Homemade Slushie Floats

Slushies are a refreshing way to battle the summer heat, and this recipe uses only 3 ingredients plus water and ice. Only 2 ingredients if you choose not to make a float. These slushie floats are so easy to make, your kids can do it!

  • Total 3 minutes
  • Serves 2 large slushies
  • Beverages
  • American
Jump to the recipe
three slushies on a table

Slushies are a refreshing way to battle the summer heat, and this recipe uses only 3 ingredients plus water and ice. Only 2 ingredients if you choose not to make a float. These slushie floats are so easy to make, your kids can do it!

red slushies with ice creammore

Why this recipe works

Each slushie costs less than 60 cents to make. If you head to 7-11 for a Slurpee, or Dairy Queen for an Arctic Rush, you’ll pay a lot more than that!

These drinks are a family favorite. Even as the kids got older, I can’t remember a summer without making these slushies. It all started when my daughter was 4-years old and would beg for Slurpees. So we started making our own homemade slushies and slushie floats.

three different colored slushie floats on a table outside

Ingredients you will need

We often use the unsweetened packets of Kool-Aid, but you can use any brand you like.

labeled ingredients for slushies

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

How to Make Homemade Slushie Floats

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. Please scroll down to simply print out the recipe!

Make sure you have a blender that is capable of crushing ice.

  1. In a blender, combine powdered drink mix, water, sugar and ice.

adding drink powder to blender

adding water to blender

adding sugar to blender

ice in blender

  1. Blend until you have a slush type consistency.

blended slushie in a blender

  1. Pour into two large glasses or four small glasses and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can also add some cute paper straws!

pouring slushie from blender into glass

Expert Tips & FAQs

There are three ways to enjoy these homemade slushies.

  • Just the slush – follow instructions above but leave out the ice cream. This is similar to a Slurpee or a DQ Arctic Rush (anyone remember the Mr. Misty??)
  • Slushie Float – Follow the instructions. Adding the ice cream makes it a float! This is similar to the DQ Arctic Rush Float.
  • Blended Slushie Float – After adding the ice cream, blend the slushie again. This gives your slushie a creamier texture, also similar to a blended DQ Arctic Rush Float.

three slushies with straws Just the slush layered slushie float in a mason jar glass Slushie float blended slushie floats Blended slushie float

As you can see above, you can also layer the different flavors for a fun unicorn look! We love making our own slushies during the summer. Such a great way to cool off. Hope you enjoy it!

kids holding slushies girl holding glass of pink slushie

More Fun Summer Ideas

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This post originally appeared here on July 1, 2009 and has since been updated with new photos and expert tips.