Strawberry Banana Spritz

Pro tips

• Use frozen strawberries straight from the freezer—don't thaw them. They create the signature slushy texture and keep the drink cold without diluting it.
• Add soda water last and stir gently to preserve carbonation; over-mixing will flatten the spritz effect.
• Chill your serving glass beforehand to slow melting and maintain the drink's texture longer.
• Garnish with a fresh strawberry on the rim just before serving for visual appeal and a fresh bite contrast to the creamy base.

Substitutions

• Frozen strawberries → fresh strawberries plus 1/2 cup crushed ice (texture will be less slushy)
• Crème de banana → banana liqueur or 1/2 oz banana extract mixed into the ice cream base (note: extract is alcohol-free)
• Vanilla ice cream → banana ice cream (doubles the banana flavor; reduce crème de banana to 1 oz)
• Soda water → sparkling lemonade (adds tartness; reduce other sweeteners)

Storage & make-ahead

Best served immediately after blending. Pre-blended mixture can refrigerate up to 2 hours; stir in soda water and serve fresh.

Equipment

blender · highball or rocks glass

Can I make this without alcohol?

Yes, replace crème de banana with banana extract or banana puree (1/2 teaspoon) for a virgin version with the same flavor profile.

What type of soda water works best?

Club soda or plain soda water works best; avoid flavored varieties to keep the strawberry-banana flavors clean. Add it last to preserve carbonation.

Can I prep this ahead?

Blend strawberries, ice cream, and crème de banana up to 2 hours ahead; refrigerate. Add soda water and garnish immediately before serving to maintain fizz.

How do I adjust sweetness?

Crème de banana is already sweet; if using very ripe strawberries, reduce by adding more soda water or a squeeze of lemon juice to balance.

Should the strawberries be completely thawed?

No, keep them frozen; they create the slushy texture and chill the drink naturally. Thawed berries will make it watery.