If you grew up chasing summers in sticky sneakers with a cherry-stained lip and a brain freeze that felt oddly satisfying, then this copycat Dairy Queen Cherry Misty Slush is a taste of your childhood in a cup. Bright red, icy sweet, and just tart enough to make your eyes widen, this frozen drink isn’t trying to be subtle. It’s unapologetically fun, like a rollercoaster for your tongue.
My first one was from a roadside DQ during a long road trip through Ohio, sometime in the early 2000s. The cherry Misty wasn’t just a drink, it was a reward. I remember sipping it slow so it wouldn’t vanish too fast, trying not to slurp too hard and hit that headache zone. That’s the feeling we’re chasing here. The kind of simple joy you don’t grow out of.
This copycat Dairy Queen Cherry Misty Slush hits all the right notes: fluorescent red, syrupy-sweet with a candy-like cherry punch, and that unmistakable smooth-glacier texture that you just can’t get with plain crushed ice. The best part? You can make it at home in under 10 minutes, no soft serve machine required.
Table of Contents
How to Make Dairy Queen Cherry Misty Slush
Start by whipping up a super simple sugar base, it’s basically sweetened water with a bit of salt and acid for balance. Then add your cherry flavor. You can use snow cone syrup, Kool-Aid, or even Torani if you want to get fancy. Blend it with ice until fluffy and soft, not hard like a snowball. The result is pure nostalgia in a glass.
Nutrition facts (per 16 oz serving)
- Calories: 290
- Total Carbs: 74 g
- Sugar: 68 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Fat: 0 g
Ingredients (for 1 large 16 oz serving)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Blend Time: 1–2 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 1
For the base syrup:
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup hot water
- Pinch of salt
- ⅛ tsp citric acid (or ½ tsp lemon juice)
For the cherry flavor:
- 1 packet unsweetened Cherry Kool-Aid
- 3 tbsp water
- 1½ tbsp sugar
OR swap above with 3 tbsp cherry snow cone syrup or 3 tbsp Torani cherry syrup + ⅛ tsp lemon juice
For the slush:
- ¾ cup cold water
- ¼ cup base syrup
- All the cherry flavor mix
- 2 to 2½ cups ice cubes
Optional:
- 1–2 drops red food coloring (for that classic DQ glow)
- Cherry candy or a straw with a twirl (just for fun)
Tools You’ll Need
- Blender with ice crush or slush setting
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spoon for stirring
- Tall 16 oz glass
- Straw (the thick kind for slushies)
Instructions
1. Make the syrup base
Whisk together hot water and sugar until dissolved. Stir in a pinch of salt and citric acid (or lemon juice). Set aside to cool.
2. Mix the cherry flavor
Combine Kool-Aid, water, and sugar in a small bowl until smooth. This becomes your ultra-bright cherry concentrate.
3. Blend the slush
In a blender, combine cold water, syrup base, cherry flavor mix, and ice. Blend until thick and slushy, with a smooth grain, not chunky, not soupy.
4. Taste and tweak
Want more tartness? Add a pinch more citric acid. Too icy? Add another tablespoon of base syrup and blend again.
5. Serve
Pour into a chilled glass. Serve immediately with a thick straw and a grin. You’ve earned this one.
Tips for Success
- Use cold ingredients for faster blending and a better slush texture.
- Want the texture even closer to DQ? Add a tiny pinch of xanthan gum (like ⅛ tsp) before blending.
- Chill your glass ahead of time for that frosty finish.
- Don’t overblend or it turns into a smoothie. You want it icy and fluffy.
What to Serve With
Bright and fruity:
- Gummy bears or sour candy – Let’s be honest, this drink lives in candyland already. Add a handful of gummies on the side and turn it into a frozen treat plate.
- Frozen grapes or watermelon cubes – Sweet, crisp, and hydrating. It’s like chasing your Misty with little fruit jewels.
- Pineapple chunks with chili powder – Trust me on this one. The sweet-heat combo wakes up the cherry and adds some grown-up zing.
