Frosted Lemonade (Copycat Chick-fil-A)

Sweet vanilla ice cream is blended with fresh lemon juice and sweet lemonade for the most perfect slurpable summertime treat on a hot summer day. This dessert is easy to make and only required three simple ingredients and is a perfect copycat of Chick-fil-A’s infamous frosted lemonade.

 

Why We Love Frosted Lemonade

• Sweet And Creamy!– This homemade frosted lemonade is just as sweet, creamy and refreshing as the original  with ingredients you can buy at your local grocery store.
• Fast And Convenient To Make– It’s pretty easy to keep these ingredients on hand, especially in the summer. That makes these sweet treats fast and easy to make. Sometimes it’s quicker to make a copycat Chick-fil-A drink at home then drive to the restaurant! Or sometimes it’s just a Sunday night when they are closed and you want a delicious Chick-fil-A frosty drink.
• Save Money– While I enjoy going out to eat, it sure can get expensive. In between trips out, we make this delicious homemade version in a big batch for a fraction of the cost.
• Smaller Portions If Wanted– Making this delicious treat at home makes it easier to make a smaller portion, especially when splitting it among younger kids who may not drink a full-size 16 ounce version at Chick-fil-A. When serving younger kids I have cut this recipe into four servings, and it was plenty for everyone and is just as delicious at the real thing.  It’s also a great treat for birthday parties and backyard BBQ’s for kids and adults both.

Ingredients For Frosted Lemonade

• 4 medium lemons 1/2 cup juice, use fresh lemons here for a tangy lemon flavor that is similar to Chick-fil-A
• 4 cups vanilla ice cream 24 ounces, use your favorite brand.
• 1 ½ cups Simply Lemonade or other fresh lemonade. I have tested a few different types of lemonade and the brand Simply Lemonade gives you the most similar flavor to both fresh lemonade and Chick-fil-A’s lemonade. Simply Lemonade also has a Simply Lemonade “light” that can be used if you prefer.  

I don’t recommend using lemonade concentrate or lemonade mixture in a packet because the flavor won’t be the same. Homemade lemonade can also be used  if you use fresh-squeezed lemonade. You can use other flavors of lemonade or even homemade lemonade. Try this recipe with my easy homemade strawberry lemonade or this mango lemonade recipe.

What Is Frosted Lemonade Made Of?

Frosted lemonade is a cross between a frozen lemonade and a vanilla milkshake to make a treat that is a lot like a lemon milkshake. By blending together lemonade, creamy ice cream and fresh lemon juice you create a frosty treat that is just perfect for a hot day.

Frosted Lemonade was made really popular by Chick-fil-A and is served year round. This treat goes really well with the classic Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich and waffle fries. Also try this Oreo Milkshake, which is totally just like the milkshake at Chick-Fil-A and easy to make at home.

How To Make Frosted Lemonade

1. Juice lemons and remove any seeds. You need about 1/2 cup of juice total. See notes at the bottom of the page in the recipe card.
2. In a blender, add lemonade then ice cream and blend until smooth and frothy; about 1-2 minutes.

3. Add lemon juice (and pulp if using) to the blender and blend for about 10 seconds or until it has a really creamy texture.

4. Pour into glasses and serve immediately. Top with whipped cream if desired, then enjoy!

Variation Ideas For Frosted Lemonade

• Swap In Light Simply Lemonade– Chick-fil-A gives you the option at the restaurant to swap their diet lemonade. At home you can swap in Simply Lemonade’s “light” version if you prefer.
• Swap Lemonade With Sweetened Iced Tea – In the south, they would call this an Arnold Palmer when you mix lemonade with iced tea. Arnold Palmer’s are another drink that is a perfect summer drink for a hot day!
• Try Flavored Lemoanade- Strawberry lemonade, blueberry lemonade, raspberry lemonade, most flavors of lemonade will taste great in a frosted lemonade.
• Or Swap Any Soda Or Other Drinks For Lemonade– This may be a controversial opinion, but you can swap any soda flavor in for the lemonade. Make frosted orange soda, cola, or even use sports drinks. If you are using another type of drink, you’ll also swap the lemon juice with the liquid and the recipe becomes only drink plus vanilla ice cream blended. Easy peasy!
• Swap The Ice Cream Flavor– Other citrus or berry flavors of ice cream would be really delicious mixed into this for the perfect treat.
• Top With Whipped Cream

Add-Ins You Can Put In Frosted Lemonade

These are some other ideas that you can add to your frosted lemonade to make your own custom creation! You can use fresh or frozen for the fruit, but you may need to add a little more liquid to your own taste if using frozen fruit. O

• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Peaches
• Blackberries
• Pineapple
• Lime– I’d swap lime for the lemon juice, but still use lemonade if using lime.
• Fresh Mint Leaves

Does Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade Have Dairy?

Yes Chick-fil-A’s frosted lemonade does have dairy as they blend ice cream straight into the lemonade to make a sweet lemonade treat that is frosty.

If you are making this frosted lemonade at home you can substitute in your favorite vanilla dairy-free ice cream cup for cup to make a frosted lemonade without dairy.

How Long Will Frosted Lemonade Last?

Frosted lemonade is best enjoyed fresh to order, right after it is made. You can store it in the refrigerator for about 24 hours, but you may need to reblend it with some ice to make it frosted again.

If you do have a few leftovers I suggest storing it in a covered container in the freezer. When you want to enjoy leftovers you may need to reblend it in the blender with a little extra lemonade.