15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (2024)

  • co*cktails
  • Frozen Drinks
  • Summer

Fifteen delicious and refreshing ways to enjoy frozen booze throughout the hotter months (and maybe the colder ones, too).

By

Rabi Abonour

15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (1)

Rabi Abonour

Rabi Abonour is a planner specializing in transportation, but has also been a photojournalist, writer, and editor for several online and print publications.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated July 21, 2020

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15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (2)

Loyal Serious Eats readers know that we're staunch defenders of the frozen co*cktail. Most blender drinks might be crimes against good taste, made with bottom-shelf booze and artificially flavored mixers, but that doesn't mean there's anything inherently wrong with the concept. On a hot day, who could really complain about what is essentially an alcoholic slushie?

Our mission to reclaim the frozen co*cktail begins with rescuing the classics—daiquiris, piña coladas, and margaritas made with real fruit and good liquor. But that's just the start. You can give all sorts of co*cktails the blender treatment, from the Negroni to the Blood and Sand. Keep reading for 15 refreshing recipes that will teach you to love frozen co*cktails.

  • The Best Frozen Daiquiri

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (3)

    Forget your daiquiri preconceptions—at its purest the co*cktail is a delicious mix of rum, lime juice, and sugar. We'd recommend going with an assertive dark rum since chilling a spirit mutes its flavors somewhat. When it comes to sweetening the drink we like turbinado sugar, which is more flavorful than white sugar.

    Get the recipe for The Best Frozen Daiquiri

  • The Best Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (4)

    Our recipe for a frozen strawberry daiquiri uses the same ratio of rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, then adds two strawberries and just a pinch of salt. Be sure to taste and adjust as you go, though—different rums and different strawberries can taste wildly different.

    Get the recipe for The Best Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

  • Frozen Fernet Daiquiri

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (5)

    A daiquiri shouldn't be overly sweet if you make it properly, but if you're still looking for a sharper edge, then consider replacing half an ounce of the rum with Fernet Branca, which will give the drink a bitter, minty bite. Fernet can be an intimidating spirit, and this is as easy an introduction as you will find.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Fernet Daiquiri

  • Sweet Peach Frozen Daiquiri With White Pepper and Green Tea

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (6)

    We're starting to stray further from daiquiri orthodoxy, and here we make the drink with ripe fresh peaches and a simple syrup flavored with white pepper and green tea. It might sound like a lot for one co*cktail, but the grassy tea and spicy pepper are wonderful complements to the sweet fruit.

    Get the recipe for Sweet Peach Frozen Daiquiri With White Pepper and Green Tea

    Continue to 5 of 15 below.

  • Savory Cucumber and Green Chartreuse Frozen Daiquiri

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (7)

    White pepper and tea not unusual enough for you? Then try making a frozen daiquiri with cucumber. As far as vegetable-based* co*cktails go, this one is quite approachable, with just a mild savoriness backed up by herbal Green Chartreuse.

    *I know cucumber's technically a fruit, but who thinks of it as one when it comes to cooking?

    Get the recipe for Savory Cucumber and Green Chartreuse Frozen Daiquiri

  • Ultra-Tropical Piña Colada

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (8)

    There are no artificial flavorings here—our piña colada gets its tropical taste from coconut cream and ripe pineapple. To let those natural flavors shine, we freeze all the ingredients before blending, which means less ice and less dilution. It might sound silly, but don't skip out on the paper umbrella.

    Get the recipe for Ultra-Tropical Piña Colada

  • Frozen Gin and Tonic

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (9)

    There's no reason blender drinks have to be sweet. If you want something a little more bracing, try this frozen take on the classic G&T. Rather than using tonic water (believe us, you don't want to pour that into the blender), we flavor the co*cktail with concentrated tonic syrup.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Gin and Tonic

  • Frozen Negroni

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (10)

    If our frozen gin and tonic is up your alley, you have to try this frozen Negroni. We use the traditional mixture of gin, Campari, and vermouth, but instead of a 1:1:1 ratio, we cut back on the Campari and vermouth. You can use whatever gin you'd like, but something floral will taste especially summery.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Negroni

    Continue to 9 of 15 below.

  • Watermelon White Negroni Slushie

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (11)

    Here we move to the White Negroni, which uses Cocchi Americano and dry vermouth in place of Campari and sweet vermouth. Watermelon gives the drink some summer flair—instead of blending in watermelon juice and diluting the co*cktail, we infuse the melon right into the gin.

    Get the recipe for Watermelon White Negroni Slushie

  • Frozen Mezcal Palomas

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (12)

    This recipe is inspired by the Paloma—a simple highball of grapefruit soda spiked with tequila—but replaces the soda with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lime juice, and honey. Instead of tequila we use mezcal, which adds a savory complexity. Just a pinch of salt helps bring out the character of the smoky spirit.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Mezcal Palomas

  • Frozen Blood and Sand

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (13)

    You probably associate blended drinks most closely with liquor like tequila or rum, but that's not the only option. Here we go with Scotch, making a refreshing variation on the Blood and Sand. Since blended drinks are always slightly diluted we replace the Cherry Heering and orange juice with more intense Luxardo syrup and Grand Marnier.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Blood and Sand

  • Frozen Jungle Bird

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (14)

    We have to tip our hat to Chicago's Three Dots and a Dash for inspiring this version of the Jungle Bird. The rich, bittersweet co*cktail is made with the classic combination of pineapple, lime, Campari, and rum (we go with both blackstrap and Navy-strength). Maple syrup sweetens the drink while also adding some depth.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Jungle Bird

    Continue to 13 of 15 below.

