Icy Non-Alcoholic Ginger Beer Slush

The signature ginger spice gains intensity with the slush texture, offering an ultra-refreshing alternative to classic sodas. I love using store-bought ginger beer for this: it’s simple, thirst-quenching, and deliciously frozen. A little home barista tip: the foam from highly carbonated ginger beer always skews the tank level reading, so I always start by preparing it separately. The final result? A well-set slush, perfect for sipping through a straw when you need a real fresh kick.

Icy Non-Alcoholic Ginger Beer Slush

Recipe by Camille Roos

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Slush / GranitaCuisine: JamaicanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

people

Prep

5

minutes

Freeze time

45

minutes

Total time

50

minutes

A frosty and spicy take on the famous ginger beer, very easy to make in the Ninja Slushi for immediate refreshment.

Ingredients

• 750 ml ginger beer (sweetened ginger beer like Bundaberg or Old Jamaica)

• 60 ml fresh lime juice

• 20 ml cane syrup (optional, depending on the chosen brand)

Instructions

• In a large pitcher, gently mix the ginger beer with the lime juice and syrup to break the effervescence. The gas escapes during stirring, but it is the sugar in the drink that allows it to set.
• Pour the preparation into your Ninja Slushi tank, ensuring that the liquid (and not the foam) reaches at least the min mark without exceeding the max.
• Select the Slush program and let the machine churn until a perfectly smooth icy consistency is achieved, ideal for drinking through a straw.

Frozen Moscow Mule

Frozen Moscow Mule : For an evening cocktail version, add 120 ml of vodka to the base mix and absolutely switch to the Frozen Cocktail program. Please drink responsibly.

Managing sugar and foam in ginger beer

When using a sparkling store-bought drink like ginger beer, the first thing to watch is the sugar level. Without it, your preparation would freeze into a big block of ice instead of forming that fluid granita we love so much in the Ninja Slushi. Classic brands are usually sweet enough for the Slush program to work without any additions. If you use a very spicy and dry artisanal ginger beer, don’t hesitate to pour in 20 ml of cane syrup to guarantee the texture. The other crucial point is the foam. I really recommend letting the drink degas a bit in a pitcher. If you pour directly into the tank, the foam will rise to the lid and skew your fill level. By taking a few minutes to mix the lime and ginger beer beforehand, you ensure a stable liquid level. If you like exotic flavors with this type of smooth consistency, take a look at my Mango Smoothie with the Ninja Slushi, the balance is just as interesting!

The art of adjusting alcohol for a successful cocktail

You have probably noticed in the recipe variant: as soon as alcohol is introduced, we do not stay on the same setting. On my FS301 as on larger models, adding vodka completely changes the freezing point of your preparation. Alcohol acts as a natural antifreeze. That is why you must switch to the Frozen Cocktail program. The machine will then adapt its cooling cycle to force the liquid to set. Be careful with the dosage, though: if you are too heavy-handed, your Moscow Mule will remain desperately liquid, even after an hour of churning. I generally limit myself to 120 ml of alcohol for this quantity of liquid. It is the perfect ratio I have found to keep the ginger’s punch while guaranteeing a texture that holds up perfectly. If your machine beeps or the mixture does not set, it is often because the tank lacks sugar or contains too much spirits: simply add a dash of syrup or a splash of water to rebalance it all.

Do you prefer your ginger beer with a sweet note or an extremely spicy one?

Frequently asked questions

Why is my machine taking time to set my ginger beer?

Ginger beer contains a lot of gas. During the first few minutes, the churning mainly serves to drive out this gas, which slightly delays the start of the freezing compared to a still fruit juice.

Can I use Ginger Ale instead?

Yes, Ginger Ale will work very well on the Slush program thanks to its sugar content, but the taste will be much milder and less spicy than with a true Jamaican ginger beer.

The lights on my Ninja Slushi are flashing during churning, what should I do?

This is often a sign that the foam has raised the level above the max sensor, or that the drink lacks a bit of sugar. Turn it off, remove some foam, and add a dash of syrup if it is a very low-sugar drink.

If I make the vodka variant, is the setting time the same?

No, the Frozen Cocktail program is generally a bit longer because the machine must reach a lower temperature to counter the antifreeze effect of the alcohol.