little hands don’t freeze.
If yours doesn’t seem to be getting cold enough, add another teaspoon or so of salt and maybe a couple more ice cubes.
The amounts I put below seemed just about right for us, but if you are in a place where it is really hot, you may want to add a little more ice and salt.
Some favorite recipes include grape juice and Sprite, apple juice, strawberry lemonade, cherry lime juice, mango juice, coconut and pineapple juice, or Gatorade. The possibilities are endless. They really are like MAGIC!
Garnish with sliced strawberries or a wedge of pineapple for fruit slushies.
5-Minute Slushie Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups ice cubes (or enough to fill about half a gallon-sized bag)
- 1-2 tablespoons Ice cream salt (Kosher salt or table salt work great too)
- 1 cup juice or soda (not diet)
Instructions
- Step 1: Place ice cubes and salt in a quart-sized Ziploc bag.
- Step 2: Place juice in a sandwich-sized Ziploc bag, press out all the air and seal tightly. If it isn't sealed tightly enough, salt will get in and it won't taste good.
- Step 3: Place the small bag of juice IN the larger bag of ice and seal. The larger bag will be holding the ice, salt, and the baggie of juice. *PLEASE NOTE: You will have two separate bags – a quart bag with ice and salt, and a sandwich bag with juice.
- Step 4: Shake for about 3-5 minutes or until juice gets slushy. If your hands get too cold, wrap a dish cloth around the bag or use gloves and continue shaking.
- Step 5: If your slushy isn't getting slushified. Add more ice and salt to the outer bag and keep shaking.
- Step 6: Pour slush into a cup and serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use diet sodas or juices?
Diet soda has a lower freezing point than regular soda or juice so it will take a lot longer to freeze. It’s best if you use regular soda or juices for optimal freezing.
Why did my slushie come out so salty?
The salt should go in the outer bag, along with the ice. Don’t add any salt to the juice or soda. Just use it for keeping the ice super cold. To avoid any salt seeping into the juice make sure to use heavy duty Ziploc bags.
How do I make sure the slushie doesn’t come out runny?
The trick is making sure the juice or soda gets cold enough, if it doesn’t seem to be working you will need to add more ice and salt. You want the juice surrounded by ultra cold ice.
Interested in more Disney Recipes?
From a yummy Dole Whip recipe to a Tropical Slush Recipe that reminds us of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, these recipes will transport you to the Disney Parks and movies. Check out Disney foodie favorites on our recipe page!
This post originally appeared on Favorite Family Recipes.
