Black cherry slushie with the Ninja Slushi

An express preparation that enhances the cherry without the tedious manual scraping in the freezer. No more scraping the tray with a fork every hour: the machine ensures perfect churning. The result offers a very fruity flavor and an extremely fine crushed ice texture that melts on the palate, ideal for a refreshing dessert.

Black cherry slushie with the Ninja Slushi

Recipe by Camille Roos

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Slush / SlushieCuisine: Difficulty: Easy

Servings

4

people

Prep

10

minutes

Cook

45

minutes

Total time

55

minutes

An express preparation that enhances the fruit with continuous churning for a refreshing tasting experience.

Ingredients

• 500 g pitted black cherries (fresh or frozen)

• 400 ml filtered water

• 80 g granulated sugar (or maple syrup)

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• A handful of crushed pistachios (for topping)

Instructions

• In a classic blender, blend thoroughly the black cherries with the water, sugar, and lemon juice until smooth. Blending raw fruit with sugar prevents the liquid from freezing into a rigid block.
• If you do not like small bits of skin, strain the preparation through a fine-mesh sieve (this step is optional).
• Pour this liquid into the Ninja Slushi bowl, making sure to stay between the min and max marks.
• Select the Slush program and let the machine run until the texture thickens and turns into a slushie (aim for a ratio of approximately 12% sugar to prevent it from freezing into hard ice).
• Serve with a spoon in beautiful bowls and sprinkle with pistachio pieces before tasting.

Creamy almond slushie style

Creamy almond slushie style : Replace the water with almond milk for a hybrid, richer, and smoother result. Use the Milkshake program for this version.

The sugar rule for a stable texture

The secret to a good result lies in the balance of ingredients. I always aim for a ratio of around 12% sugar to prevent it from turning into hard ice. If you use very ripe fruit, you can adjust slightly, but be careful: reducing the sugar too much prevents the slushie from forming and your machine might stall or signal an error. Sugar truly acts as a natural antifreeze that guarantees that softness on the palate. Furthermore, if you opt for out-of-season frozen fruit, remember to let them thaw completely before blending, in order to obtain a liquid base that won’t interfere with the work of the auger. I particularly love the pairing with pistachio, which provides the missing crunch, but you can also take inspiration from our Watermelon slushie with lime juice to vary the summer treats using the same technical approach.

Adjustements and frequent errors on the Slush program

On the Slush program, the machine manages the temperature drop with precision. However, if the mixture does not set after forty-five minutes, it is almost always a ratio problem. Either your liquid was not cold enough at the start (I recommend keeping the preparation in the refrigerator before pouring), or the water dosage is too high. Conversely, if lights flash red, the mixture is likely too thick or too concentrated in sugars, which strains the motor. Do not hesitate to add a small splash of mineral water directly into the bowl to loosen the mixture. For those with an FS301, the principle remains identical to the larger models: just monitor the filling carefully to never exceed the max line, otherwise you might see your beautiful red fruit preparation overflow during aeration.

Do you use fresh seasonal cherries or frozen ones to make this recipe all year round?

Frequently asked questions

Can frozen fruit be put directly into the bowl?

No, the Ninja Slushi is not a blender. You must blend your frozen fruit with water beforehand to obtain a completely smooth liquid before pouring it in.

Why does my cherry slushie remain liquid?

It is often because the base lacks a bit of sugar. Sugar is essential to trigger crystallization without freezing the liquid into a hard block. Add a drizzle of syrup and let it run.

How long can the unconsumed preparation be stored?

You can leave the machine running to maintain the texture for a few hours during a meal. Afterward, the easiest way is to empty the bowl and freeze the rest in ice cube trays.