This post may contain affiliate links.
Limoncello Slush is the frozen, fruity, grown-up summer drink that tastes like strawberry lemonade with a sunny Italian twist, and it became our go-to backyard happy hour sipper the first warm evening I blended a batch and watched the whole patio ask for seconds. Sweet-tart strawberry lemonade gets frozen into ice cubes, then blended with limoncello and topped with sparkling wine. If you love a bubbly cocktail like our gin champagne French 75, this slush is your next warm-weather favorite.
One frosty, pink-hued glass and you will want to keep a tray of strawberry lemonade cubes in the freezer all summer long.
Limoncello Slush Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 5 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 20 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 2 cocktails
- ⚡ Calories: 223kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Frozen, sweet-tart strawberry lemonade with a boozy limoncello kick
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, just blend and freeze, on par with our frosted lemonade
Quick Answer
A limoncello slush is made from frozen strawberry lemonade cubes blended with limoncello and topped with sparkling wine. The result is a frosty, sweet-tart, citrusy cocktail with a bright Italian lemon flavor. Make the strawberry lemonade ahead, freeze it into cubes, and the slush blends up in about a minute whenever you are ready to sip.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Frozen strawberry lemonade is the base. Freezing homemade strawberry lemonade into cubes means the slush is packed with real fruit flavor instead of being watered down.
- Limoncello brings the sunshine. The bright, sweet lemon liqueur gives the drink its signature Italian citrus punch.
- Sparkling wine adds the festive fizz. A splash of bubbly on top makes every glass feel celebratory and light.
- It is make-ahead friendly. Keep a stash of strawberry lemonade cubes in the freezer and blend a fresh slush in seconds whenever guests arrive.
- No special equipment. A blender is all you need to turn frozen cubes into a perfect frosty slush.
- Easy to scale. Make a single glass or a whole pitcher worth, depending on the size of your crowd.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is frosty, fruity, and refreshing, the perfect grown-up drink for hot summer days.
- The strawberry lemonade cubes can be made ahead, so the slush blends up in seconds.
- It looks gorgeous and tastes like vacation, much like our grapefruit salty dog cocktail.
Key Ingredients
Just a few simple ingredients turn into this frosty summer cocktail. Here is what each one brings.
- Strawberries and Lemon Juice: Fresh strawberries and freshly squeezed lemon juice make a bright, sweet-tart lemonade base that is worlds better than store-bought.
- Limoncello: The Italian lemon liqueur that gives this slush its signature sunny, citrusy kick.
- Sparkling Wine: A splash of prosecco or champagne on top adds celebratory fizz and lightens the drink.
- Sugar: Dissolved into a simple syrup, it sweetens the lemonade and helps it freeze into a scoopable slush.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This slush is easy to customize. Here are a few fun ways to switch it up.
- Non-alcoholic: Skip the limoncello and sparkling wine and blend the cubes with lemon-lime soda for a kid-friendly slush.
- Different berries: Swap the strawberries for raspberries, blackberries, or a mixed-berry blend.
- Make it boozier: Add a splash of vodka along with the limoncello for an extra kick.
- Frozen rose: Use sparkling rose in place of the sparkling wine for a pink, fruity twist.
- Make it a pitcher: Blend a big batch and pour into a pitcher for an easy party drink, like our easy spritzer.
How to Make Limoncello Slush
- Make a simple syrup by stirring the sugar and 2 cups of water in a pot over high heat until the sugar fully dissolves, then let it cool.
- Blend the strawberries until smooth and strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds.
- Combine the strawberry puree, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and remaining water to make strawberry lemonade.
- Pour the strawberry lemonade into ice cube trays and freeze until completely solid.
- Add 3 cups of the frozen strawberry lemonade cubes and the limoncello to a blender, and blend until slushy.
- Pour into glasses, top each with sparkling wine, stir gently, and serve frosty.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Freeze the cubes solid. Make sure the strawberry lemonade cubes are fully frozen so the slush blends thick and frosty, not runny.
- Strain the puree. Straining out the strawberry seeds gives the smoothest, most refreshing texture.
