Fruity Ice Cubes (Balls)

Fruity ice cubes (or round ice balls) are so easy to make and are beautiful for any type of drink. This tutorial uses coconut water to make the pretty ice cubes, which can add a touch of flavor to your favorite drink. (You can use regular water, and I’ll give tips below on how to choose the type of water to freeze for clear ice.)

 

Jessica’s “How-To” Highlights

• Appearance: Options are endless for how beautiful these ice cubes can look. If hosting a party, or serving one specific drink, it can be fun to customize the ice cubes to match and coordinate with specific colors.
• Flavor: Using coconut water adds a touch more flavor to already fruity fun flavors the ice provides as it melts.
• Ease: It’s as simple as adding fruit, water, and fresh herbs to your ice molds. Freeze, and they’re ready for your drink!

Why Use Fruity Ice Cubes?

• The bright colors of the fruits add such an amazing look to clear drinks or even colorful drinks, like this fruit punch recipe or this apple cider punch recipe.
• Great way to save fruits and fresh herbs that may go bad before enjoying them.

What You’ll Need

• Ice mold of your choice. I used a round ice mold but you can use a cube, or different shapes.
• Coconut water or distilled water
• Fresh fruit (See fruit ideas below.)
• Fresh herbs, if desired (See fresh herb ideas below.)

How to Make Fruity Ice

First, wash and slice your fruit in to small pieces so they will fit in the ice molds.

Using your ice mold, fill each hole with fruit and fresh herbs. How much, will depend on the size of your molds.

** TIP: I like mixing up different fruits for each ice cube but you can use all of the same fruits in each cube if you like.

Fill your ice molds with coconut water, water, or juice, and then freeze until ice has become solid. (Ice usually takes about 2 hours but can depend on the size of your ice, and type of mold. I usually make them the night before I want to use them, just in case.)

Fruit Ideas for Ice Cubes:

• strawberry
• oranges
• nectarines
• blueberries
• blackberries
• raspberries
• kiwi
• watermelon
• canteloupe
• honeydew
• lemon
• lime

Fresh Herb Ideas for Ice Cubes:

• mint
• thyme
• rosemary

Drinks to Make with Ice Cubes Filled with Fruit

• lemonade
• ginger ale
• soda
• tea
• juices (ruby red grapefruit, orange juice, etc.)

Tips for the Best Flavored Ice Cubes

• How to Make Clear Ice: If using coconut water, it will depend on which brand you use to get clear ice. Some coconut water is white, milk’ish looking. If using regular water, try to use distilled or very filtered water. I also have this ice cube tray that’s specifically to make very clear, cubed ice.
• Use fresh fruit and herbs: Remove browned leaves, or and rotten spots on the fruit, as this will make for poor flavored ice.
• Added flavors: Take things up a notch and add flavorings to your ice, such as flavored syrups or extracts.

Recipe