Homemade Frozen Limeade (Limonada Frozen)

By
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/14/22
Tested by
Joan Velush
Joan Velush
Tested by Joan Velush
Joan Velush is a personal chef, caterer, cooking instructor, and former bartender. Her work has included catering services for a variety of events, preparing weekly meals for a number of clients, and offering private cooking classes for children, teens, and adults. More recently she has worked as a recipe tester, an assistant food stylist, and recipe developer in the test kitchens of Fine Cooking Magazine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Homemade Frozen Limeade Recipe

The Spruce/Cara Cormack
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Cooling Time: 30 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 6 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
201 Calories
0g Fat
53g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 201
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 18mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 53g 19%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 50g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 9mg 45%
Calcium 18mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 36mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Although this lime drink is called a "limonada frozen" (limeade frozen) in Spanglish, it is actually a frozen limeade drink. Regardless of which name you use, the drink is very tart and refreshing.

This is frosty and delicious as is, but the addition of some passion fruit pulp or passion fruit juice is so good mixed in. An excellent alcoholic version of the limonada frozen is the frozen pisco sour, which is made with Peruvian pisco brandy.

In some parts of Latin America, limes are grouped into the category of tart citrus fruits known as limones (lee-mone-ayes), since lemons are not widely available. South American limes are smaller, juicier and more tart than the larger Persian limes that are often sold in the United States. If you can't find South American limes in particular, look for small limes with thinner skins (often imported from Mexico) or key limes for making this recipe. It will make a difference.

“Who knew limeade could be so good? Blending the lime juice and sugar syrup with ice really puts this drink over the top. Treat yourself to this slushy sweet-tart concoction.” —Joan Velush

Homemade Frozen Limeade (Limonada Frozen)/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup key lime juice, from about 13 key limes, plus lime slices for garnish, if desired

  • 1 1/2 cups water

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 pinch salt, optional

  • 6 cups crushed ice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients to make homemade frozen limeade

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  2. Place limes in the microwave for 20 seconds on low power or until they are just warm (not hot) to the touch. Next, roll the limes a few times on the counter while pressing down with the palm of your hand.

    fresh limes on a plate

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  3. In a medium saucepan, bring the water, sugar, and salt, if using, to a boil over high heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolves.

    simple syrup heating in a saucepan

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  4. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Mix the simple syrup, lime juice, and ice in a blender until slushy.

    frozen limeade in a blender

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  5. Serve immediately in tall glasses, garnished with a lime wheel, if desired. 

    Homemade Frozen Limeade Recipe

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

Tip

You may be tempted to skip the step of warming up the limes in the microwave, but we encourage you not to. Warming up the limes helps them to release their juices, which helps you extract as much juice as possible from them.

Variation

•You can make this limeade recipe alcoholic by adding a couple of shots of either vodka, rum, or tequila during the blending process. Experiment to see which combination you like the best.


•This recipe can be made using a combination of lemons and limes, if desired, or a combination of lemons, limes, and oranges. Mango juice or mango pulp is also a great addition.

How to Store and Freeze Limeade

Limes are acidic and lime juice doesn't typically spoil very easily; it can keep for months and months. However, frozen limeade is best as soon as it's made, at least from a consistency perspective. If you refrigerate it after you make it, the ice will melt, but if you put leftovers in the freezer, the limeade will freeze. Any leftover limeade can be kept indefinitely in ice cube trays, if desired. You can pop them out and defrost them in a chilled glass, which should slow the melting rate.