Watermelon Slushie (Alcohol Free)

Homemade watermelon slushies are a great way to cool down on a hot summer day, enjoy fresh watermelon, and at the same time, avoid the chemical and sugar-laden store-bought variety! Freezing leftover watermelon is probably the easiest way to keep a watermelon for long periods once it's cut open, and a watermelon slushie is a quick yet healthy way to enjoy a sweet summer drink.

Kids love slushies too! Whether it's their brain-freezing abilities, the surge of sugary fruit flavor, or the bright colors, these sweet icy drinks are a great way to cool off, and always a hit during the hot summer months. Unfortunately, store-bought slushies often contain little fruit and are mostly made up of sugar and chemical flavorings. The best alternative? Homemade slushies!

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The Cool Story Behind the Slushie!

Did you know the slushie was actually invented by accident? Back in the 1950s, a Dairy Queen owner named Omar Knedlik had a broken soda machine, so he put his sodas in the freezer. When he served them, they came out icy and slushy—people loved it! He then created a special machine to make these frozen drinks on purpose, calling it the "ICEE." A few years later, 7-Eleven rebranded it as the "Slurpee," and the rest is history. Now, we can all enjoy these frosty treats on a hot day!

Do I Have To Use Frozen Watermelon?

No. You don't really have to use frozen watermelon, and honestly, fresh watermelon will probably be easier to blend up for most lower end kitchen blenders. This is good news if you have a fresh watermelon you're about to cut into. On the other hand, using frozen watermelon creates a creamier slushie, and also provides a use for frozen watermelon. I used a Nutri Ninja Bullet blender to make my watermelon slushie, and my only complaint is that it only makes two drinks at a time!

Freezing watermelon is a great way to keep a cut melon from going bad, if you can't eat it all in one sitting, or simply have to much of it! Since frozen watermelon doesn't really thaw out well, (it goes mushy and gross as the water melts out), it's best to use frozen watermelon in smoothies and drinks such as this one.

How to freeze watermelon.

Freezing watermelon is super easy and only takes a few steps.

1. Cut the melon in half with a large chefs knife, and then again into quarters.
2. Remove the red flesh from the rind by running the knife along the white pith.
3. Dice up the ripe watermelon, and spread it out on a parchment lined tray.
4. Place the diced watermelon in the freezer to freeze, about 20 minutes.

Make Your Own Healthy Fruit Slushies This Summer

You can easily enjoy healthy fruit slushies all summer long. The trick is to make them yourself of course!

Luckily almost all slushies, including this watermelon slushie, are easily made in under five minutes with only two or three ingredients. The type of fruit used is really up to you, but watermelon is perfect for slushies since frozen watermelon doesn't thaw well, and it is naturally sweet. This means less added sugar, if any!

You'll need:

• 2 cups fresh or frozen watermelon
• ½ cup crushed ice
• ½ cold water
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 lemon wedge

Mix all the ingredients together in a blender and presto! You made a slushie! Serve immediately or drink it yourself!

Adults can add a splash of rum, tequila, or vodka to the blender for a little extra kick! - Chef Markus

The sugar and lemon are, of course, optional in the recipe above, but the lemon adds just a little bit of tartness that makes the slushie really pop with flavor. If the watermelon you have is naturally very sweet, you can consider leaving out the sugar, but it's summer, and a little bit of sweetness never hurts anybody!

If you are having trouble blending the slushie, and it seems to thick or icy, add some water to thin it out and let the blender do its job. There should be no large chunks and the blender should be able to smoothly blend all of the watermelon and ice chunks.

Serve these slushies on a hot summer day, at a BBQ, or when you(or your kids), are craving something sweet.

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Recipe