  • Peach and Tequila Frozen Blended co*cktail

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (15)

    Overripe fruit is perfect for co*cktails—it's extra sweet, and once you've blended it up you'll have no idea how mushy it was. We put overripe peaches to use in this co*cktail, blending them with fresh pineapple, pineapple juice, mint leaves, blanco tequila, and a citrusy French apertif called Suze.

    Get the recipe for Peach and Tequila Frozen Blended co*cktail

  • Peachy Rum and Coconut Frozen Blended co*cktail

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (16)

    Coconut and rum can already veer toward sickly sweet territory, so you might be worried that adding in peaches, too, would be a bad idea. This drink ends up remarkably balanced, though, thanks to a healthy dose of astringent Angostura bitters and a dash of cinnamon. We like to finish the drink with a float of dark rum, but you can leave it off if you'd prefer something less heavy.

    Get the recipe for Peachy Rum and Coconut Frozen Blended co*cktail

  • The Best Frozen Lime Margaritas

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (17)

    You didn't think we'd make it all the way through this list without mentioning the margarita, did you? The most iconic blended drink is also one of the easiest to make—when all the recipe calls for is tequila, triple sec or Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup, there's no good reason to even consider using sour mix.

    Get the recipe for The Best Frozen Lime Margaritas

15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to frozen co*cktails? ›

Opt for Crushed Ice

The trick to transforming a co*cktail into a frozen treat is ice. It chills the rest of the ingredients, turning them into a crisp frosted slush. Regular cubed ice still cools your drink. However, it creates a different texture and mixing experience.

What alcohol is best frozen? ›

One of the best beverages to enjoy frozen is a margarita. If you're looking to switch up your usual fruity frozen margarita, try a chocolate margarita instead. You can incorporate some subtle fruity flavors along with the tequila, so you don't stray too far from the nature of the margarita.

How to make a freezer co*cktail? ›

Begin by adding 3 ounces of your spirit of choice to your jar or bottle. Next, add . 75-1 oz of water (basically, you want to divide your amount of spirit by 4 then add that amount of water). Then place your jar or bottle in the freezer for a minimum of eight hours along with your co*cktail glass.

How much ice do you put in a frozen co*cktail? ›

Too much ice can dilute the flavor and give you a bland, watered-down drink. Too little ice, and your co*cktail could be overly strong and not cold enough. As a general rule of thumb, for most frozen co*cktails, the ice-to-liquid ratio should be 1:1.

How do you make frozen co*cktails thicker? ›

There are several factors that play into creating thick frozen drinks. Keeping everything cold and using frozen fruit are keys to thick smoothies, milkshakes, co*cktails and slushies. Make sure your ratio of liquids and ice to solids is spot on, and don't forget the thick sweeteners.

Can you pre make frozen co*cktails? ›

The brilliance of the pre-batched co*cktail lies in both its efficiency and consistency. Prepared and frozen ahead of time, the next day's ready-to-pour co*cktail yields a richer mouthfeel than one stirred à la minute, all while effortlessly achieving that coveted ice-cold temperature—without any ice.

What do bars use to make frozen drinks? ›

Margarita machines, along with similar frozen beverage freezers, are tailor-made for venues serving large quantities of the same drink. Whether it's a special strawberry margarita or another frozen concoction, these machines excel at batch production.

What are frozen co*cktails called? ›

A frozen, also called an alcoholic slushy, is a type of slushy made with alcohol. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic ingredients are processed in a blender to create a slush texture. Frozen alcoholic drink. A frozen daiquiri bar in Louisiana. Type.

How do you make ahead and freeze co*cktails? ›

According to Hirsch, you take a full bottle of liquor —whichever is the primary liquor of the co*cktail you are making—and pour off just enough to add the other ingredients needed to make a full bottle of the drink. The bottle is then stored on the freezer door, keeping it chilled and ready to drink.

What is zero proof frozen co*cktails? ›

Zero Proof = Alcohol-free, sophisticated, deeply flavorful and enjoyable drinks. These are mocktails, not sodas, and are legitimate craft co*cktails but without alcohol. Simple Syrup = Homemade sugar water, used to add a bit of sweetness.

How long do frozen co*cktails last in the freezer? ›

The alcohol keeps them from freezing to a hard solid state, so they're always ready to remove from the freezer, stir, serve, and drink. These will keep for up to 1 month in the freezer.

Why does my frozen margarita separate? ›

Separation occurs due to the variation in density between different parts of your drink. When you blend a frozen drink, you are breaking down and combining many ingredients into one.

Do you add ice or spirits first when making co*cktail? ›

That method will leave the carbonation in but will also properly blend the spirit and the mixer. When building a fizzy co*cktail, always start with ice and then add the spirit (if you put spirit in and then ice, you're going to get splash-back) before topping up with the fizz.

Do you add ice before or after co*cktail? ›

Don't worry that it will water down your drink – the more ice you add, the longer your drink will stay cold. However, to prevent diluting your drink, add ice last. The Spruce Eats warns that you should always use ice made from fresh, pure water, and recommends using full-sized ice cubes rather than crushed ice.

How do you make frozen drinks not icy? ›

You can also add a little bit of simple syrup to increase the viscosity of your mix and help keep the ice suspended in the liquid. By the way, if you can make simple syrup, you're halfway to making your own margarita mix.

How do you make a frozen margarita without separating it? ›

Xanthan gum, this is an emulsifier and stabilizer. It's what the big coffee chains use in their frozen drinks to keep them from separating as they melt. I usually use 1/8th of a tsp but you can go up to 1/4tsp. Add this in your dry blend 4.

How do you make a drink more slushy? ›

Crushed Ice is Your Friend

You'll want to opt for crushed ice when whipping up frozen co*cktails. Crushed ice blends more easily and will give you that ideal thick, slushy consistency.

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