What’s your go-to cocktail during the summer months? For many people, the answer is probably a classic drink like a mojito, piña colada, or margarita — all of which are delicious in their own right. But if you’re in the mood to switch things up, you might want to try this refreshing fruit-pop cocktail perfect for backyard barbecues or cheering on your favorite athlete from the couch.
Instead of using ice to chill the drink, it uses a frozen fruit bar. The key is to pour the liquid ingredients over the frozen fruit bar, which will instantly chill them. (I used vodka, seltzer, and melon liqueur, by the way.) From there, the bar will melt right into the drink, adding flavor and sweetness without watering it down. It’s the ultimate cocktail hack.
And since lemonade is a popular drink at summer gatherings of all kinds, I thought lemon would work best. The Outshine Lemon Frozen Fruit Bars were perfect for the job, as they’re made of real fruit juice and they have the perfect amount of sweetness. I also brought in muddled thawed frozen raspberries, though you can use fresh ones too. Together, the lemon fruit bar and raspberries create a spiked berry lemonade flavor combo that’s so refreshing during the warmer months.
If you don’t drink alcohol or want to make this beverage kid-friendly, you can easily make it without booze: Simply replace the vodka with tonic water or more seltzer, and skip the melon liqueur. If you still want the melon flavor, try muddling a mix of raspberries and honeydew melon. The final mocktail will be just as tasty.
My main tip is to let the ice pop melt a bit before enjoying, as that’s where a lot of the flavor comes from. You can also eat it as it melts, as it will pick up the melon-raspberry goodness from the drink. The result is a refreshing vodka-seltzer twist that’s fun to make and drink, no matter your plans. Cheers!
Kirsten Nunez (she/her) is a lifestyle writer who specializes in health, food, fitness, and DIY. She has more than a decade of writing experience, with her work appearing on Real Simple, SELF, Martha Stewart, ehow, Healthline, Shape, and more.
