Frozen Cherry Lime Drink

Get ready for a tangy summer treat with our Whipped Frozen Cherry Limeade! It's got a smooth, creamy feel thanks to half-and-half mixed in. You'll love how the sweet and sour flavors come together to cool you down when it's scorching outside.

What You'll Need

• Sugar: ½ cup to make the sweet base.
• Water: ½ cup for mixing with sugar into simple syrup.
• Lime Zest: From 1 big lime or 2 small ones, giving that zingy citrus kick.
• Lime Juice: ¼ cup squeezed from about 2 limes for that sour punch.
• Tart Cherry Juice: ¼ cup that brings both color and tang to your drink.
• Half-and-Half (Optional): 2 tablespoons if you want that smooth, rich texture.
• Ice Cubes: 2 ½ cups to freeze everything into a slushy delight.

How To Make It

Step 1:

Mix sugar and water in a small pan over medium heat. Keep stirring now and then until all sugar melts away, which takes around 3-5 minutes.

Step 2:

Add the lime zest and take the pan off the heat. Put a lid on it and let it sit for an hour so the lime flavor really soaks in.

Step 3:

When time's up, pour the mix through a fine strainer and throw away the zest bits. You'll have extra lime syrup you can keep in the fridge for a week.

Step 4:

Pour 1/2 cup of your lime syrup into a blender along with the lime juice, cherry juice, half-and-half if you want it, and all the ice.

Step 5:

Turn the blender on high and let it run until everything's crushed up and smooth like a slushie.

Step 6:

Pour the finished drink into four 8-ounce glasses and drink right away. If you're feeling fancy, stick a lime slice or cherry on top.

Fresh Drinking and Keeping

Drink your Whipped Frozen Cherry Limeade right after you make it to enjoy that icy slush texture. Top with a slice of lime or cherry to make it look nice. While the drink won't keep well, any leftover lime syrup can stay good in the fridge for up to a week in a sealed container. Use it later for more cool drinks.

Quick Advice

Want it more creamy? Just toss in another spoon of half-and-half before you blend. Looking for something lighter? Skip the cream completely and enjoy the pure cherry-lime combo on its own.

Pro Chef Ideas

Ina Garten likes to add a splash of fizzy water after blending to give the limeade some bubbles. Bobby Flay says when fresh tart cherries are around, use those instead for an even better cherry flavor.

What Makes This So Good

You'll fall in love with how the zingy lime balances with the tart cherry in this cooling summer drink. The half-and-half gives it a smooth, rich feel without being too heavy. It's super quick to whip up and you can tweak it however you like, making it more sweet, tart, or creamy.

Mix It Up

Don't do dairy? Try coconut cream instead of half-and-half for a beachy twist. Want an adult version? A bit of vodka or rum turns this into a perfect poolside cocktail. Feel like experimenting? Switch out cherry juice for raspberry or pomegranate to create a whole new taste.