When it comes to frozen treats, there is simply nothing like a slushy! The perfect mix of slurpable and scoopable, slushies were first invented in the 1950s by Omar Knedilik. Omar came up with the idea when the soda fountain broke at the Dairy Queen franchise he owned and operated, forcing him to store his beverages in the freezer in order to keep them cold. The result was a partially frozen drink that his customers absolutely loved!

Realizing he had stumbled onto something magical, Omar spent the next few years perfecting a machine that could replicate the slushy treat he had inadvertently created at his store. After many prototypes and experiments, Omar designed the slushy machines which are now found at many gas stations and movie theaters around the world.

The good news is that today you don’t need a fancy machine to quickly create a slushy at home thanks to the ZOKU Slush & Shake Maker! And in this blog post, we’ll show you how to use it to make a slushy in three simple steps. Let’s go!

1. Freeze your Slush & Shake Maker’s inner core.

To get started, remove your Slush & Shake Maker’s inner core from its outer sleeve and place it in the freezer for 8–18 hours. For best results, you’ll want to make sure your freezer temperature is set to 0°F (-18°C) or colder.

Pro tip: We recommend storing your slush maker’s inner core in your freezer at all times—that way you are always ready to make a slushy at a moment’s notice!

2. Prep your slushy mixture.

While your slush maker’s inner core is in the freezer, it’s time to prepare your slushy mixture! For this demo, we will be creating a one-ingredient Strawberry Lemonade Slushy using store-bought juice, so our prep is pretty easy!

Once your slushy mixture is ready, you’ll want to let it chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Doing so will help you create your frozen treat even faster.

Pro tip: There are endless options for how to make a slushy! You can keep it simple by transforming your favorite juice or soda into a slush without using a blender, or get creative with more complex recipes like Frozen Butterbeer, a Cappuccino Slush, or a Watermelon Mint Slush!

3. Create your slushy!

Time for the best part! Place the frozen inner core of your Slush & Shake Maker into its outer sleeve, and pour your chilled slushy mixture up to the fill line (the ridge near the top of the inner core). After letting the mix cool for a minute or two, begin stirring and gently scraping the walls of the cup with the included spoon. You’ll want to repeat this process every 1–2 minutes to help form the ice crystals of your slushy.

Pro tip: Try not to wait more than 2 minutes between scraping the walls of the cup. The ice may thicken, making it harder to scrape!

Adding Other Ingredients

Toppings like nuts, candy, or fruit are a great way to get creative with your slushies and shakes! You can also mix these add-ons into your dessert (for best results, we recommend waiting until it has fully frozen).

Adding Alcohol

Alcohol can be used with your Slush & Shake Maker, too!* After your slushy has finished freezing completely, stir in up to 1.25 oz of your favorite alcoholic beverage. If your slushy starts to thin, continue to stir for a few more minutes and it should refreeze.

*Please drink responsibly and obey all local laws regarding the consumption of alcohol.

Ready to Get Creative?

We love slushies as much as you do! Our team is always busy developing new recipes for you to create with your Slush & Shake Maker here. Give them a try and make sure to share your results with us @zokuhq on all major platforms!