Scoop&Slush

Hard Cider Slushi

One pour of hard cider, churned into a crisp, frosty slush. Tart, sweet, and icy cold, with orchard flavor in every sip.

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Hard Cider Slushi
Ninja SlushiPrep
5 minProcessing
25 to 45 minMakes
Up to 8 servings

Why you’ll love this

Crisp orchard cider turned into soft, spoonable snow; it keeps all that tart apple snap, goes down icy cold, and asks for nothing but a pour. It suits fall afternoons, game day snacks, and anyone who loves cider best when it is cold enough to frost the glass.

What you’ll need

A few simple ingredients for a big, delicious idea.

Hard cider
Hard cider

Hard Cider Slushi

Ninja SlushiPrep 5 min25 to 45 min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Chill the cider

    Start with the cider cold from the fridge. A chilled liquid reaches slush texture faster and freezes up smoother than a room temperature one.

  2. Pour it in

    Pour the cider into the vessel. Use 3 cups for 2 to 3 servings, 6 cups for 4 to 6 servings, or 7½ cups for 6 to 8 servings, and keep the liquid at or below the max fill line. The ingredient list shows the middle batch.

  3. Run Spiked Slush

    Select SPIKED SLUSH. The preset starts at the temperature judged best for the texture, and the temperature control lets you nudge it colder for a firmer, spoonable slush or warmer for a lighter one.

  4. Serve right away

    In about 25 to 45 minutes the drink reaches its best texture and the machine beeps three times. Pour and serve immediately, straight from the machine.

Nutrition guide

The nutrition scoop

Per serving · middle batch, serves 4 to 6

  • Fat 0%
  • Carbs 36%
  • Protein 0%
  • Alcohol 64%

A proper frozen cocktail: bright, cold, and unapologetically boozy.

Total fat 0 g
Carbohydrates 14 g
Protein 0 g
of which sugars 12 g
Saturated fat 0 g 0% daily value
Cholesterol 0 mg 0% daily value
Sodium 25 mg 1% daily value
Dietary fiber 0 g 0% daily value
Calcium 15 mg 1% daily value
Vitamin C 0 mg 0% daily value

Where the calories live

It is all one ingredient here: the hard cider is the whole story, calories and all.

About the alcohol

The pour is part of the flavor and part of the math: about 64 percent of the calories in every glass come from the alcohol itself.

Want a lighter pour

Pour a smaller glass and top it with sparkling water. The flavor stretches and the landing gets gentler.

Estimated from the ingredients exactly as written, using standard reference values for each ingredient. Your brands and swaps will shift the numbers a little. Daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Make it your own

  • Start with the base recipe, then swap one ingredient at a time.
  • Try a different topping after processing.
  • Keep notes so you can revisit your favorite combination.

Texture tips

  • A level, fully solid freeze gives the smoothest spin.
  • Freeze CREAMi bases level and completely solid.
  • For SLUSHi, check compatible liquids and minimum sugar requirements.

Frequently asked questions

How much cider do I need?

It depends on the crowd. Pour 3 cups (710 ml) for 2 to 3 servings, 6 cups (1.4 L) for 4 to 6 servings, or 7½ cups (1.8 L) for 6 to 8 servings. Just keep the liquid at or below the max fill line marked on the vessel.

Why does this use the Spiked Slush preset?

Alcohol lowers the freezing point of a drink, so a cider slush needs a colder run than a juice slush to set up properly. Spiked Slush is the preset built for drinks that contain alcohol.

Can I use regular apple cider instead?

This recipe is built on hard cider, and the alcohol is part of how it freezes and how it tastes. Regular apple cider makes a different drink with a different balance, so treat it as a new recipe rather than a straight swap.

What if the slush is too soft or too firm?

Use the temperature control to adjust it. Go a step colder for a thicker, spoonable freeze or a step warmer for a lighter slush, then give the machine a few minutes to bring the drink to the new setting.

How do I store leftovers?

Pour any leftover slush into a sealed container and freeze it. It sets firm, so let it sit out for a few minutes and stir it back to a scoopable texture, or pour it into the machine for a short run before serving.