Homemade Ginger Ale Slushie with the Ninja Slushi

Turning a homemade ginger ale into a slushie allows you to soften the natural spiciness of the ginger while keeping its ultra-refreshing side. It is the perfect frozen drink when looking for intense freshness with real character, to be enjoyed directly through a straw. Be careful with effervescent drinks like ginger bug: they can foam during the first few minutes of churning. The final result gives a smooth, very balanced, and wildly addictive slushie.

Homemade Ginger Ale Slushie with the Ninja Slushi

Recipe by Camille Roos

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Course: Non-alcoholic drinkCuisine: InternationalDifficulty: Medium

Servings

4

people

Prep

15

minutes

Freeze time

45

minutes

Total time

1

hour 

A homemade ginger ale transformed into an ultra-fresh and spicy slushie with the Ninja Slushi.

Ingredients

• 700 ml filtered water (still or very lightly carbonated)

• 200 ml homemade ginger syrup (or sweet ginger starter base)

• 50 ml fresh lime juice

• 2 tablespoons liquid cane sugar (adjust according to the base)

Instructions

• Prepare and strain your homemade ginger ale base to remove fresh ginger fibers. Cold dulls the perception of sweetness, so the mixture should seem a bit too sweet at first.
• In a pitcher, mix the ginger concentrate, lime juice, water, and sugar, then stir vigorously keeping in mind the 10 to 12% sugar rule for a good texture.
• Pour the preparation into the Ninja Slushi bowl, checking that the liquid is well between the min and max marks. Continuous churning releases some of the gas, making the texture smoother than a classic soda.
• Select the Slush program and let it churn until you get a consistent frosty texture that is drinkable through a straw.

Dark & Stormy cocktail version

Dark & Stormy cocktail version : Add 100 ml of amber rum to the liquid mixture and start the Frozen Cocktail program. Since alcohol modifies the freezing point, this setting is essential.

The sugar rule for a ginger drink that freezes well

When preparing a drink based on fermented ginger or homemade syrup, the biggest pitfall with the Slushi is the sugar dosage. To get that beautiful frosty texture, the sugar rule is essential: you need to aim for about 10 to 12% sugar in your total liquid. Without this, your ginger ale will simply freeze into a hard block of ice that will jam the machine’s auger. If you are using a ginger bug (a natural starter) that has already consumed part of the sugar during fermentation, don’t hesitate to compensate significantly. This is why I always recommend tasting your preparation before pouring it into the bowl: it should seem slightly too sweet at room temperature. Cold numbs our taste buds a bit, and once the mixture is transformed into a slushie, the flavor balance will be perfect.

Managing effervescence and churning in the machine

Homemade ginger ale, especially if it is lacto-fermented, is naturally fizzy. In the Ninja Slushi, this requires a bit of vigilance because carbonated drinks tend to foam heavily during the first few minutes of churning. I advise you to pour your preparation slowly and monitor that the foam does not exceed the maximum mark of the bowl, at the risk of it overflowing. If your machine starts beeping or the lights flash, it is often a sign that the texture is freezing too fast due to a lack of sugar. Fortunately, continuous churning and the Slush program will slowly degas the drink. This results in a wonderfully soft final texture. Feel free to check out other Nordic inspirations like the Icy Non-Alcoholic Ginger Beer Slush for variety in non-alcoholic pleasures.

How do you dose your ginger: with a hint of spice or very strong?

Frequently asked questions

Why is my ginger ale freezing into a big hard block?

This is the classic sign of a lack of sugar. Sugar acts as an antifreeze. Add a few tablespoons of liquid cane syrup to correct the balance and restart the churning.

Can I use store-bought ginger ale?

Absolutely. If it is very carbonated, simply let it degas a little before pouring it between the min and max marks, then start the Slush program.

Which program should I use if I add rum?

As soon as you add alcohol, the drink’s thermal balance changes because alcohol does not freeze. You must switch to the Frozen Cocktail program.