Frozen drinks are more than just a fun menu item. They're also a brilliant business move towards profitability. From fruity slushies to frozen cocktails, these beverages attract a wide range of customers and can quickly boost sales. Adding frozen drinks to your menu doesn't require a complex setup, and with the right equipment, they're simple to prepare and can be scaled to meet demand.
Here's how frozen drink machines and blenders can improve customer satisfaction and make it easier to serve crowd-pleasing beverages—and at the end, check out 10 frozen drink recipes that will enhance any menu.
Frozen drinks are popular in foodservice all year round for a number of reasons, not just during summer holidays. As the demand for fun, Instagram-worthy drinks grows, restaurants and bars are looking for ways to capitalize on this trend. And with a growth rate of up to 6.6% through 2030, it's an opportunity that operators can't ignore.
Businesses of all sizes may effectively prepare these drinks with the help of commercial frozen drink machines, which offer the perfect answer. These devices make it simple to serve frozen drinks in large quantities thanks to capabilities that combine, freeze, and preserve the ideal texture. Whether you run a small café or a busy bar, offering frozen drinks is a simple way to expand your menu and attract new customers.
One of the biggest benefits of including frozen drinks on your menu is profitability. These drinks typically use low-cost ingredients like syrups and ice but offer high-profit margins, especially when introducing frozen cocktails. The ability to batch-prepare large quantities of drinks further reduces labor costs, giving staff more time to focus on other tasks. Plus, frozen beverages are an easy upsell, especially during happy hours or seasonal promotions.
Not only can these beverages drive repeat business, but they can also increase customer satisfaction by expanding drink variety. By offering unique frozen cocktails or alcohol-free slushies, you give customers a reason to return and try something new.
The benefits of frozen beverages extend beyond operators and management. Additionally, they improve the general client experience. The visual appeal of these brightly colored, often layered drinks attracts attention and helps boost impulse sales. Adding frozen drinks to a menu can make restaurants and bars, especially if rotating seasonal flavors or offering customizable options.
These beverages also attract a wide range of customers, from families enjoying a frozen lemonade to adults indulging in a frozen margarita. The drinks become conversation starters, driving word-of-mouth marketing and increasing social media shares. Offering something memorable keeps customers engaged and encourages return visits with friends.
In addition, machines like the Waring MX Heavy Duty Blenders make blending frozen cocktails a breeze for smaller establishments. They're durable, easy to maintain, and built to handle high volumes. By investing in reliable equipment, you can serve high-quality frozen drinks efficiently, keeping customers happy and costs low.
Now to the tasty part! These frozen drink recipes to offer on your bar or restaurant drink menu are not only delicious and "Instagram-worthy," they're profitable too. Check out some of these recipes you can get started with:
Note: The following recipes may need to be slightly modified for your Spaceman machine. Always check your Brix level with a refractometer before adding a mixture into your machine (it should be between 13-18 brix). Brix levels can be easily adjusted by adding water (to decrease brix) or simple syrup (to increase brix) to your mix.*
100 oz vodka
8 oz simple syrup
200 oz sprite
128 oz apple cider
128 oz ginger ale
60 oz Fireball or any cinnamon whiskey
120 oz chilled hot chocolate
60 oz almond milk
50 oz chocolate liqueur
garnish with chocolate chips, pretzels, and a cherry
156 oz peach juice
50 oz prosecco
38 oz peach schnapps