18 Easy Frozen Cocktail Recipes To Make at Home
As the weather warms up and you start planning menus for backyard barbecues and outdoor dinner parties, frozen cocktails will surely be top of the list. Sweet and refreshing, frozen cocktails are a summer staple that can be made quickly with the help of your blender. Discover frozen cocktail and mocktail recipes to get inspired.
FROZEN ALCOHOLIC DRINK RECIPES
Quench your thirst on a hot summer day with a flavorful, icy beverage from your KitchenAid® blender. Spark ideas for your next backyard soiree with the following blended cocktail recipes.
1. CADILLAC MARGARITA
This classic margarita recipe combines lime, triple sec, tequila, Grand Marnier, sugar and salt to cool you down over the summer. At your next dinner party, serve a pitcher of these Cadillac margaritas with chips and homemade guacamole or carne asada tacos.
2. SPIKED STRAWBERRY SLUSHIES
Your favorite childhood treat gets a boozy reimagining with these spiked strawberry slushies. Enjoy the nostalgic flavors of these slushies by the pool while you soak up the sun.
3. MANGO JALAPENO DAIQUIRI
Spicy, sweet and sour flavors blend together in these mango jalapeno daiquiris. All you need to make this complexly flavored cocktail is mango, jalapenos, white rum, maple syrup, limes and your blender.
4. CARAMEL APPLE BOURBON SLUSH
Enjoy the transition from summer to fall with the classic autumnal flavors of this warm-weather drink. Crisp apple cider and smooth bourbon come together to create this decadent frozen beverage. Serve these sweet slushes to your guests in glasses rimmed with caramel sauce or crushed peanuts.
5. FROZEN COCONUT MARGARITA
Creamy and rich tropical flavors come to your table with this lime and coconut cocktail. Tequila, Cointreau, powdered coconut and agave nectar blend together to create this flavorful frozen treat.
6. WHOLE STRAWBERRY MARGARITA
Enjoy this sweet and sour margarita while you soak up the sun. This frozen cocktail uses whole strawberries, lime zest, tequila and Cointreau to give a refreshing twist to the traditional margarita flavor profile.
7. SAGE HONEY PINEAPPLE BLENDED COCKTAIL
This traditional tropical cocktail is turned on its head with the addition of sage-infused honey. This complex flavor profile will surely surprise and delight guests at your next backyard barbecue.
8. GINGER LAVENDER INFUSED VODKA SLUSH
Dried lavender, fresh ginger, vodka, lemon juice and fresh mint come together to make your new favorite summer party drink. For an eye-catching accent, garnish each glass with a fresh sprig of lavender or a lemon twist.
9. AVOCADO MARGARITA
Surprise and delight your guests with this unique margarita recipe. The creamy, rich texture of avocado complements the sour and spicy flavors of lime juice and jalapeno peppers to keep you coming back after every sip.
10. WATERMELON WINE SLUSHIE
This simple yet satisfying slushie only uses watermelon juice, White Zinfandel, simple syrup and mint leaves. Freeze the watermelon juice in an ice tray and add the juice cubes to your KitchenAid® K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender along with your other ingredients and blend until silky smooth.
11. MANGO MARGARITA
Savory cumin, chili powder and cayenne pepper pair beautifully with the sweet tang of mango in this margarita recipe. Use your blender to achieve the perfect margarita texture and serve these drinks in glasses rimmed with a spicy salt blend.
FROZEN NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK RECIPES
You can enjoy frozen drinks by the pool without having to add any alcohol. Browse these frozen mocktail recipes below to get your creative juices flowing.
1. MELON-INFUSED AQUA FRESCA
This mocktail recipe is a refreshing way to beat the summer heat. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the flavors of cantaloupe, watermelon, agave and lime juice all blended together with ice to create a slushy frozen mocktail.
2. FLAVORED FRUIT SLUSHIE
You can easily make this flavored fruit slushie whenever a craving strikes. All you need is seltzer water, sugar, fruit-flavored powder, ice and your blender to help you mix it all together.
3. WATERMELON CUCUMBER SLUSHIE
This delicious and refreshing mocktail recipe is sure to be a hit at your next party. Use your KitchenAid® K400 Blender to combine watermelon, mint leaves, cucumber, lime juice and ice and serve in glasses garnished with fresh mint.
4. TROPICAL FRUIT SLUSHIE
Enjoy the flavors of fresh oranges, banana, pineapple juice and lime when they come together in this tropical fruit slushie and surprise your taste buds with the subtle heat from the cayenne pepper.
