If you love Chick-Fil-A’s Frosted Lemonade made from their soft-serve ice “dream” and signature in-store lemonade, then you’re about to be amazed by how easy it is to replicate that zesty lemon flavor and milkshake-like consistency using just 4 simple ingredients in the comfort of your home!
The lemon simple syrup provides a beautiful tartness to this summer beverage without being overpowering while the ice cream creates a creamy thickness and decadence that will have you coming back for more in no time at all!
This Frosted Lemonade is a perfect way to beat the summer heat, and it will be one of your favorite Copycat Recipes and Desserts all rolled into one. It is the perfect cool lemonade drink for a hot summer day. If you love our Pink Lemonade recipe, then this Frosted Lemonade will certainly be one of your favorite Beverage Recipes.
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Why You’ll Love Frosted Lemonade
- Easy! Frosted Lemonade is incredibly easy to make with just a handful of ingredients! It basically combines homemade lemonade with a vanilla milkshake. Once the lemon simple syrup is made and chilled, add it to the ice cream in a blender and serve!
- Summer. This is a perfect summer drink that’s refreshing and can be enjoyed as a sweet treat. Kids and adults love this homemade version of the frosty lemonade! It is one of the best Summer Recipes. Summer is the perfect time of year to enjoy this frozen lemonade recipe!
- Customizable. You can customize your frosted lemonade by adding in a shot of alcohol, using different ice cream, or even swapping out lemons for limes! There are so many possibilities!
- Cost. You can make this frosty beverage for a fraction of the cost of buying it from Chick Fil A. There’s no need to find lemonade stands or a Chick Fil A near you when you can make this frosted lemonade at home.
Why This Recipe Works
- Past The Tests. This copycat frosted lemonade has been tested numerous times in my kitchen, enabling me to guide you through the process effortlessly with the aid of easy recipe instructions and step-by-step recipe images.
- Simple. There are no tricky or technical mixology skills required when making this frosted lemonade, even if you decide to add a shot of alcohol per serving! Start by making homemade lemonade, and then once the lemon simple syrup is made, lemon simple syrup is made, mix it with vanilla ice cream and you’re done!
- Family Friendly. This frosted lemonade is primarily a non-alcoholic beverage that’s perfect to serve to kids or adults who don’t drink. Of course, if you’d prefer a boozy version, that’s a possibility too! I’ll show you how.
- FAQs Included. This frosted lemonade recipe includes frequently asked questions and helpful recipe tips.
- Personalize It. Customization ideas have been provided as well as suggestions of how you can serve this refreshing frosted lemonade.
What You’ll Need To Make Frosted Lemonade
Equipment
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Ingredients
Below I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions in case you don’t have a specific ingredient on hand. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
- Sugar – White granulated sugar is the best when making the lemon simple syrup.
- Lemon juice – I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice from quality lemons. You can use regular lemons or Meyer lemons if you want added sweetness to the frosted lemonade. If you don’t have fresh lemons, store-bought lemonade can be used in this recipe but then you will need to omit the sugar and water.
- Water – I use filtered water. However, you can use bottled water or clean tap water for cooking purposes although this will be heated on the stovetop.
- Vanilla ice cream – A standard vanilla ice cream works well although you could also use vanilla bean or French vanilla ice cream.
- Lemons (Optional Ingredient) – This is completely optional, but you could add a lemon slice from a large lemon as a garnish.
How To Make Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the sugar, lemon juice, and water.
- Stir constantly until the sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool to room temperature, for roughly 10 minutes.
- Place in the fridge for 30 minutes until chilled.
- Place the ice cream into a blender.
- Add the lemonade mixture. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into individual serving glasses, garnish with sliced lemons and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Simple Syrup Tip. The lemon simple syrup made from this recipe is concentrated so I don’t recommend drinking it on its own.
- Serve Immediately. You will need to serve this frosted lemonade immediately once made otherwise it will melt, even when stored in the refrigerator. While a melted version of this drink will still taste great, it’s the thick texture of the cold ice cream that really makes this drink super special!
- Partial Make Ahead. The lemon simple syrup can be made a few days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This is a great option when planning a party and trying to reduce some of the recipe preparations.
- Leftover. If you do have leftover frosted lemonade, pour the mixture into popsicle molds for some delicious frozen treats for the kids.
- Water Type. You can use filtered water from home or bottled water. The water is going to be heated on the stovetop but always be mindful of the source of your water when adding to ingredients.
- Double or Triple It. This recipe serves 2. If you intend to serve this frosted lemonade to a larger crowd, simply double or triple the recipe ingredients. You can adjust the number of servings in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, and it will automatically calculate the amount of ingredients that you will need.
Variations
- Thick or Thin. This recipe creates a thick milkshake-like texture that can be enjoyed with a spoon or a wide straw. If you’d like to thin the drink out, add a splash of milk to the mixture.
- Top It. The frosted lemonade served at Chick-Fil-A doesn’t get served with whipped cream and cherries like their milkshakes but this is definitely an option worth trying when making your own copycat version at home!
