The whirl of the blender as it pulverizes ice into slushie concoctions signals that summer has indeed arrived. Now it’s time to party. These three frozen cocktail recipes hit all the right notes – they’re full of summertime fruit like mango, peaches and watermelon, and each take their queues from a different flavorful liqueur. All have a little twist to liven them up, but none require all that much work to get them into your glass.
Watermelon Tequila Slushie
The secret ingredient that sets these refreshing slushies apart is Aperol – an Italian bitter liqueur made famous by the popular Aperol Spritz cocktail. It is sweet with just a slight bitterness, adding nuance and balance to the drink. If you don’t have it, or don’t want it, go ahead and swap it for an orange liqueur like Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec, which will make a more traditional margarita.
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Peach Frosé
This is THE girly drink of the summer. It’s just the one you want in your hand as you chill by the pool in a big floppy hat. Imagine a frozen version of a bellini, but with floral notes and a brightness from the elderflower liqueur. If you don’t want to make a huge batch, this recipe will make enough for 6-8 drinks, you can scale it down to serve fewer people.
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Mangolada
If you’re a mango lover, this version of a pina colada is for you. Start with a bag of frozen mango – it not only ensures you’re using ripe mango, it’s easy, convenient, and already cold. Since I’m saving you a step there, I encourage you to skip the can of cream of coconut (i.e. Coco Lopez) and make your own batch at home. The store-bought cans are full of preservatives and chemicals, and a clean version is as easy as warming canned coconut milk and sugar on the stove. It will make more than you need for this recipe, but it will keep in the refrigerator for a week or longer, or can be frozen in ice cube trays… ready for the next batch of cocktails!
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