- Blend in batches. Do not overload the blender; blend a couple of glasses worth at a time for the best slush consistency.
- Make the lemonade ahead. The strawberry lemonade and cubes can be made days in advance, so the slush comes together fast.
- Adjust the sweetness. Taste the lemonade before freezing and add a little more simple syrup if your berries are tart.
- Serve immediately. Slush melts fast, so blend and pour right before you are ready to sip.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Serve this limoncello slush in chilled glasses with a lemon wheel or fresh strawberry on the rim for a pretty finish. It is the ultimate poolside, patio, or warm-evening sipper.
It is made for summer entertaining. Set up a little drink station and let guests top their own slush with sparkling wine, alongside other warm-weather favorites like our grapefruit salty dog cocktail and a classic white wine spritzer.
For a full celebration spread, pair it with our gin champagne French 75 and a pina colada poke cake for a tropical, citrusy dessert-and-drinks combo no one will forget.
Limoncello Slush FAQs
Yes. Blend the frozen strawberry lemonade cubes with lemon-lime soda or extra lemonade instead of limoncello and sparkling wine for a refreshing non-alcoholic version the whole family can enjoy.
You can make the strawberry lemonade and freeze it into cubes days or even weeks in advance. When you are ready to serve, just blend the cubes with limoncello and top with sparkling wine, which takes only a minute.
A dry prosecco or brut champagne works beautifully, adding fizz without too much extra sweetness. You can also use a sparkling rose for a prettier pink color and fruitier flavor.
Watery slush usually means the lemonade cubes were not fully frozen or too much liquid was added. Make sure the cubes are frozen solid and blend with just the limoncello, adding sparkling wine only at the end.
Absolutely. To save time, freeze store-bought strawberry lemonade into ice cube trays and blend as directed. Homemade gives the brightest flavor, but store-bought works in a pinch.
Each strawberry limoncello slush has roughly 223 calories as written. Using a sugar-free lemonade base or less simple syrup will bring the number down.
Looking for another bubbly cocktail? Try our gin champagne French 75 next.
For a holiday twist, shake up a glass of our festive cranberry punch.
Beat the heat with this bright copycat Strawberry Acai Refresher.
Love icy drinks? Try our refreshing peach tea.
Love frozen drinks? Blend our watermelon slush.
Strawberry Limoncello Slush
Ingredients
Strawberry Lemonade (makes 8-10)
- 16 ounces strawberries stems removed, medium dice
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice strained, about 7 lemons
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 cups water divided
Strawberry Limoncello Slush (makes 2)
- 4 cups strawberry lemonade ice cubes
- 1/2 cup limoncello
- 1/2 cup sparkling wine
Instructions
Strawberry Lemonade
- Place the sugar and two cups of the water into a medium sized pot. Put over high heat stirring occasionally until sugar is melted and liquid is clear. Take off the heat and let cool completely.
- Place strawberries in a blender, blend until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh colander. Pour this along with the lemon juice, sugar water, and remaining water into a large pitcher or bowl. Mix to combine.
- Pour desired amount into ice cube molds. Two drinks use about 1 1/2 ice cube trays. Place in freezer and allow to freeze completely. I do this overnight.
Strawberry Limoncello Slush (makes 2)
- Place 1/2 cup of limoncello into a blender. Add 3 cups of the ice cubes to blender. Blend until smooth.
- Top with 1/4 cup of the sparkling wine in each glass. Stir to combine.
Directions to serve over ice
- Make strawberry lemonade as directed. You can still freeze some to use as ice cubes if desired, this will help to not water down your drink!
- Mix 2 cups of the strawberry lemonade with the limoncello. Pour over ice. Add 1/4 cup of the sparkling wine to each glass. Stir to combine.
Notes
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
Helloooooo perfect spring cocktail! Love how gorgeous these photos came out too!
Oh wow, these conjure up so many lovely thoughts, Dana.
Just look at that amazing range of Limoncello and…PINK limoncello?! Sold!!
I’m in love with those gorgeous ice cubes.
Fabulous. Summer, come quickly!