Frosty blender drinks

Hot balmy summers call for icy cold cocktails. The season’s fresh fruit and the ample selection of flavored liquors and liqueurs makes frosty blender drinks a must-sip solution to beat the heat. Send poolside invites to your friends, the blender is ideal for mixing up drinks for a crowd.

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Blackberry Margarita

Makes 4

Ingredients:

• 2 large limes, halved
• Coarse salt
• 2 cups fresh blackberries
• 3/4 cup tequila
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur
• 2 tablespoons agave nectar
• 1 1/2 cups ice

Directions:

1. Rub 1 half of a lime around the rims of 4 glasses. Dip rims in salt and set aside. Squeeze lime juice into a blender.
2. Add remaining ingredients and blend until frosty smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Pina Colada

Makes 4

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup light rum
• 3/4 cup canned coconut milk
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1 1/2 cups ice
• 1 small banana, quartered (sliced lengthwise then crosswise)
• Shredded sweetened coconut

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, pineapple, and ice. Blend well.
2. Pour pina colada mixture into 4 glasses and garnish with a spear of banana and a sprinkling of coconut.

Frozen Chocolate Espresso

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vanilla bean ice cream
• 1/4 cup chocolate-flavored vodka
• 3/4 cup Kahlua
• 3/4 cup espresso, cooled
• 1 cup ice
• Finely crushed chocolate covered espresso beans

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine ice cream, vodka, Kahlua, espresso and ice.
2. Blend until creamy. Pour into 4 glasses and garnish with espresso beans.

More beat-the-heat summer drinks

• Low carb summer drinks
• Healthy summer cocktails
• Iced tea cocktails