Strawberry Banana Slushie

Three ingredients, one blender, and not a drop of added sugar. This slushie gets its thick, frosty body from frozen fruit instead of ice, so every sip tastes like strawberries and banana rather than watered-down slush.

Freezing the fruit ahead is the whole trick. A frozen banana blends into something creamy and almost ice-cream-like, while frozen strawberries keep it cold and bring the tang. Orange juice loosens everything into a drinkable slush.

Adding the juice in two stages, half to get things moving and the rest to dial in the texture, lets you control how thick or pourable it ends up. Blend it stiff enough to eat with a spoon, or looser to sip through a straw.

It’s naturally dairy-free and vegan, light enough for a hot afternoon, and simple enough that kids can run the blender themselves.

Kitchen Tips

• Freeze ripe, spotty bananas; they’re sweeter and blend smoother than firm ones.
• Peel and slice the banana before freezing, since frozen whole bananas are nearly impossible to cut.
• Start with less juice and add more gradually; you can always thin it, but thickening it back up is harder.
• Use 100 percent orange juice for the cleanest flavor.

Variations

• Swap the orange juice for pineapple, apple, or coconut water.
• Toss in a handful of frozen mango or blueberries.
• Blend in a scoop of yogurt for a creamier, smoothie-style drink.