Strawberry Lemonade Slushie

There is something about a cold, colorful drink on a warm day that feels like summer. And while I am not here to tell you that your child can never enjoy a Slurpee, I do love having simple, real-food versions at home that still feel fun and special.

This Strawberry Lemonade Slushie is sweet, tart, icy, and refreshing. It gets its beautiful color and natural sweetness from strawberries, with fresh lemon juice to give it that classic lemonade flavor. It is quick to make, easy to blend, and perfect for hot afternoons, backyard playdates, or any time your kids are asking for a “fun drink.”

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen strawberries
• 1 cup ice
• ¾ cup cold water
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, to taste
• Optional: a few fresh mint leaves for a refreshing twist

Directions

Add the frozen strawberries, ice, water, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey to a blender. Blend until icy and slushy, adding a splash more water only if needed to help it move.

Taste and add a little more sweetener if desired, depending on the sweetness of your strawberries and your child’s preference.

Pour into glasses and serve right away.

A few easy variations

For a creamier smoothie-style version, blend in ½ cup plain or vanilla yogurt, or a scoop of unflavored or vanilla protein powder if that works for your family.

For a watermelon lemonade slushie, replace the strawberries with frozen watermelon cubes.

For an extra hydration boost on a very hot day, use coconut water in place of some or all of the cold water.