Frozen Fruit Slush

Frozen fruit slush is a nostalgic Midwestern treat, where chunks of fruit are suspended in a refreshing, sweetened slush. Served in cups, it’s a cooling, light and simple frozen dessert. You’ll see all kinds of frozen fruit slush concoctions dating back to the ’70s (or further!), but I love ours for its simplistic approach, which uses packaged ingredients without sacrificing flavor.

Here, we start with thawed orange juice and lemonade concentrate, then mix them with water and sugar to make the slush. Next, we’ll stir in all the fruits: maraschino cherries, fresh bananas, sliced strawberries, mandarin oranges, peaches and pineapple. The chunks of fruit are like pieces of treasure. The mixture spends the night in the freezer then thaws ever so slightly just before it’s served, giving it that perfect slushy texture.

Ingredients for Frozen Fruit Slush

• Sugar: Fruits are naturally sweet, but a little sugar makes this frozen fruit slush taste a bit more like a no-bake summer dessert. It also prevents the water from fully freezing, which gives it a scoopable slush texture like that of a granita or water ice. Use granulated sugar here; brown sugar will discolor the mixture.
• Juice concentrates: Thaw your orange juice and lemonade concentrates by refrigerating them overnight. Some frozen juice concentrates have instructions on the tube for quicker thawing.
• Fresh bananas: Wait to slice the bananas into coins just until you’re ready to mix everything together. Otherwise, the bananas will oxidize and turn brown.
• Canned fruits: For this recipe, you’ll need canned sliced peaches, pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges and a jar of maraschino cherries. Do not drain the liquid from any of the canned fruit except for the mandarin oranges.
• Frozen strawberries: Purchase frozen, sweetened, sliced strawberries, and allow them to thaw overnight in the fridge. You can use fresh strawberries here instead if you’d like.

Directions

Step 1: Combine all the ingredients

In a large bowl, stir together all the ingredients: the water, granulated sugar, thawed orange juice concentrate, thawed lemonade concentrate, sliced bananas, sliced peaches with their juice, pineapple chunks with their juice, drained mandarin oranges, thawed strawberries and maraschino cherries with their juice.

Step 2: Freeze, then thaw the slush

Freeze the frozen fruit slush, covered, until it’s firm, about eight hours or overnight. Remove the bowl from the freezer 45 minutes before serving the slush, and let it thaw slightly at room temperature so it’s easier to scoop. Place the frozen fruit slush into chilled bowls and serve it immediately.

Recipe Variations

• Try other juice concentrates: It’s so easy to customize this frozen fruit slush. One of our favorite ways is to try juice concentrates other than orange juice or lemonade. Instead, use grape, apple, pineapple, pink lemonade, cranberry or mixed juice concentrate.
• Include other fruits: Feel free to replace one or all of the suggested fruits in this recipe with other hearty fruits. Canned mangoes, frozen berries, canned pears, canned fruit cocktail mix, canned papayas or canned grapefruit are excellent substitutions or additions. Thaw anything frozen, and drain anything canned.
• Make it boozy: Once the frozen fruit slush is portioned into individual-sized servings, let guests top theirs off with bubbly Prosecco or a shot of rum or vodka.

How to Store Frozen Fruit Slush

Store any leftover frozen fruit slush in individual-sized, freezer-safe, airtight containers in the freezer for up to two weeks. Let each portion thaw for 20 to 40 minutes before enjoying it.

Can you make frozen fruit slush ahead of time?

Yes, you can (and should!) make frozen fruit slush ahead of time. The juice concentrates must thaw before using, and the whole frozen fruit slush needs to chill in the freezer overnight. It’s an awesome make-ahead dessert to assemble the night before a party. Just remember to let your frozen fruit slush thaw at room temperature for 45 minutes before serving it.

Frozen Fruit Slush Tips

How do I serve frozen fruit slush?

Serve frozen fruit slush as a side dish for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Or serve it as a refreshing light dessert after a heavy meal—you can even add a little homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top. It’s a tasty dish for any holiday gathering, party or potluck. Though because it’s served cold, it’s ideal for warm-weather gatherings.

Is frozen fruit slush healthy?

“Healthy” means something different to everyone. While this slush contains many nutrient-rich fruits, the added sugar, two frozen juice concentrates and the naturally occurring sugar (fructose) in the fruits themselves gives the dish a high sugar content overall (48 grams per serving). So, this dish is best enjoyed on an occasional basis.