Watermelon Slush (Kid-Friendly)
An alcohol-free watermelon slush with frozen watermelon, lime and a little sugar — sized for Margaritaville machines.
Jump to recipe ↓Like an agua fresca crossed with a slushie.
Kids love the color.
Watermelon Slush recipe
Ingredients (3 drinks)
- 2 oz fresh lime juice
- 2½ oz simple syrup (paid link)
- 4 oz cold water or coconut water
- 3 cups frozen seedless watermelon cubes
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Watermelon wedge. Glass: Any fun glass.
Instructions
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add all ingredients to the jar.
- Run the cycle.
- Garnish with a watermelon wedge.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fresh lime juice | 2⅓ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2⅔ oz | 5¼ oz |
| simple syrup | 2¾ oz | 3¾ oz | 2½ oz | 3¼ oz | 6½ oz |
| cold water or coconut water | 4⅔ oz | 6 oz | 4 oz | 5¼ oz | 10⅓ oz |
| frozen seedless watermelon cubes | 3½ cups | 4⅔ cups | 3 cups | 4 cups | 7¾ cups |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- This recipe includes fruit. On the Fiji, Tahiti and Bali, choose the Daiquiris (or Smoothies) program so the cycle blends longer; on the Bahamas and Key West, hold Blend Only for a few extra seconds after the automatic cycle if you see chunks. Fruit adds volume, so keep an eye on the jar’s maximum line.
- Cream of coconut separates in the bottle; shake or stir it until smooth before measuring, or the batch will be unevenly sweet.
- This batch uses about 8.5 fl oz of liquid for 3 drinks. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Lime brings out watermelon’s sweetness.
About mocktails & kid-friendly
Without alcohol, frozen drinks set firmer, so most of our mocktails replace the spirit with an equal volume of juice, soda or water to keep the liquid-to-ice ratio right. Remember the manuals’ warning: the appliance itself should not be used by children — let an adult run the machine.
Tips for the best texture
- Freeze cubes.
- Pinch of salt.
- Coconut water adds electrolytes.
- Serve fast.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with watermelon wedge and serve in a any fun glass. Make mocktails look as special as the grown-up drinks: colored sugar rims, fruit skewers and fun straws. Label pitchers clearly at mixed parties so alcoholic and alcohol-free batches never get confused, and blend the kids’ batch first in a freshly rinsed jar.
Variations
- Mint: Add mint.
- Strawberry: Add berries.
- Sparkling: Top with soda.
Make it with (or without) alcohol
Already alcohol-free.
Shop the ingredients
- Monin Pure Cane Syrup (simple syrup), 750 ml (paid link)
We link to mixers, syrups and juices only — alcohol isn’t sold through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Fresh melon?
Shave more ice.
No sugar?
Ripe melon may need none.
Seeds?
Remove black seeds.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
