How to Make a Slushie

Reviewed by Sander Raav

Last Updated: November 21, 2022

It’s a hot day, and what could be more refreshing than a delicious homemade slushie? Honestly, slushies are still great even if it’s cold outside. Making your own slushie is super easy, and you just need a few basic ingredients. Read on to learn how to make a slushie using a blender, an ice cream maker, or even just your freezer. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Freezer Slushie

1 cup sugar
4 cups cold water
1 1/2 teaspoons flavored extract
5 to 10 drops food coloring

Blender Slushie

1 cup sugar
2 cups water
2 cups ice
1 1/2 teaspoons flavored extract
5 to 10 drops food coloring

Ice Cream Maker Slushie

1 cup sugar
4 cups cold water
1 1/2 teaspoons flavored extract
5 to 10 drops food coloring

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using the Freezer

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1
Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 4 cups water. Pour the sugar and water into a bowl and stir the mixture until the sugar is no longer visible. This way your slushie won't taste grainy after it freezes.
- In place of the sugar and water combination, you can use 4 cups of your favorite drink. Try making a slushie out of any type of soda, fruit juice, chocolate milk, and even coffee! ^{[1]
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2
Mix in flavored extract and food coloring. You need 1 1/2 teaspoons extract and 5 to 10 drops of food coloring. Taste the mixture and add more or less according to your preference.
- If you want a creamy slushie, stir in a tablespoon or two of cream. This pairs especially well with orange or vanilla extract.
- To make it a little fancier, try adding a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of lemon zest.
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The sides should be a few inches high so the liquid won't spill out.
You could also use a lid if your dish comes with one.
Each time you stir, you'll break up the frozen ice that has formed. Over time this creates the classic slushie texture. After doing this for about 3 hours, your slushie should be just right.
You'll have enough for two large or four small slushies. Enjoy your delicious concoction.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Blender

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Dissolving the sugar before you begin will help you avoid a grainy texture. Pour the sugar and water into a bowl and stir until you no longer see individual grains of sugar.
2
Add flavor and color. To imitate the classic slushie, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of your favorite flavored extract (like raspberry, strawberry, lemon, lime, coconut or vanilla) and 5 or more drops of food coloring. Use a long-handled spoon to stir it all together. You can add a little more flavored extract or coloring to taste. ^{[2]
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- Do you love soda-flavored slushies? Make one by freezing you favorite soda to make ice cubes. Replace the water and ice with cold soda and soda ice cubes, and leave out the sugar.
- Don't have time to buy flavored extract? You can use a packet of Kool-Aid powder in place of flavor and food coloring.
3
Blend the sugar water with 2 cups of ice. Just pour the sugar water into your blender and add 2 cups of whole ice cubes. This method works best if your blender is powerful enough to grind ice finely, creating the classic slushie texture.
- You might want to test-grind some ice cubes to make sure your blender can handle it; if not, just try another method.
- If you like your slushies thinner, add another 1/2 cup of water. If you like a thicker, icier texture, reduce the water by 1/2 cup.
4
Blend the mixture on high speed. Depending on the strength of your blender, it can take just a few pulses or several minutes to get the texture of a slushie. Keep going until the ice has been crushed and the mixture takes on the right consistency.
- It can help to periodically stir the mixture with a long-handled spoon to help the ice circulate.
- If your blender isn't quite powerful enough, transfer the mixture to a food processor and process it in batches.
If you're happy with the flavor and level and sweetness, the slushie is ready. Add more sugar, flavoring, or food coloring to make the slushie just right. If you add extra ingredients, be sure to blend the slushie thoroughly. ^{[3]
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Divide the mixture into glasses and drink it through a straw for an authentic slushie experience. You'll have enough for two large or four small slushies.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using an Ice Cream Maker

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Pour the sugar and water into a bowl and stir until you no longer see individual grains of sugar. This will improve the texture of your slushie.
2
Mix in flavored extract and food coloring. Use 1 1/2 teaspoons of your favorite flavored extract and 5 to 10 drops of food coloring to match. The following color and flavor combinations result in deliciously appealing slushies:
- Raspberry extract and blue food coloring
- A combination of cherry and vanilla extract and red food coloring
- A combination of lemon and lime extract with yellow and green food coloring
- Orange extract with orange food coloring
Since you don't want the slushie mixture to freeze as solid as ice cream, just pour it into your ice cream maker and process it for about 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, check the slushie mixture to see if it's the right consistency, and keep processing if necessary. ^{[4]
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You'll have enough for two large or four small slushies. Enjoy them with a straw for the classic experience.

Community Q&A

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Question

Does it have to be 2 hours and thirty minutes, or can it be less?

Community Answer

You will need to leave it in the freezer for at least 2 hours so that it can freeze properly. You can, however, check your slushie every 30 minutes, and then take it out when it reaches the consistency you like. It might be after 1 hour and 30 minutes, or it might be after 3 hours.

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Question

What can I use in place of food colouring?

Community Answer

You can use a juice or soda and that will be as a place of food coloring and flavoring extract. But you don't need coloring, that's just optional.

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Question

Can I still make a slushie without the food coloring?

Community Answer

The coloring is strictly for appearances. It doesn't have any effect on the taste. So, yes, you can make it without the coloring.

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Tips

Always taste your mixture to make sure it's sweet and flavorful enough before freezing it.

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As an alternative, just get your favorite drink or beverage; put it in the freezer for 2 hours, after 2 hours, slowly take the cold drink or beverage, and give it a little strong tap on the side. If your drink or beverage is in a bottle, just tilt it up and down for at least 5 seconds; there is your slushie!

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If you don't own a blender and don't want to wait 2 hours for it to freeze in the freezer, use a smoothie maker instead, since it works mostly the same. However, the texture may be slightly off.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Fill a ziplock bag with a drink, seal it, and put it into another ziplock. Fill the outer ziplock with ice and 4 tablespoons of salt, then shake the bag vigorously until your drink freezes. The bag will be super cold, so wear gloves!
Put crushed ice into a cup, add a flavor packet to a bottle of water, pour bottled water into the cup of ice, stir, and drink.
Put about 15 strawberries in your blender with 8 ice cubes and 2 cups of milk. Add in 3-4 tablespoons of sugar, then blend.
Freeze a juice box, then crush and squeeze it until it’s the texture you want.

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Warnings

Do not put too much ice in or the blender won't turn. You may have to process your slushie in batches.

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Do not use a smoothie processor unless necessary, as the ice cubes will dissolve into the sugar water.

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How to Make a Slushie

Ingredients

Freezer Slushie

Blender Slushie

Ice Cream Maker Slushie

Steps

Using the Freezer

Using a Blender

Using an Ice Cream Maker

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Tips from our Readers

Warnings

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