5. BLENDED GRAPEFRUIT LIMEADE
Grapefruit has never tasted so sweet as it does in this mocktail recipe. The sweetness from the sugar acts as a balance to the tartness of the red grapefruit juice and fresh lime juice.
6. BLOODY MARY SMOOTHIE
The fresh and spicy flavors of a classic bloody mary are reinvigorated with this non-alcoholic recipe. Tangy, acidic tomatoes and spicy hot sauce pair deliciously with creamy avocado and refreshing cucumber for a savory smoothie recipe your guests won’t forget.
7. HIBISCUS SANGRIA MOCKTAIL
Serve an explosion of flavors when you make this hibiscus sangria mocktail. Use your KitchenAid® stand mixer with Shave Ice Attachment1 to create a fluffy, snow-like texture that will make your frozen mocktail really pop. With the flavors of blackberries, oranges, cranberry juice and green apple, you won’t even miss the wine in this mocktail recipe.
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SHOP KITCHENAID® BLENDERS
WHAT IS THE SECRET TO MAKING GOOD FROZEN DRINKS?
Flavorful and refreshing frozen cocktails can be accomplished with a good cocktail recipe and a powerful, ice-crushing blender.
Other tips for making the perfect frozen cocktail:
- Use the right blender setting, like High Speed or Ice Crush, to thoroughly crush ice to get a consistent texture for your cocktails.
- Timing is everything. Blending your cocktails for too long can create soupy results, while blending too little leaves large chunks of ice. Select KitchenAid® blenders have pre-set recipe programs for icy drinks that take the guesswork out of speed and time.
Fresh fruits can help make the flavors of your frozen cocktails stand out. Try this recipe for making frozen lemonade.
Use quality liquor to improve the taste of your cocktail overall.
Ensure you’re using the right liquid and solid ingredients ratio to achieve the ideal blended consistency.
CAN YOU MAKE FROZEN COCKTAILS WITHOUT A BLENDER?
If you don’t have a blender but want to enjoy a frosty cocktail or mocktail, you can try a few alternatives. You can add all of your ingredients into a sealable bag and place it flat in the freezer to set for at least three hours, then gently squeeze the bag to break up the semi-frozen liquid before serving.
You can also use a KitchenAid® stand mixer with the Shave Ice Attachment1 to create your favorite frozen cocktail recipes. Add your non-alcoholic ingredients to the ice molds and freeze for 8 hours, then add the ice pucks to your stand mixer with the Shave Ice Attachment and turn the stand mixer on high to shave the ice pucks. Stir in your spirit of choice to enjoy a boozy, frosty treat.
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HOW DO YOU MAKE A COCKTAIL INTO A FROZEN DRINK?
You can transform almost any standard cocktail recipe into a frozen, blended treat with the right recipe adjustments and a powerful blender. Add your cocktail ingredients to your blender, top it with ice, then blend away.
When making frozen beverages out of your favorite cocktail recipes, you may want to use a higher ratio of non-alcoholic ingredients as alcohol won’t freeze in your home freezer. Cocktail recipes with little to no diluting liquids, like a traditional martini or old fashioned, can’t be turned into frozen cocktails without a few recipe adjustments, as alcohol doesn’t freeze.
HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS IN A FROZEN COCKTAIL?
Though the amount of alcohol you add to your cocktails can be adjusted to your taste, frozen cocktails typically use about four ounces of alcohol per batch. Making too strong of an icy cocktail can alter the taste and texture of your beverage, as alcohol won’t freeze in your drink.
If you want to turn your favorite frozen cocktail recipe into a mocktail, omit the alcohol from the recipe. Consider substituting the alcohol with juice, simple syrup or other liquid, depending on the recipe.
HOW LONG DO FROZEN COCKTAILS LAST IN THE FREEZER?
Though you may be tempted to make frozen cocktails ahead of time, these drinks are best served right after you make them. If you’ve made a large batch of fruity, frozen cocktails and don’t want what’s left to go to waste, you can partially freeze frozen cocktails to store them.
You can store frozen cocktails in an airtight container or resealable bag. Keep in mind, they may maintain a slushie-like texture since alcohol won’t freeze in a standard freezer.
EXPLORE KITCHENAID®BLENDERS
Your KitchenAid® blender can help you create frozen cocktails, smoothies, salad dressings, dips and even homemade soups with ease. Browse the entire collection of blenders from KitchenAid brand to find the model that matches your creativity and makes blending a breeze.
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