Description
This Raspberry Lemonade Slushie is a refreshing and vibrant summer drink perfect for cooling down on hot days. Combining fresh raspberries, tangy lemon juice, and just the right amount of sugar, it offers a balanced sweet-tart flavor. The chilled mixture is blended with ice to create a frosty, slushie texture that’s both delicious and visually appealing with optional garnishes of mint, raspberries, and lemon slices.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Juice
- 2 cups fresh raspberries (or frozen if out of season)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons)
Sweetener
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Liquids and Ice
- 4 cups cold water
- 2 cups ice cubes
Garnishes (optional)
- Fresh mint leaves
- Additional raspberries
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Prepare Raspberries: In a blender, add the 2 cups of fresh raspberries. If using frozen raspberries, add them directly without thawing to maintain freshness and texture.
- Extract Lemon Juice: Roll 4-6 lemons on the countertop to maximize juice extraction, then cut and squeeze to obtain about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain to remove seeds and pulp for a smooth juice base.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the lemon juice to the blender with the raspberries to mix the primary flavors together.
- Add Sugar: Pour in 1 cup of granulated sugar, which balances the tartness of the raspberries and lemons, creating a pleasant sweetness.
- Add Water: Add 4 cups of cold water to the blender to dilute the mixture appropriately and achieve the desired consistency.
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend the mixture on high speed for 30 seconds to 1 minute, ensuring the raspberries are fully pureed and sugar is completely dissolved for a smooth base.
- Taste and Adjust Sweetness: Taste the mixture and if desired, add more sugar and blend again until sweetness reaches your preference.
- Chill the Mixture: Pour the raspberry lemonade mixture into a large pitcher or bowl, cover it with plastic wrap or a lid, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and the drink to chill thoroughly.
- Stir Before Serving: Remove the chilled mixture from the refrigerator and stir well to recombine any settled ingredients.
- Prepare Slushie Base: Add 2 cups of ice cubes into the blender. Adjust ice quantity as needed for your preferred slush consistency.
- Blend with Ice: Pour about 2 cups of the raspberry lemonade mixture over the ice cubes in the blender (do this in batches if necessary), then blend on high speed for about 30 seconds until the ice is crushed and the mixture reaches a slushy texture. Add more raspberry lemonade mixture if the blend is too thick.
- Serve: Pour the finished slushie into tall glasses, creating an attractive and refreshing beverage presentation.
- Garnish: Add fresh mint leaves for color, extra raspberries on top, and lemon slices on the rim of each glass to enhance visual appeal and flavor.
- Enjoy Immediately: Serve right away with a straw or spoon, using colorful straws for a festive touch.
- Storage: Store any leftover slushie in the freezer. Note that freezing may cause it to lose its slushy texture once refrozen.
Notes
- Using frozen raspberries directly saves time and still delivers a great flavor.
- Rolling lemons before juicing increases the amount of juice extracted.
- Adjust sugar to taste if you prefer a sweeter or tarter drink.
- Blending in batches with ice ensures smoother slushie texture without overloading the blender.
- Serve immediately for best texture; slushie may lose consistency if stored too long.
- Optional garnishes like mint, raspberries, and lemon slices add visual appeal and fresh aroma.
