Kool-Aid Slushie

A Kool-Aid Slushie is one of my favorite ways to cool down on a hot summer day. This has been one of our favorite summer traditions for years because it’s such an easy treat to make with a bag of ice and a few Kool-Aid flavor packets we already have in the pantry. It’s inexpensive, takes just a few minutes to make, and always disappears fast!

If you’ve ever wanted to know how to make a slushy at home, you’re going to love how simple this recipe is. After making these for years, I’ve learned a few tricks that create the perfect icy texture without watering down the flavor. Whether you’re making an afternoon treat for the kids or looking for a refreshing drink after a day outside, this recipe comes together in just minutes.

Below, I’ll share my favorite Kool-Aid flavors, simple tips for getting the best slushy consistency, and a few easy variations we’ve enjoyed over the years so you can make this recipe with confidence.

Why You’ll Love this Homemade Slushy Recipe

• Slushies are the ultimate refreshing summer drink and always bring back nostalgia or create new memories to share and enjoy
• This slushie recipe only has four ingredients
• It’s simple to change the flavor and customize for everyone

Best Kool-Aid Flavors for Homemade Slushies

The Clear Winner with Kids = Blue!

• Blue Raspberry

• Berry Blue

• Blue Lemonade

• Tropical Punch

I had bought several different flavors of Kool-Aid for a fun day of slushies. Out of all of the flavor packets, blue was the most requested. They didn’t care which flavor, but they wanted it blue.Go figure. Luckily there are a lot of blue choices in the Kool-Aid section and they are very inexpensive.

Ingredients for This Homemade Slushy Recipe

• Water – it should be cold water. You don’t want your ice to melt and end up with a melted and warm slush. Cold water works best because it keeps the ice from melting too quickly. Some people like to use club soda for a little fizz, but after making this recipe many times, we still prefer plain cold water for the smoothest texture and best Kool-Aid flavor.
• Kool-Aid drink packet (any flavor) – As I said before, any flavor will do, but the most requested “color” from my kids is always blue
• Ice – This recipe uses a lot of ice. I always just grab a bag of ice from the grocery store or the gas station. Fun fact: You can even buy bags of ice at many McDonald’s drive-thrus if you need extra for a party.
• Sugar – granulated sugar for this recipe

Equipment You’ll Need to Make Homemade Slushies

Blender – For this frozen Kool-Aid drink, you’ll want a blender on hand. If you don’t have a big blender, then you can always use those small portable blenders, but you’ll need to divide the ingredients to fit them in. I recently bought a Ninja Blender (the bottom-of-the-line) at Target and I love it for this recipe.

How to Make a Slushy

Step One

Place water, Kool-Aid powder, sugar, and ice in a blender

Step Two

Blend until smooth

Slushy vs. Slushie: Is There a Difference?

Slushy

• Common alternate spelling
• Often describes texture

Slushie

• Common for frozen drinks
• Often used for homemade recipes

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s slushy or slushie, you’re not alone! The truth is, both spellings refer to the same icy frozen drink. “Slushie” is the more common spelling you’ll see when talking about homemade frozen drinks, while “slushy” is often used as an adjective to describe the icy texture or as an alternate spelling. No matter which version you use, you’re talking about a refreshing frozen treat that’s perfect for cooling off on a hot day.

Whether you call it a Kool-Aid slushie or a homemade slushy, you’ll end up with the same cool, refreshing summer treat.

Best Blender Types for Making Homemade Slushies

Blender Blades Matter – You’ll want a blender that can really crush through ice. I’ve learned that cheaper blenders don’t always crush ice very well.

You don’t need an expensive blender to make a great slushie. As long as your blender is powerful enough to crush ice, it should work just fine. If you make frozen drinks often, investing in a higher-powered blender can give you an even smoother texture.

Types of Blenders I Use:

I use a Ninja blender that is pretty simple and performs very well, but there are Ninja blenders that specialize in making frozen drinks like this Ninja Creami Deluxe or the Ninja Slushy. This blender would be a dream for my kids.

Getting the Best Texture for Homemade Slushies

A great homemade slushie should have a smooth, frozen texture with tiny ice crystals suspended throughout the drink. It should be thick enough to stay icy but still easy to sip through a straw. After making this recipe many times, I’ve found that the easiest way to adjust the consistency is to add a little more ice for a thicker slushie or a splash of water if it gets too thick.

Watch How to Make This Kool-Aid Slushie

More Cold Summer Drinks

Looking for more refreshing drinks? Here are some of our favorite summer beverages that pair perfectly with backyard BBQs, birthday parties, and hot afternoons.

• Shirley Temple Drink
• Vanilla & Chocolate Chip Cookie Milkshake Recipe
• Tropical Smoothie Recipe. 
• Summer Shark Drink
• Sonic Copycat Cherry Limeade
• Lava Flow Mocktail Drink
• Roy Rogers Drink
• Blushing Iced Tea Punch
• Ocean Ice Cream Floats

More From Kid Friendly Things To Do

• Orange Dreamsicle Salad
• Milkshake Recipe
• Camping Craft for Preschoolers
• Dorito Casserole
• Wet Burrito
• Fish Bowl Printable

Printable The Homemade Slushy Recipe