This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
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:
- Pick your flavor: Start by choosing your desired juice or soda.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Diet soda has a lower freezing point than regular soda or juice so it will take a lot longer to freeze. It’s best if you use regular soda or juices for optimal freezing.
The salt should go in the outer bag, along with the ice. Don’t add any salt to the juice or soda. Just use it for keeping the ice super cold. To avoid any salt seeping into the juice make sure to use heavy duty Ziploc bags.
The trick is making sure the juice or soda gets cold enough, if it doesn’t seem to be working you will need to add more ice and salt. You want the juice surrounded by ultra cold ice.
More Refreshing Summer Drinks
- Frozen Butterbeer
- Orange Julius
- Frozen Hot Chocolate
- Tropical Slush
- Boba Smoothie
- Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade
- Watermelon Lemonade
5-Minute Slushie Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 6 cups ice cubes (or enough to fill about half a gallon-sized bag)
- 1-2 tablespoons Ice cream salt (Kosher salt or table salt work great too)
- 1 cup juice or soda (not diet)
Instructions
- Place ice cubes and salt in a quart-sized Ziploc bag.
- Place juice in a sandwich-sized Ziploc bag, press out all the air and seal tightly. If it isn't sealed tightly enough, salt will get in and it won't taste good.
- Place the small bag of juice IN the larger bag of ice and seal. The larger bag will be holding the ice, salt, and the baggie of juice. *PLEASE NOTE: You will have two separate bags – a quart bag with ice and salt, and a sandwich bag with juice.
- Shake for about 3-5 minutes or until juice gets slushy. If your hands get too cold, wrap a dish cloth around the bag or use gloves and continue shaking.
- If your slushy isn't getting slushified. Add more ice and salt to the outer bag and keep shaking.
- Pour slush into a cup and serve immediately.
5 out of 5
Thank you!
Hi I love the recipe but I was just wondering if it would work with milk?
We haven’t tried it with milk! Let us know how it turns out if you try it!
Place the juice bag in the gallon bag and then add ice and salt. It’s easier to surround the juice and it freezes quicker and evenly.
I love it but the salt went in the slushy.
Oh no! Maybe the bag of juice wasn’t fully sealed? Sometimes cheaper brands of zip top bags don’t seal as well.
it did not work we did is for ten mins
Well, I rated it this because it really helped my problem! I am IN LOVE with slushies, and I’ve been trying FOR AGES to make my own slushies. This morning, I even tried to crush the ice! I’ve even tried to blend it! (but it didn’t work🤣) So I looked on my computer and saw this! it has been sooooo useful! I am BEGGING for more useful LIFE HACKS like this ( if you even count this as a life hack! ) anyways THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! 🥰🥰😍😍🤗🤗🤑🤑🤑 ( my mind is blown)🤯🤯🤯🤯
This was good, but the slushie is a little bit runny but otherwise it is a good recipe. AND it was really refreshing. just what i needed! ; )
Love this. Love it so much, I need to make WAY MORE than just one cup at a time. Can we?
We’ve only made it with these ratios so I can’t say for sure. I think a bigger batch would take a lot longer to freeze. Let us know how it goes if you try it!
I love that it requires ingredients that you probably have on hand and is simple enough that children can do their own.
I followed the instructions just with two small bags and it came out nice. Next time I’m going to shake it for longer. I had some doubts about this but it worked thanks : D
I think this is a good recipe, although mine did not become slushie-y. It was just cold orange juice. Also do you have to use a quart size bag or can you use gallon?
Which bag are you wanting to replace with a gallon size?
I did exactly what your directions called for and it came out perfect! Thanks 😊
What happened to the plastic bag with juice…how does the juice mix with the ice…how do the two connect, theyre in seperate bags
You don’t mix the juice with the ice. The ice and salt make the juice cold enough that it freezes! I hope this helps!
i thought it was going to work but it came out pretty bad, it was horribly salty
Hi! So it sounds like you added the salt to the juice. The salt is supposed to go in the outer bag with the ice. I hope this helps!
I have been trying so many recipes and this one finally is slushee-e it’s perfect!!!
Why not diet?
Diet soda has a MUCH higher freezing point than regular soda or juice so it will take a lot longer to freeze.