- Lemon Topper. Another easy garnish idea is to place a thin slice of lemon on the edge of the glass. This little touch is a lovely way to decorate the frosted lemonade when serving to friends and guests.
- Booze It Up. A shot of vodka or white rum per serving would be delicious alcoholic addition to this drink. Start with 1 shot of alcohol per serving and taste to test, adding more depending on how strong you want the frosted lemonade to be.
- Vary The Ice Cream. While I’ve used a basic vanilla ice cream for this frosted lemonade, go right ahead and use your favorite brand. Vanilla bean or French vanilla are both good options.
- Make It Dairy-Free. If you need a dairy-free version, use a dairy alternative for the ice cream. While this will change the taste and texture of the frosted lemonade somewhat, it will still be incredibly delicious.
- Use Lemonade. If you don’t have lemons, you can use about 2 cups of lemonade that will replace the freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar, and water.
- Limey! Use this frosted lemonade recipe to make frosted “limeade” instead! Simply use freshly squeezed limes instead of lemons.
- Zesty! Add lemon zest to the simple syrup just before combining it with the ice cream. This will provide a greater depth of citrus flavor without adding too much zing!
What To Serve With Frosted Lemonade
This copycat Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade can be served with additional whole fruit such as blueberries and pieces of peach or garnished with a thin slice of lemon on the rim of each glass.
Serve a shot or two of your favorite alcohol (vodka or white rum works the best) in each serving of this frosted lemonade for a delicious cocktail treat.
You can also serve this homemade frosted lemonade with whipped cream and cherries just like Chick-A-Fil does with their milkshakes.
FAQS
Not long at all. In fact, it’s best to serve this frosted lemonade as soon as you’ve made it otherwise the ice cream will start to melt, even if you store it in the refrigerator.
If you’ve let the frosted lemonade sit too long or you have leftovers, consider pouring the mixture into popsicle molds that can then be frozen and enjoyed by kids on those hot summer days.
While I don’t recommend making the entire frosted lemonade ahead of time since this will have an effect on the thick consistency of the drink, you can make the lemon simple syrup a couple of days ahead of time and store this in an airtight container in the refrigerator to add to vanilla ice cream later on.
If you need to make this frosted lemonade a few hours ahead of time, place the mixture in the freezer. When ready to serve, allow the mixture to thaw or add it to a blender with a splash of water or additional ice cream to achieve the desired consistency.
change the flavor by using freshly squeezed lime juice for frosted “limeade” or make an orange version by using orange juice and then reducing the amount of sugar and water.
While bottled lemon juice could technically be used to make the lemon simple syrup for this frosted lemonade, since lemonade is the hero ingredient, I recommend using freshly squeezed lemons for the best taste.
Since lemonade is the key ingredient in this drink, you’ll want to achieve the best flavor from quality lemons. When selecting lemons, make sure that the skin is a bright yellow and isn’t too thick. The lemon itself should also feel heavy in your hands – that’s a good indication that it’s full of juice!
This recipe makes 2 servings of Frosted Lemonade, each with 214 calories per serving.
More Recipes
- Oreo Milkshake (Cookies and Cream Milk Shake)
- Pink Lemonade
- Lemon Crumb Bars
- Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake
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Frosted Lemonade (Copycat Chick Fil A Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 1/2 cup water
- 8 scoops vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add sugar, lemon juice, and water, and stir constantly for about 5 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved.1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/2 cup water
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool for about 10 minutes or until it comes to room temperature. Place in the refridgerator for 30 minutes until chilled.
- Scoop the ice cream into a blender or food processor. Add the lemonade sugar mixture. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve. Garnish with a lemon slice, if desired.8 scoops vanilla ice cream
Video
Notes
Recipe Tips:
- Simple Syrup Tip. The lemon simple syrup made from this recipe is concentrated so I don’t recommend drinking it on its own.
- Serve Immediately. You will need to serve this frosted lemonade immediately once made otherwise it will melt, even when stored in the refrigerator. While a melted version of this drink will still taste great, it’s the thick texture of the cold ice cream that really makes this drink super special!
- Partial Make Ahead. The lemon simple syrup can be made a few days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This is a great option when planning a party and trying to reduce some of the recipe preparations.
- Leftover. If you do have leftover frosted lemonade, pour the mixture into popsicle molds for some delicious frozen treats for the kids.
- Water Type. You can use filtered water from home or bottled water. The water is going to be heated on the stovetop but always be mindful of the source of your water when adding to ingredients.
- Double or Triple It. This recipe serves 2. If you intend to serve this frosted lemonade to a larger crowd, simply double or triple the recipe ingredients. You can adjust the number of servings in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, and it will automatically calculate the amount of ingredients that you will need.
Andrea says
Such a refreshing drink on a hot summer’s day. My grandkids will be asking for these often.
Sunrita says
This is one of the best drinks I have ever tasted. So simple and delicious. Just loved it.
Tavo says
What I nice treat! I really enjoyed this lemonade recipe and will be making it often! Thank you!
Anita says
Oh man, I’ve never tried the original Chick Fil A version, but I am in love with this drink! So refreshing, delicious, and easy to prepare.