Gummy bear ice cubes

Are adults always telling you to stop guzzling down certain drinks? Like coke or packaged ice tea because they contain too much caffeine and sugar? They tell you to just drink water or herb teas. Sounds boring? Now we have the answer. Make delicious drinks from fresh fruits for yourself and your friends! They’re full of colour and goodness.

You’ve no idea how to do this? Don’t worry — we have tried and tested some very simple recipes for you. All you need is 5-10 minutes and, whizz, your drink is ready.

You can do it, just try! And you’ll see how enjoyable it is to mix your own drinks, especially in hot weather. They’re also great for breakfast or parties.

Have fun making and tasting them!

Here are a few decorating tips:

Put a new twist on ice cubes! For instance:

• Add a little syrup to the water before freezing (e.g., elderberry, raspberry or maple syrup)
• Freeze a gummy bear in each ice cube
• Make ice cubes out of fruit juice

And these fruits look great skewered on colourful cocktail sticks:

• star fruit
• cherries
• strawberries
• lemons
• limes
• oranges

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• Pumpkin puree (about 1 glass)
• 1 glass milk
• 1 ripe banana
• A dash of cinnamon
• A dash of vanilla powder

How to prepare this drink:

Peel the banana and cut into small pieces. Then put all the ingredients into a blender and close tightly. Whizz until smooth and fluid.

Tip

If you can’t find pumpkin puree at your local store, you can make it yourself!

Buy a small pumpkin or another kind of squash. Peel it and cut it evenly into small pieces. Heat a little butter in a pan over a medium flame. Add the pumpkin. Stir continuously with a cooking spoon so the pieces don’t burn at the bottom of the pan. After 2 or 3 minutes add a little water, just enough to cover the pumpkin. Then let it simmer, stirring occasionally. After about 7-10 minutes, test a piece with a fork. Is it soft? If so you can put it in the blender with what’s left of the water. Puree it and let it cool. As soon as it has, use it to make your drink!

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• 1 mango
• Sugar to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons)
• Pineapple juice (about 1 glass)
• Whipping cream (about ½ glass)
• A little coconut milk

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Skin the mango, remove the stone and cut the flesh into small pieces. Then put all the ingredients into a blender and close tightly. Whizz to a smooth liquid. Pour into glasses and add ice cubes.

Tip

Use as little sugar (or honey) as possible. Start with just a teaspoon and taste. If your drink is still too sour, add another teaspoon. Now it should be fine!

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• Water (about 1 glass)
• ½ lemon
• Cranberry juice (about 1 glass)
• Sugar to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons)

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Halve the lemon and squeeze the juice out of one half. Put the lemon juice and the remaining ingredients in a deep bowl. Using a wire whisk, beat until well blended. Pour into glasses and add ice cubes.

Tip

Take the other lemon half and cut into slices. Use them to decorate your drink.

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• Water (about 1 glass)
• Sugar to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons)
• ½ glass white grape juice
• ½ glass orange juice
• A dash of tonic water

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Boil the water in a pan, add the sugar and stir with a wire whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. Add the fruit juices and mix well. Before serving, add a dash of tonic water. Pour into glasses and add ice cubes.

Tip

If your drink tastes too bitter you’ve probably added too much tonic water. Reduce next time.

(About 1 litre)

What you’ll need:

• 1 litre water
• 3 or 4 peppermint teabags or several sprigs of fresh peppermint
• 1 lemon
• Sugar to taste (max. 3 to 4 teaspoons)

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Boil the water in a pan or kettle. Pour into a pitcher and add the teabags. Remove them after 4 or 5 minutes, and squeeze them out well. (Be careful not to burn yourself!) If you are using fresh sprigs, leave them in longer. Let the tea cool. Halve the lemon and squeeze both halves. Stir in the lemon juice and sugar until well mixed. Pour into glasses and add ice cubes.

Tip

Garnish the rim of each glass with a lemon slice.

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• 100 g raspberries
• 1 small ripe banana
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 100 ml (about ¼ glass) orange juice

How to make this drink:

Peel the banana and slice thinly. Put all the ingredients in a blender. Whizz to a smooth liquid.

Tip

If you use frozen raspberries, let them thaw a bit before putting them in the blender. Berries from the freezer instantly make your drink nice and cool.

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• ½ litre (about 2 glasses) water
• ½ lemon
• Sugar to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons)
• A chunk of pineapple
• A dash of blue food colouring

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Squeeze the lemon. Mix the juice with the water and sugar. Add the food colouring and stir until your drink has a nice colour. Cut the pineapple into pieces and make a slit in each one. Fix one piece on the rim of each glass. Or skewer a piece of pineapple and a cherry on a cocktail stick and put it in your drink with some ice cubes.

Tip

If you can’t find blue food colouring, use another colour or omit. Your drink will still taste the same.

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• ½ litre (about 2 glasses) pure buttermilk
• Liquid honey to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons)
• 1 glass blueberries

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Put the blueberries and honey in a blender. Whizz to a thin puree. Put it in a bowl and carefully stir in the buttermilk with a wire whisk. Pour into glasses and add ice cubes.

Done!

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• 100 ml (about ¼ glass) milk
• Sugar to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons)
• 1 squirt of lemon juice
• 1 kiwi
• 1 ripe banana

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Peel the kiwi and banana, and cut into small pieces. Put the fruits and other ingredients in a blender and whizz to a smooth liquid. Pour into glasses and add ice cubes.

Done!

(For a pitcher, about 1 litre)

What you’ll need:

• 1 litre water
• 3 or 4 lemon balm teabags
• ½ lemon
• 1 large peach
• Honey to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons)

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Boil the water in a pan or water cooker. Pour it into a pitcher and add the teabags. Remove them after 4-5 minutes and press them out well. (Be careful not to burn yourself!) Let the tea cool. Halve the lemon and squeeze one half. Put the lemon juice, tea and honey and the peeled and pitted peach in a blender. Whizz to a smooth liquid. Pour into glasses and add ice cubes.

Done!

(1 to 2 servings)

What you’ll need:

• 1 glass pure buttermilk
• 1 glass orange juice
• Sugar to taste (optional)

Add a few ice cubes just before serving

How to make this drink:

Put the buttermilk in a deep bowl and ask a friend or family member to help you: he or she should slowly pour the orange juice into the buttermilk, while you stir it with a wire whisk. If the drink isn’t sweet enough, mix in a little sugar. Pour into glasses and add ice cubes.

Done!

Yasmin Zattal