Sparkling Berry Ice Cubes (Easy Drink Upgrade)
Fun ice is the easiest way to elevate a drink from perfunctory to totally fun. These Sparkling Berry ice cubes are going to be in constant rotation this summer.
This is less a recipe and more a brilliant idea. Strawberries and blackberries frozen in Sprite, dropped into any cold drink to make it look festive, taste slightly fruity, and feel like you put in way more effort than you did. Which is essentially the goal of all good entertaining.
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The Sprite keeps the ice from getting cloudy and adds the faintest sweetness as it melts. The berries look gorgeous suspended in the cubes. And when they melt into your lemonade, sparkling water, or cocktail? Magic! Make a big tray before your 4th of July party, drop them in a bucket of ice with a scoop, and let people help themselves.
Drop these into a Poor Man’s Margarita or a Berry Brandy Sangria for a red white and blue cocktail situation that requires almost zero additional effort.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Zero cooking — wash, slice, freeze, done
- Works in any drink — lemonade, sparkling water, cocktails, mocktails
- Looks incredibly intentional — nobody needs to know how easy this was
- Kid-friendly — drop them in lemonade for the kids while the adults get the spiked version
- Make way ahead — freeze days in advance and have them ready to go
Before You Start
A couple of things worth knowing:
- Sprite keeps ice clear — water freezes cloudy; Sprite freezes much clearer so the fruit is visible and gorgeous
- Slice the strawberries thin — they need to fit inside the ice cube compartment without crowding
- Silicone trays release easier — if you have a silicone ice cube tray use it; the cubes pop right out without breaking
- Make more than you think you need — these go fast and people will want seconds
Sparkling Berry Ice Cubes (Easy Drink Upgrade)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash the strawberries and blackberries thoroughly and pat dry.
- Slice the strawberries into thin rounds.
- Place a blackberry and a strawberry slice into each compartment of the ice cube tray.
- Pour Sprite slowly over the fruit to fill each compartment. Pour gently to avoid overflow.
- Transfer carefully to the freezer and freeze until completely solid, at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Pop the cubes out and serve immediately in your favorite cold drink.
Notes
Tips & Easy Variations
- Use large cube trays — bigger cubes melt slower and the fruit shows up more dramatically
- Add blueberries — for a true red white and blue situation add a blueberry to each cube alongside the strawberry and blackberry
- Swap the liquid — lemonade, white grape juice, or coconut water all freeze beautifully and add flavor as the cube melts
- Rosé ice cubes — freeze in rosé instead of Sprite for an adults-only version that’s stunning in a glass of sparkling water
- Use in a punch bowl — float a dozen of these in a punch bowl of lemonade or sangria for a show-stopping centerpiece
- Herb addition — tuck a small mint leaf into each cube for a fresh summery twist
Shop This Recipe
- Silicone Ice Cube Trays — large cube trays make the most dramatic looking ice
- Large Format Ice Cube Tray — oversized cubes melt slower and look even more impressive
- Ice Bucket with Scoop — set out a bucket of these at a party and let guests help themselves
- Drink Dispenser — fill with lemonade or sangria and drop a few of these in for a stunning party setup
- Cocktail Picks — skewer a berry cube on a pick as a garnish for individual drinks
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why Sprite instead of water? A: Sprite freezes clearer than water so the fruit stays visible and vibrant. It also adds a subtle sweetness as the cube melts into your drink.
Q: Can I use frozen berries? A: Fresh berries work best for appearance — frozen berries tend to bleed color and look less crisp in the final cube.
Q: How long do these keep in the freezer? A: Transfer to a zip-top freezer bag once solid and they’ll keep for up to 2 weeks.
Q: What drinks work best with these? A: Lemonade, sparkling water, white sangria, margaritas, vodka sodas, it’s practically endless. Anything clear or light colored where the red and purple of the berries can really show.
More Summer Drinks Worth Making
- Berry Brandy Sangria (pictured) — drop a few of these cubes in and you have the most festive sangria on the table
- Poor Man’s Margarita — frozen berry cubes in a margarita is an unexpectedly great combination
- Easy Sangria Slush — if you love frozen fruity drinks this slush is your next obsession
- Strawberry Ranch Water — fresh, summery, and perfect with a patriotic ice cube or two
Patriotic Fruit Ice Cubes are the party hack that looks like you planned everything perfectly. Make a big batch the night before, keep them in the freezer, and drop them into every drink at the party. Summer entertaining has never been this easy.
