Watermelon Slushy Cocktails

Watermelon Slushy Cocktails drinks This frozen watermelon slushie cocktail is refreshing Summer drink, simple to make and perfect for beating the heat and humidity on a hot summer day. cocktails Watermelon Slushy Cocktails watermelon, cocktails, frozen drinks

Updated. Originally 7th July 2017

This frozen watermelon slushie cocktail is refreshing Summer drink, simple to make and perfect for beating the heat and humidity on a hot summer day. If you don’t drink alcohol it’s still a great way to cool down, just omit the alcohol and leave it as is to also make it kid friendly. Who doesn’t love the sweetness of watermelon? It has the perfect summery flavor and it’s one thing that I always crave. It’s so sweet naturally and tastes like dessert on its own. In this recipe we love to juice the watermelon then freeze the juice into cubes then blend with Vodka, lime juice and a sweetener of choice until smooth. Pour into some fun cocktail glasses and serve garnished with small watermelon wedges, lime wedges or a some fresh mint leaves or fresh basil.

Watermelon Slushie

Watermelon Slushie Recipe Ingredients

  • WATERMELON: We like to use fresh watermelon in this recipe. We try to get seedless watermelon or remove as many seeds as possible (but they will get strained out after being blended so dont stress too much about them) Some tips for picking good watermelon: pick a firm, round-to-oval watermelon that feels unusually heavy for its size. Look for a dark & dull or matte rind (not shiny) and a large, deep-yellow or orange “field spot” underneath. When in doubt grab some of the pre-cut halves or quarters so you know exactly what you are getting for the best flavor. You will need ½ of a ripe watermelon or approximately 6-8 cups cubed watermelon.
  • VODKA: We used plain vodka for this recipe but a great option would be to use a flavoured one too - like a lime vodka to maximize that fresh lime flavor. You will need approximately 1 cup.
  • LIME JUICE: We like to use fresh lime juice for best flavor if possible. Bottled would work in a pinch. This would also be delicious with fresh lemon juice too. You will need approximately ⅓ cup or more to taste.
  • SIMPLE SYRUP: Make your own or use store bought simple syrup to sweeten or you could use another sweetener like agave syrup, honey or make syrup. Make sure to adjust to taste.
  • WATER: I usually need to add a little bit of water to help juice th watermelon but if you don’t need to add any you don’t have to add it. It can also be used to thin out the slushy if needed or you can thin it out with more vodka or lime juice too.

Watermelon Slushie

How To Make Watermelon Slushies

  1. Prep Watermelon: Place your halved watermelon flat side down on cutting board to make it easier to slice 1-1 ½inch planks. Cut away the rind from each plank and dice each plank of watermelon. Remove any super large seeds if the watermelon has any.
  2. Juice Watermelon: Place watermelon cubes into a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until juiced- you may need to add a touch of water to help if get going. Why do we juice it instead of just freezing the cubed watermelon as is you may ask? You get a much smoother texture from the frozen juice - when you blend frozen watermelon it could have more of a mealy or smoothie - like texture. We are going for slurpee/icee texture here. If you prefer to just freeze the cubed watermelon you can do that too. make sure to freeze the watermelon chucks on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then store in a freezer bag until ready to use.
  3. Strain Watermelon: We like to strain the juice after watermelon is blended but it is optional. The pulp adds more texture to the slushy. We prefer the juice alone no pulp.
  4. Freeze Watermelon Juice: Pour juice into ice cube trays and place in the freezer until frozen solid.
  5. Blend Watermelon Cubes: Place the watermelon cubes into blender along with the vodka, lime juice and simple syrup or sweetener of choice. Blend until nice a smooth adding a little more liquid of choice to smooth thin the mixture or to desired texture. If your blender is on the smaller side I would blend the recipe in two batches. Make sure to taste as you blend and adjust amounts of lime juice vodka and simple syrup to taste.
  6. Serve: Pour slushy into your favourite glasses and garnish with fresh herbs, lime wedges or even small watermelon wedges.

Watermelon Slushie

More Summery Drinks You will Enjoy:

Recipe

Servings: 6 Cups
Prep Time: 20 mins
4-7 hours for freezing

Ingredients

  • ½ a medium size watermelon, cubed (approx 8 cups cubed)
  • ¼ cup water, as needed
  • 6-8 oz vodka (¾-1 cup)
  • 2-3 oz fresh lime juice ( approximately ⅓ cup)
  • 4 tablespoons simple syrup (or honey, maple syrup)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

For Garnish

  • Extra watermelon slices, lime wedges or fresh herbs, for garnish

Directions

  1. Place your cubed watermelon chunks into a large blender and blend until juiced. You may need to add in ¼ cup of water to help it juice. (you will get approx 4 cups of juice a little more or less depending on how much water you add)
  2. Pour juice through a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl to remove the excess pulp pressing the strainer to get every last bit of juice out. Discard pulp.
  3. Pour the juice into ice cube trays and freeze for at least 4-6 hours or overnight, until frozen solid. (It should fill at least two trays if not more - when frozen and released you will have approximately 6 cups of watermelon ice cubes)
  4. When ready to make drinks place the watermelon cubes in the blender, along with the vodka, lime juice and simple syrup and blend until smooth, adding a little more water, vodka or lime juice to taste if required to thin it out to desired texture. (Feel free to blend in two batches if needed)
  5. Pour into glasses and garnish with watermelon slices and lime wedges and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

  • Why do we juice and make watermelon juice ice cubes, instead of just freezing the cubed watermelon? You get a much smoother texture from the frozen juice and a more intense watermelon flavor. When you blend frozen watermelon it could have more of a mealy or smoothie - like texture. we are going for slurpee/icee texture here. If you prefer to just freeze the cubed watermelon you can do that too. Make sure to freeze the watermelon chucks on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then store in a freezer bag until ready to use.
  • This is a very forgiving recipe. Say you have more than 8 cups cubed watermelon or more than 4 cups of watermelon juice. No problem you will simply need to add a little extra liquids (lime juice, vodka or water to get the texture you want). You can easily do a smaller batch or halve the recipe too.
  • COCKTAIL VERSION: If you prefer to make this into cocktails instead of a boozy slushy you can. Simple juice the Watermelon. Strain and pour the watermelon juice into a large juice jug. Stir in the lime juice, vodka and lime juice. Pour over ice filled glass and enjoy. Make it fizzy by topping with a splash of club soda, or lemon or lime sparkling water.
  • MOCKTAIL VERSION: If you prefer a mocktail version of this recipe simply substitute the Vodka for water or even some pink lemonade or a juice flavor you like with watermelon.
  • LEFTOVER SLUSHIE: If you do have any leftovers simply pour into a freezer bags (portion out into smaller pouches if you wish), squeeze out the air and seal. Place in the freezer and freeze. They will not freeze completely solid if the contain alcohol. Thaw slightly before serving out or squeezing out into a glass and stir - it will return to slush within a few minutes.

Watermelon Slushie