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A citrusy sweet slush made with frozen orange juice, lemonade, and pineapple juice topped with lemon-lime soda. The perfect drink for summer.
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This sunrise slush recipe is perfect for summer BBQs, get-togethers, and celebrations. Our family even makes this slush for Christmas. It became a Christmas tradition—which we find humorous, considering how cold it gets here in Montana.
It’s delicious without alcohol, but it’s also fun to make into a cocktail on special occasions. You can leave the alcohol out of the frozen mix and add it right before serving. That way, you don’t leave out the kids or people who don’t care for alcohol.
Ingredient Notes
Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need (pictured below). Read on for a few notes.
- Water
- Sugar*
- Frozen orange juice concentrate
- Frozen lemonade
- Pineapple juice
- Lemon-lime soda
Sugar: this is the original family recipe, but you can cut down this amount of sugar & it will still be delicious!
Soda: we use 7UP, but any lemon-lime soda will work.
Juices: be sure to use orange juice and lemonade from concentrate. The pineapple juice is the only juice not from concentrate used in this recipe.
If you’re making the alcoholic version:
- Whipped vodka or preferred liquor (optional)
- Garnishes – orange and pineapple wedges or cherries (optional)
Supplies
- Large pot and mixing spoon
- Ice cream bucket or freezer-safe storage container
- Ice cream scoop
- Serving glasses and straws
Let’s Make Frozen Citrus Slush
Follow these simple steps to make this delicious frozen drink.
1
Boil water & Sugar
In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water and 4 cups of sugar to a boil. Again, you can reduce the amount of sugar if you’d like. Remove from heat.
2
Add Orange juice, lemonade, and pineapple juice
Add the frozen orange juice concentrate, frozen lemonade, and can of pineapple juice to the water/sugar mixture. Mix well.
3
pour into container & Freeze
In a large container (we use freezer safe plastic storage containers or an ice cream bucket), pour in the slush mixture. Freeze overnight, stirring a few times if you can.
4
scoop & serve with lemon-lime soda
Now for the fun part. Put one or two scoops into a glass. Pour lemon-lime soda to the top of the glass (or leave some room to add your favorite liquor—keep reading!).
5
optional – add garnishes and liquor of choice
Optional (but so good) – add grenadine, alcohol of choice (whipped vodka is our favorite), and garnishes (oranges, pineapples, or cherries). Enjoy!
Serving Ideas
We usually scoop individual servings, but you could use it in a punch bowl for birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, and more. Another great option is to serve it in a fun pitcher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about making this frozen slush.
How long should I freeze the Slush mixture?
Freeze the slush mixture overnight for best results. Stirring it occasionally during freezing helps achieve a smoother texture when serving.
Can I reduce the amount of sugar in the Sunrise Slush recipe?
Yes, you can definitely reduce the amount of sugar according to your preference. The original recipe calls for 4 cups, but you can adjust it to suit your taste without compromising the flavor.
Can I make this Slush alcoholic?
Yes, you can turn this slush into a cocktail by adding alcohol like whipped vodka. Freeze the mixture without alcohol and add it just before serving to accommodate both alcoholic and non-alcoholic preferences.
What are some recommended garnishes?
Popular garnishes include orange slices, pineapple wedges, or cherries. These make for a fun and colorful presentation.
More Drink Recipes
- Fruit & Herb Flavored Water
- Peach Moscow Mules
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider
- Pineapple Mimosas
- Lemon Drop Shots
Sunrise Slush (Citrus Frozen Slush)
Citrus slush perfect for summer events. Pineapple, orange and lemon slush topped with lemon lime soda with the option to add garnish and your alcohol of choice.
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 4 cups sugar*
- 2 cans of frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1 can frozen lemonade
- 46 fl oz can of pineapple juice
- 2 liter bottle of 7up
*Note on sugar: this is the original family recipe, you can decrease the amount of sugar if you’d prefer.
*If you’re making the alcoholic version: whipped vodka and garnishes (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat.
- Add the frozen orange juice concentrate, frozen lemonade, and can of pineapple juice. Mix well.
- In a large container (like an ice cream bucket), pour in the slush mixture. Freeze overnight, stirring occasionally.
- Put one or two scoops into a glass.
- Pour 7UP to the top of the glass.
- Optional (but so good!) – add grenadine, whipped vodka, and garnishes (oranges, pineapples, or cherries).
Notes
- Tip for using alcohol: If you plan to add alcohol, freeze the mixture without it and add it right before serving. That will allow your guests to choose alcoholic vs. non-alcoholic.
- Storage: Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Freezing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 327
- Sugar: 80.7 g
- Sodium: 14.9 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 83.2 g
- Protein: 1.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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Have You Tried This Recipe? Please rate it in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
by putting the sugar in the water and bringing to a boil it is doing two things. Firstly it is making a “simple syrup”. Secondly the simple syrup makes the texture softer and easier to scoop with an ice cream scoop or spoon straight from the frozen bucket. The dissolved sugar not able to freeze maintains a slightly liquid consistency even as the drink freezes, preventing it from becoming a solid block of ice.
The sugar isn’t to make it super sweet, it’s to make it structurally a softer scoopable texture.
Hi there! A dear friend of mine shared a recipe very similar to this way back in the ’70’s. It was so refreshing on hit days, but I have since lost my recipe. I don’t recall adding sugar to her original recipe so I have a question for you. Wouldn’t the sweetness of the orange juice, the pineapple juice & then the added Lemon-lime soda be sweet enough for a slush drink without adding the addition of sugar to the water? Just wondering before I spend the $ to make your recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Hi Vanessa! I think it would be sweet enough without. This is a family recipe we have made for years and I need to test it without the sugar (or at least reduced) to know for sure.
and bringing to a boil it is doing two things. Firstly it is making a “simple syrup”. Secondly the simple syrup makes the texture softer and easier to scoop with an ice cream scoop or spoon straight from the frozen bucket. The dissolved sugar not able to freeze maintains a slightly liquid consistency even as the drink freezes, preventing it from becoming a solid block of ice. The sugar isn’t to make it super sweet, it’s to make it structurally a softer scoopable texture.
Can I use regular lemonade instead of the concentrate? Can I omit the pineapple juice?
I have been looking for a recipe like this…. My mother-in-law would make something like this for breakfast. She has passed, and I do not have her recipe. I am so hoping this recipe is like what she made!!!
thanks for sharing
Hi Stacy! I hope it is the right one! Otherwise, maybe a homemade orange julius? I have never heard of it used for breakfast, but it could be. Happy holidays!
I’ve been searching for a similar recipe I grew up with and finally found it! Thank you!
Awesome! Love to hear this.
Thanks for the message!
-Kelsey
My mother in law makes something similar. I only got the list of what’s in it and no recipe. I’ve been wanting summery things and specifically this slushy drink. So I went looking and found your recipe!!! We tried this and we like it a lot better!
Hi Sheila! Thank you for leaving a review! So glad you like it. 🙂