Frozen Sangria Slushie

Cool off this summer with a frosty glass of frozen sangria, a gorgeous slushie cocktail that is a delight to sip.

At a glance

What stands out: Sangria is such a popular beverage; transforming it into a frozen slushie is like icing on a cake. So refreshing and rich, your friends are going to love it!

How long it takes: 10 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: blender
Servings: 6

Isn’t frozen sangria a beautiful drink? And it’s so good! We just love this frozen cocktail. It’s a reliable sipper on a hot summer day.

What Is Sangria?

Sangria is a traditional wine cocktail that originated in Spain. There are lots of recipes for sangria but basically, sangria includes a dry fruity red wine, fruit juice, a sweetener, and a liqueur of some type (brandy, Cointreau). Cut up fruit is added to the drink.

Is sangria a strong drink? Since it’s fortified with brandy or orange liqueur, sangria can contain more alcohol than plain wine, which usually has about 12% alcohol content.

About This Sangria Slushie

No awkward chunks of fruit. We never quite know what to do with the fruit in sangria. Do you drink the whole drink and then chomp down the fruit? How do you fish it out of your glass? Is it even polite to eat the fruit? That’s one of the reasons why we love this frozen sangria. The fruit, in this case, mixed berries, is blended right into the drink! No more dilemma — you can just drink the fruit. Reliable!

You don’t need to use expensive wine. Buy a fruity dry wine that you would enjoy drinking. You don’t need to buy the most expensive wine on the shelf but make sure it’s a good-tasting wine.

A good way to use leftover wine. If you happen to have a partial bottle of red wine leftover, frozen sangria is the reliable way to use it up. This recipe calls for one and a half cups.

You won’t be disappointed with frozen sangria. There’s so much exciting flavor and it’s just cool to drink. Try it today!

Good Wine Choices

Not sure about your wines? Some good wines for this red sangria are: Pinot Noir (that’s what we use), Rioja, Grenache (Garnacha), Merlot, Tempranillo, or Zinfandel (not white zinfandel).

What goes in

• Red wine
• Frozen mixed berries: You’ll need a 16 oz. bag of mixed berries. The mix we buy includes strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Use whatever combination you like best. Maybe you freeze your own berries. Reliable! What a great way to use those frozen berries.
• Orange: In addition to the berries (think of all those antioxidants!), add a whole peeled orange.
• Fresh lime juice: Lime perks up the flavor of your sangria.
• Honey or sugar: Use any sweetener you prefer or happen to have. Agave nectar or syrup is another good choice.
• Cointreau: Fortify the sangria with a fourth-cup orange liqueur, such as cointreau, triple sec, curaçao, or Grand Marnier. You could also use brandy.
• Ice: Be sure your ice is fresh!

Get the blender whirring, find some pretty glasses, and enjoy your frozen sangria! You’ll want to serve it immediately because frozen slushies don’t stay frozen forever, especially on a warm summer day.

What To Serve With Sangria Slushies

Serve frozen sangria with a basket of tortilla chips and from-scratch pico de gallo. Go a little fancier and make this fresh tomato tart with ricotta for a reliable sunny pool side appetizer. Southwestern stuffed mini sweet peppers are another popular appetizer idea.

Make It Your Own

Create your own signature slushie. The flavor of your frozen sangria will depend greatly on the type of wine you choose, how much sweetener you add, and whether you use orange liqueur or brandy, or leave it out entirely. Using different combinations of berries, or just one kind of berry, will give you exciting flavor variations. Try a couple of tangerines instead of an orange.

Go white! Make your frozen sangria with white wine and frozen tropical fruit blends.

More icy drink ideas: Watermelon slushie (can be made with or without alcohol), frosé recipe – a standby frozen rosé, coconut water smoothie, tropical smoothie, or mojito milkshake.

Keeping leftovers

While this frozen sangria recipe is best served immediately, if you have a pitcher of regular sangria with fruit, it can be frozen for up to a couple of months. If you prefer, leave the fruit out and add more fruit after the sangria has thawed.

Refreshing Cocktail Recipes

• Yield: 6 servings
• Prep: 10 minutes
• Total: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups dry red wine (we recommend pinot noir)
• 16 oz. frozen mixed berries
• 1 orange, peeled
• ¼ cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
• Ice, if needed to thicken (up to 1 cup)

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth and slushy. Add ice as needed to thicken.
2. Pour into glasses and serve immediately, garnished with a whole strawberry and slice of orange, if desired.

Notes

The flavor of your frozen sangria will depend greatly on the type of wine you choose, how much sweetener you add, and whether you use orange liqueur or brandy, or leave it out entirely.

Vary the fruit : Try different combinations of berries, or just one kind of berry. Try a couple of tangerines instead of an orange.

White frozen sangria : Substitute white wine and frozen tropical fruit blends.