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This DIY Holiday Slush Mocktail brings fun cheer to winter gatherings without any alcohol. When you mix up cranberry juice, orange juice and frozen lemonade concentrate topped with bubbly cherry lemon-lime soda, you'll get a tasty frozen drink everyone loves. Kids and adults will enjoy these sparkling fruit-flavored beverages that look as festive as they taste.
What Makes This Drink Special
You'll enjoy how the tangy cranberry works with sweet orange and zingy lemon in this icy treat. The fizzy soda poured on top creates a drink that's truly memorable. You can make it days ahead, which frees you up during busy holiday times. Need to serve lots of people? No problem - just double or triple everything. The pretty presentation will make folks think you spent hours making it.
What You'll Need
- For the Slush Base:
- 4 cups cranberry juice (try to get 100% juice)
- 2 cups orange juice
- 2 cans (12 oz each) frozen lemonade concentrate
- For Serving:
- 1-2 liters cherry lemon-lime soda
- Ice cream scoop for serving
- Festive glasses
- For Garnish:
- Fresh cranberries
- Orange slices
- Fresh mint leaves
- Sugared cranberries (if you want)
How To Make It
- Blend The Juices
- Grab a big bowl and pour in the cranberry juice, orange juice, and thawed lemonade concentrate. Mix everything until it's all smoothly combined.
- Let It Freeze
- Pour your mixture into a container that can go in the freezer. Leave it there overnight or at least 8 hours. If you can, stir it once or twice while it freezes.
- Get Ready To Serve
- Take the slush out about 10 minutes before you need it so it softens a bit. Make sure your soda is cold and your garnishes are ready.
- Fill Your Glasses
- Use an ice cream scoop to put the slush in each glass, going about halfway up. Pour the cold cherry lemon-lime soda on top until the glass is full and bubbly.
- Add Final Touches
- Drop in some fresh cranberries, orange slices, or mint leaves to make it pretty. Serve right away while it's still fizzy and slushy.
Tips For The Best Results
Always go for 100% fruit juice for better taste. Make sure your soda is super cold before you pour it. Don't leave the slush out - keep it in the freezer between servings. Try to stir the mix once during freezing for smoother texture. If it gets too hard, just let it sit out for a few minutes until you can scoop it.
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Ways To Serve
Why not set up a fun drink bar with the frozen slush, cold soda and different garnishes? You can offer plain glasses or ones with sugar around the rim. Match your straw colors to your holiday decorations. If you're having a party, fill glasses with slush ahead of time and keep them in the freezer until needed. These drinks go great with Christmas sweets or party snacks.
Keeping It Fresh
The slush base can stay in your freezer up to a month. Just keep it in a container with a tight lid and give it a stir now and then if it's there for weeks. Don't add the soda until you're ready to drink it. You can make lots at once and split it between containers. When it gets too frozen, just let it warm up slightly so you can scoop it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How long in advance can I prep the slush base?
- You’ll need to freeze it overnight, but you can do this a few days beforehand and keep it frozen till party time.
- → Why use hot water for the sugar?
- It makes a syrup that blends evenly into the mix, so the drink won't end up gritty.
- → Can this drink be kid-friendly?
- Absolutely, it’s already alcohol-free and great for all ages at festive gatherings.
- → What’s the best way to serve this?
- Scrape up the frozen mix with a fork, drop a scoop into each glass, then pour cherry soda over it. Garnish with cranberries and orange slices if you like.
- → Can I swap out the juices?
- You can play around with other juice flavors, but sticking to the suggested ones brings out the holiday vibe best.