Fruity ice cubes are a great way to spruce up a pitcher of lemonade, soda or glass of water. Add subtle berry flavoring without extra calories or tons of sugar! Make drinks extra fun for kids and adults by letting your favorite fruits add a nice burst of flavor to ice cubes.
Original post: 2011 | Updated: July 2019 & August 2024
Why This Recipe Works
Along with summer comes an increased desire for sugary treats, at least for me and my family. There’s ice cream and summer drinks, all of which sound delightful on a hot summer day. Here are a handful of reasons why I adore these fruit-infused ice cubes:
- Great way to get kids to guzzle down an entire glass of water.
- They will knock guests socks off. A lot of people don’t think to make fruity cubes, so it’s always an impressive effort.
- Fruit ice cubes are a great addition to any beverage.
- It takes just a few minutes of your time and requires a few simple ingredients. Throw fruit pieces into an ice cube tray, fill it with water and plop it in the freezer. That’s it!
- Such a refreshing twist and fun way to get enough water in your body, with minimal sugar and calories.
- The bright color from the fruit adds fun to your beverage of choice!
Recipe Ingredients
Fresh berries – Use any variety of berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, blueberries or blueberries.
Liquid – Fill the ice cube tray compartments with any liquid of your choice. Use water for the healthiest option. Other great options: fruit juice, soda, sparkling water, juice from canned fruit container or lemonade.
How To Make Fruity Ice Cubes
Step 1
Place 3 cups of fresh berries into an empty ice cube tray, ensuring that they are tucked into the holes. Add water and freeze for a minimum of 1 hour.
Step 2
Add the fruit cubes to a glass or pitcher of water, with additional fruit, if desired.
Recipe Notes
- Load up on the fruit! As long as it fits below the surface of the ice cube tray, it’s fair game. You can try different fruit, as well, so don’t feel limited to berries. Oranges, lemons, limes, pears, grapefruit, go crazy!
- If it’s not fresh fruit season, use frozen fruit instead
- The smaller pieces of fruit you use, the more you’ll be able to squeeze in.
- To spruce the cubes up even more, replace the plain water in the cubes with sprite or sparkling water.
- Use a regular plastic ice cube mold or a silicone mold for this recipe. Larger silicone molds hold extra volume, so you can pack in extra fruit.
- Use filtered water for the freshest, tastiest cubes.
- Fruit flavored cubes are a refreshing drink for kids in the summer, but they are also great for hot afternoons on the deck, girls night or brunch.
Best Ice Cube Trays for Fruit Cubes
Any type of ice tray will work when creating DIY fruit cubes, but here are some suggestions:
- If you’re using larger fruit chunks, use a large silicone tray like this one
- A mini muffin tin works great
- Small freezer-safe containers get the job done
How To Make Flavored Ice Cubes
Transform your favorite beverage by adding a little flavor and color to your next batch of fruit cubes. Any or all of the following will add a little fun to your cold drink:
- Fresh mint leaves
- Edible flowers
- Fresh juice of any kind
- Coconut water
- Citrus fruits
- Small pieces of whichever type of beautiful fruit is in season
Recipes Using Fresh Fruit
Drink Ideas for Kids
- Shamrock Shakes
- Orange Julius
- Harry Potter’s Butterbeer
- Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
- Raspberry Lemonade
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How To Make Fruity Ice Cubes
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh rinsed berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries (if using strawberries hull and chop first)
- 2 cups water or liquid of choice, such as soda, lemonade or sparkling water
Instructions
- Press the berries into the holes of an empty ice cube tray. Pour liquid of choice over the tops of the fruit and freeze for a minimum of 1 hour.
- Add the fruit cubes to a glass or pitcher of water or a can of sparkling water. Add additional fruit, if desired.
Notes
- Load up on the fruit! As long as it fits below the surface of the ice cube tray, it’s fair game. You can try different fruit, as well, so don’t feel limited to berries. Oranges, lemons, limes, pears, grapefruit, go crazy!
- If it’s not fresh fruit season, use frozen fruit instead
- The smaller pieces of fruit you use, the more you’ll be able to squeeze in.
- To spruce the cubes up even more, replace the plain water in the cubes with sprite or sparkling water.
- Use a regular plastic ice cube mold or a silicone mold for this recipe. Larger silicone molds hold extra volume, so you can pack in extra fruit.
- Use filtered water for the freshest, tastiest cubes.
- Fruit flavored cubes are a refreshing drink for kids in the summer, but they are also great for hot afternoons on the deck, girls night or brunch.
Hi, Megan! Thought this was such a cute way to use berries and that it would be a fun idea for the Fourth. I shared it on the food blog I write for our local paper: http://blogs.columbian.com/home-made/red-white-and-blue-berry-ice-cubes/ Can’t wait to use them on 4th! Thanks for sharing. : )
Great idea to incorporate these into your Fourth of July celebration, Donna!
Megan
Hi! I featured this in my blog today and left a link back to you. Cant wait to try this out! You can see my blog post here 🙂 http://www.lovefromangie.co.uk/fruity-water/ – enjoy! xx
Wow, thanks for the mention, Angie! I checked out your link and it looks great!!
Megan
These are super cute! I added this as part of a July 4th roundup here: http://www.samplememore.com/10-awesome-july-4th-items-from-the-dollar-store/ Thank you so much for sharing this easy recipe!
Did you post these here yourself? http://www.instructables.com/id/Fruit-Ice/
Awesome, these will go lovely with some, frozen fruit/ice bowls i have planned to use this summer (when it gets here for my area) cant wait to use this idea 🙂
I love it, This is one of those "why didnt I ever think of that" recipes. So simple and so awesome!
That is a very cute idea.
Can't wait to try it with freeze dried berries!
I love this idea! The fruit infused water that you get in spas is always my favorite… it feels like a treat! This is a beautiful way to get the same result!
-fashion Mont Blanc CufflinksReally great advice, Sharon. Nailed it. I will print this one out and post it in my office!
this is so simple, beautiful, and brilliant!
What a wonderful idea…you've just turned plain water into a gorgeous drink! I'm so happy your kiddo is doing so well…he's adorable!
Great news about Sammy. It's amazing how kids will bounce right back… If he won't eat fruit, have you tried warming it up in the microwave. My sister wouldn't eat any fruit until we realized she didn't like the temperature on her tongue. Even room temperature fruit wouldn't pass the "muster." But once we got it hot enough, she went right for it. Even my bengal cat will not eat anything cold — must be warmed up for him. Good luck. Hope he surprises you one day soon.
Those are so cute!! I can't tell you how much I wanna have some of those in cocktail! hehe
So glad that your boy came through the surgery ok. What a tropper! These cubes are so festive, they would be great at a party with some punch… or a vodka cocktail!!
That is so wonderful! What a beautiful and lively boy! 🙂
Great Blog! I will give you a web where I get real fruit on powder form to make juice and desserts, enjoy it ! http://www.freshlydried.com
This is just lovely! I may even have an overabundance of strawberries in my own fridge, and I bet this would be great in tea~! Now to purchase some ice trays. >_>.
So glad to hear the surgery went well. Yes, I make these fruit cubes as well. They are just so refreshing and pretty.
Genius! I really wish you had posted this before my book club. I'd have wow'd everybody with your fabulous idea! Guess I'll just have to bookmark it for the next time 😉 So glad your little man is doing so well after his surgery. That's awesome news! Buzzed!