How to Make a Slushie

Craving a refreshing slushie? 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:

1. Pick your flavor: Start by choosing your desired juice or soda.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Questions About Slushies

More Refreshing Summer Drinks

• Frozen Butterbeer
• Orange Julius
• Frozen Hot Chocolate
• Tropical Slush
• Boba Smoothie
• Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade
• Watermelon Lemonade