Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail Recipe

If you've ever been to an all-inclusive resort on the sunny beaches of Cancún, you know the joys and hangovers of bottomless strawberry daiquiris. Often served poolside as frozen, smoothie-like concoctions, strawberry daiquiris are the fruity red alternative to frothy piña coladas. Sweet enough to steer your senses away from the liquor content, daiquiris are strong, and slightly dangerous. 

This recipe developed by Michelle McGlinn is a boozy, citrusy-sweet frozen drink made with strawberries, rum, Grand Marnier, and lime that can be easily adjusted to suit your tastes, or be made spirit-free. Don't feel that you need a sandy beach to enjoy a frozen daiquiri — these frosty drinks are just as perfect for snowy winter afternoons. Grab a blender, and a pack of frozen strawberries to whip up a batch of this easy and delicious summer cocktail. Keep reading to find out how to make this tropical cocktail. 

To make these frozen daiquiris, you'll need frozen strawberries, ice, lime juice, simple syrup, Grand Marnier, and white rum. You can freeze your own strawberries, or keep it simple and buy a pre-frozen bag from the store. If you don't have an ice maker in your freezer, prep a full tray of ice. Try to use freshly squeezed limes for the best, freshest flavor, and optionally make your own simple syrup by dissolving 1 cup of sugar into equal parts water. The Grand Marnier is the special ingredient in this cocktail — not all daiquiris have it, but it offers a delicious, and extra-boozy touch of citrus. You can also use standard triple sec instead, and any kind of white rum you enjoy. You can also optionally garnish the drinks with mint leaves, dried citrus, a fresh strawberry, or an orange rind.

Using frozen strawberries, as opposed to fresh ones, makes for a thicker, colder, more smoothie-like drink consistency. Pile the frozen strawberries and ice into a blender first, then add the rum and Grand Marnier. You'll want to work relatively quickly here, or the ice will melt, and your daiquiri will be watery. To make this especially seamless, prep all your ingredients before reaching for the ice.

Some strawberries might be a little sweeter than others, especially if you are using fresh fruit. Add as much simple syrup and lime juice as you prefer. If you're making this spirit-free, omit the rum and Grand Marnier, and add orange juice instead, adjusting the lime juice and simple syrup accordingly.

Tightly close the blender, and blend it for about 1 to 2 minutes. Strawberries break down easily, but the ice may need some time to fully blend into the mix. If the mixture is too watery, try adding more ice or strawberries to thicken it. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of orange juice, or a little water to thin it down.

Once the strawberry mixture is fully blended, remove the lid, and pour it evenly into 2 glasses (we love a tropical poco grande), then garnish with mint leaves, and optionally with dried citrus, a fresh strawberry, or an orange rind. These are best enjoyed fresh, and melt quickly at room temperature, but can be saved for up to a day in the refrigerator. Sip your frozen cocktails with plantains, rice and beans, or delicious homemade guac and chips for a seriously fun summertime spread.