Natalie of Good Girl Style is back today with an afternoon refreshment that’ll make light of the heaviest humidity. Part sweet, part drink, these slushie-like lemonades are unbeatable in the heat. Natalie joins us each month to share incredible desserts with Big Girls, Small Kitchen readers–desserts that are entirely gluten-free, but not like obviously gluten-free. That means no specialty flours or hard-to-find ingredients, just good old-fashioned butter, sugar, fruit, and lemons. Don’t miss her other frozen posts, about Coffee Granita and Easy Mango Sorbet with Coconut Cream.
On a hot summer day, little is more refreshing than an ice cold lemonade. Unless that lemonade is actually blended with ice to make it a slushie, and topped with berry compote for the perfect blend of sweet and sour. You’ll definitely want to take the time to squeeze the lemons yourself. Bottled lemon juice is convenient but it may leave a bitter or metallic taste…not so refreshing!
Go ahead and juice the lemons when you have time and the juice will keep in a mason jar with a lid in the refrigerator for a week or so. The simple syrup can also be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator. Add ice-and this drink comes together in a flash. Of course the frozen lemonade can be served alone, but the berries add a nice color contrast and flavor mix. Use whatever berries you have handy. I used strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.
**Recipe**
Mixed Berry Frozen Lemonade
Serves 2
By Natalie Wise
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2-3 lemons)
3 cups ice
2 cups mixed berries, fresh or frozen
In a small pot, boil the water and sugar until dissolved to make the sugar syrup. Let cool. In the blender, place 3 cups ice, the lemon juice, and a 1/2 cup of the sugar syrup. Blend until slushie consistency. Taste for sweetness and add more sugar syrup if necessary. Pour into two glasses.
Next, place the 2 cups of mixed berries in the blender and add ½ cup of the sugar syrup. Blend until smooth. Pour on top of the lemonade mixture, distributing evenly between the two glasses. Enjoy!