Classic drive-thru vibes:
- Crispy chicken sandwich – That salty crunch against the icy cherry sweetness? Chef’s kiss. The Misty cuts right through the richness.
- Curly fries or waffle fries – DQ-style. Salt, crunch, sip, repeat. Perfect balance.
- Hot dog with mustard and onions – The old-school combo that somehow still feels just right with a cherry slush on the side.
Sweet-on-sweet:
- Cherry Pop-Tarts or toaster strudels – Lean into the theme. It’s like cherry on cherry, with frosting and nostalgia baked in.
- Shortbread cookies – Buttery and mellow, they tone down the slush’s tartness just enough.
- Cinnamon-sugar doughnuts – Surprisingly good pairing. Warm and spiced meets cool and zingy.
Variations
Misty Freeze (DQ-style)
Blend ¾ cup prepared cherry slush with ¼ cup vanilla ice cream or soft serve. It turns creamier, smoother, almost milkshake-like. A DQ classic twist.
Boozy Cherry Slush
For adults only: Add 1 oz cherry vodka or white rum before blending. Serve in a chilled glass with a cocktail cherry.
Sour Cherry Misty
Add an extra ¼ tsp citric acid (or a whole teaspoon of lemon juice) for a tangier, more pucker-powered version.
Cherry Lime Misty
Swap lemon juice with fresh lime and add a little lime zest for a Sonic-style take.
Rainbow Misty
Layer two flavors! Make a batch of blue raspberry or grape Kool-Aid concentrate and pour it into the glass first, then top with cherry. Let it swirl. Drink like you’re eight again.
Ingredient Substitutes
Cherry Kool-Aid
Original: Unsweetened cherry Kool-Aid
Substitutes:
- Cherry snow cone syrup
- Torani cherry syrup with added lemon juice
- 3 tbsp cherry Jell-O mix + 2 tbsp hot water + splash lemon juice
Sugar
Original: Granulated white sugar
Substitutes:
- Simple syrup
- Agave nectar (use a little less)
- Stevia or monkfruit (adjust to taste but texture may differ)
Citric Acid
Original: Citric acid powder
Substitutes:
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
- Tartaric acid (less common but works)
Ice
Original: Plain ice cubes
Substitutes:
- Crushed ice (faster blending)
- Frozen water bottles smashed in a towel (seriously)
- If you’re desperate: blend with frozen fruit cubes like strawberries, but it changes the flavor
Food coloring
Original: Red 40 (in Kool-Aid)
Substitutes:
- Beet juice (a drop or two, not too much)
- Omit entirely for a pale pink look
Ingredients
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup hot water
- Pinch of salt
- ⅛ tsp citric acid (or ½ tsp lemon juice)
- 1 packet unsweetened Cherry Kool-Aid
- 3 tbsp water
- 1½ tbsp sugar
- OR swap above with 3 tbsp cherry snow cone syrup or 3 tbsp Torani cherry syrup + ⅛ tsp lemon juice
- ¾ cup cold water
- ¼ cup base syrup
- All the cherry flavor mix
- 2 to 2½ cups ice cubes
- Optional: 1–2 drops red food coloring (for that classic DQ glow)
- Cherry candy or a straw with a twirl (just for fun)
Instructions
Whisk hot water and sugar together until the sugar dissolves completely, then stir in a pinch of salt and a bit of citric acid or lemon juice for brightness. Set the syrup aside to cool. In a small bowl, mix the cherry Kool-Aid powder with water and sugar until smooth to make a vivid cherry concentrate. Add cold water, the cooled syrup base, the cherry mix, and ice to a blender. Blend until the texture is thick and smooth, icy but not chunky, slushy but not watery. Taste and adjust as you like; add a little more citric acid for tartness or a spoonful of syrup if it feels too icy. Pour into a chilled glass and serve right away with a thick straw and a big grin.
Notes
Calories: 290 Total Carbs: 74 g Sugar: 68 g Protein: 0 g Fat: 0 g
