Flavored Ice Cubes
In the insane summer heat in Long Island, I pretty much drink everything ice-cold. But watered down drinks are a pet peeve of mine so I've been having some fun with the solution to that problem. By making my own flavored ice cubes, I have control over the flavors that keep my drinks cool and my kids love helping fill the ice cube trays with their favorite fruits and drinks! Here are my 6 favorite ice cube flavors but the options are endless! You can even make savory and spicy ice cubes for whiskey and tomato juice.
Strawberry and Blueberry Flavored Ice Cubes
When I'm looking for a refreshing kick to a simple glass of water, these berry flavored ice cubes are my first choice! The strawberry ice cube is just some cut up fresh strawberries and coconut water. As the ice melts in the water, you can taste the mild coconut flavor and sweet strawberry. And the best part is that you get to eat the strawberry when you finish your drink! The blueberry flavored ice cube is a bit more advanced since it's actually made with sangria. I had leftover sangria in the fridge (can you believe it didn't get finished?!?) so I poured it into ice cube trays so I could add a little kick to my next glass of water.
Coffee and Tea Flavored Ice Cubes
I enjoy drinking a cold cup of coffee but the ice always waters it down. That drives me absolutely crazy! My answer to this problem is to make ice cubes made with fresh brewed coffee. You just make your favorite flavor of coffee, add sugar and milk or cream and freeze in ice cube trays. As the coffee ice melts, it adds flavor to the coffee instead of diluting it. The same concept goes for iced tea. Just brew your favorite tea (I chose spicy chai), add sugar or honey and freeze.
Citrus Flavored Ice Cubes
You can basically add these citrus flavored ice cubes to anything...well, maybe not coffee. For a sweet and tart addition to your drinks, combine orange juice, lime juice and some lime zest. You can even pour this juice mixture into popsicle molds for a delicious treat on a hot day! For a spicy kick and flavored ice cube that is pleasing to the eye, add chopped mint (I used orange citrus mint) and fresh ginger to a mixture of water and lemon juice. It's beautiful to look at and absolutely tasty!
What kind of flavored ice cubes will you be making this summer?
In case you missed them above, here are the recipes:
