8 Low-Sugar Slushy Drinks to Beat the Heat

June 17, 2024

Courtesy of From My Bowl

When it’s boiling out, there’s nothing like refreshing slushy drinks to cool you down. And you don’t have to resort to buying sugar- and dye-loaded drinks at convenience stores. It’s so simple to whip up your own at home with just a few good-for-you ingredients, including nutrient-rich fresh fruit.

Bonus: These low- and no-sugar slushy drinks not only cool you off, they also can help you stay hydrated, so you can keep up your energy to enjoy the long summer days. Grab your blender and get ready to cool off.

1. Frozen Mint Lemonade

Courtesy of All The Nourishing Things

Lemonade is basically synonymous with summer, but it’s often full of excess sugar. Not this slushy recipe: It’s sweetened with just a bit of stevia. The mint adds a fresh sweetness, too. The recipe calls for sparkling water; use a lemon-flavored one to bump up the lemon taste even more (or use a lime flavor to add complexity).

Try this recipe from All The Nourishing Things.

2. Watermelon Slushy

Courtesy of A Couple Cooks

Watermelon is super sweet on its own, and you know it’s hydrating, since it has “water” right in its name. When you cut up some of the melon to eat, stash some cubes in the freezer. When you go to make this slushy, toss some of the frozen cubes into the blender along with the ice for even more intense watermelon flavor.

Try this recipe from A Couple Cooks.

3. Cucumber Mint Summer Slushy

Courtesy of Hey Nutrition Lady

You enjoy cucumbers in your spa water, so why not place it center stage in slushy drinks? Paired with mint, lime, and a touch of honey, this drink is super hydrating and refreshing — plus, the green color really pops.

Try this recipe from Hey Nutrition Lady.

4. Raspberry Peach Ginger Slushy

Courtesy of Natalie’s Health

Raspberries and peaches are both summer fruit faves, and they go together beautifully with a touch of spicy ginger in this sunny slushy. We’d swap honey for the maple syrup in the recipe, as it goes so well with peaches (did you know the fuzzy fruits are part of the rose family?).

Try this recipe from Natalie’s Health.

5. Pomegranate Blueberry Matcha Tea Slushy

Courtesy of Gourmande in the Kitchen

This pomegranate blueberry matcha tea slushy is a nutrient powerhouse. Blueberries and pomegranates are loaded with antioxidants, and matcha is well known as a cancer and inflammation fighter, and a heart and brain booster. As far as slushy drinks go, this one is also quite sophisticated flavor-wise.

Try this recipe from Gourmande in the Kitchen.

6. Easy Grapefruit Slush

Courtesy of She Wears Many Hats

Lemons get all the love, but grapefruit is just as healthy, and we love its complex sweet-tart flavor and beautiful color. The recipe calls for a touch of sugar, but we’d swap in a little honey instead. Toss in a few fresh mint or basil leaves, if you like.

Try this recipe from She Wears Many Hats.

7. Cherry Lime Slush

Courtesy of Marisa Moore

The frozen dark sweet cherries in this slushy are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, so this cool treat is as good for you as it is delicious. Sip it at night; cherries are a natural source of melatonin, a hormone that can help with sleep.

Try this recipe from Marisa Moore.

8. Cantaloupe Slushy

Courtesy of From My Bowl

Cantaloupe is hydrating because it’s nearly 90% water, and its natural sweetness makes it perfect for slushy drinks. A splash of tangy lime balances the drink. We’d add a pinch of sea salt, or even rim the glass with salt for a festive margarita feel.

Try this recipe from From My Bowl.