How to make Frosted Lemonade - the easy, healthy way! This shake is creamy, cool, tart, and refreshing! A low-carb version of the beloved Chick-fil-A treat. Made with just a few simple ingredients like real lemon, ice, and your choice of sweetener.
(Low-Carb, Vegan and Paleo options)
Chick-fil-A Recipe Makeover
Over the summer I tried Frosted Lemonade and it was lemon heaven. I knew I had to recreate this recipe using simple, healthy ingredients: no dairy or sugar.
I was curious about the ingredients and sugar content in CFA's frosted lemonade and per their website, it contains:
Whole milk, nonfat milk, sugar, milkfat, nonfat dry milk, natural and artificial flavors, mono and diglycerides, guar gum, carrageenan, corn starch, cellulose gum, beta carotene (color), water, lemon juice, sugar.
320 Calories, 65g Carbs
source
If you're dairy-free, low-carb, or avoiding gums, fillers, additives, and artificial flavors, then CFA is a pass.
But you don't have to miss out because I created a delicious and refreshing healthy "copycat" recipe! Easy homemade frozen lemonade with just FIVE simple ingredients, and less than 10 net carbs!
Simple Ingredients
- Ice & water
- A lemon (fresh juice is best! Plus zest for optimum FLAVOR)
- Cashew butter for creaminess (more on this below!)
- Sweetener of choice
- Vanilla extract (this Mexican Vanilla is life-changing!)
The Secret Ingredient: Cashew Butter
Why Cashew Butter? This is the magical ingredient that transforms ice and water plus vanilla and sweetener into a creamy dreamy milkshake. Cashews have a mild, unobtrusive flavor making them ideal for dairy-free desserts, cheesecakes, and the like.
Cashew butter also adds about 6 grams of protein to this milkshake.
I tested this recipe with coconut milk/coconut cream and was not satisfied with the results. It was just too coconutty for me (and I LOVE coconut, but I wanted something much more creamy vanilla that wouldn't overpower the lemon.)
What is Cashew Butter? Where to find it? It's simply blended-up cashews. You can find it at most grocery stores next to the peanut butter. Or here on Amazon. Aldi used to carry an AMAZING cashew butter for cheap (not sure if they still do! But if you shop there, be sure to check.)
Important Note: Use raw (unroasted) rather than roasted cashew butter. Roasting nuts makes the flavor more prominent, whereas raw cashews are very mild and slightly sweet. I tested the recipe with roasted and the flavor was too strong.
To save money, you can easily make your own cashew butter!
- Place 2 cups raw cashews in a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides as needed. It takes less than 10 minutes. No other ingredients or steps.
- Costco has 2.5# bags of raw cashews for a great price per ounce.
Ingredient Substitutions
Can't have cashews? Use something similar, such as mild tasting almond butter. I would use a light-colored (raw or light) almond butter so that the flavor doesn't overpower the cream base.
Almond butter is what I use in my homemade healthy frappuccinos and dairy-free ice cream to add creamy richness.
Other possible options for a cream base: coconut cream, avocado, or heavy cream for those that can have dairy. Coconut cream does affect the flavor.
For a nut-free, dairy-free, sugar-free lemon dessert, try my Lemon Sorbet! (aka Lemon Chill!)
Sweetener Options
The great thing about this recipe is you can use pretty much any sweetener you like!
For Sugar-Free/Low-Carb: Use your favorite zero calorie sweetener such as:
- Lakanto classic granulated monkfruit/erythritol blend (same amount). This is what I use, and I find that it does not add a strange aftertaste.
- Lakanto powdered monkfruit (same amount)
- Besti granulated monkfruit/allulose blend (same amount)
- Pure Erythritol (use slightly more)
- Pure Allulose (use slightly more)
- Any granulated sweetener that sweetens 1:1 like sugar (same amount)
- Sugar-Free drops such as Lakanto, or Sweet Leaf Stevia (start with 8-10 drops and sweeten to taste)
- Sugar-free syrups (use ½ Tbs syrup and reduce the amount of water by ½ Tbs)
For Non-Low-Carb
- Use regular sugar (same amount)
- Coconut sugar or maple sugar (slightly more)
- Pure maple syrup or honey (use ½ Tbs and reduce the amount of water by ½ Tbs)
If you have a question about a specific sweetener, drop it in the comments below, send an email or message me on Facebook / Instagram.
Simple Recipe
There's nothing to freeze overnight and nothing complicated. Just add everything to a blender and blend for about 20 seconds.
Zest your lemon right into the cup. With a microplane zester, this takes maybe 20 seconds. It's so much quicker and easier than other zesters I've tried. I use my microplane for ALL my citrus recipes (and there are TONS for lemon, and lime and orange, too!)
I use a Vitamix with a smoothie cup. It works great for single-serving frozen drinks! I also recommend this Ninja blender for a more budget-friendly pick.
Tips for Best Results
Remember to use *raw* unroasted cashew butter for the best flavor.
For a thicker shake, use slightly less water.
For a thinner shake, use slightly more water. (More water will also help blend if your blender is struggling.)
For an even creamier base, add extra cashew butter.
Taste and adjust ingredients to your liking. Adding a little more lemon juice will boost the tartness. Adding a little more zest enhances the fresh lemon flavor and aroma. Feel free to add more sweetener if you like!
Frozen Drink Variations
- Feel free to sub lime juice for lemon for a Frosted Limeade!
- For orange try my healthy Orange Julius recipe (so good!)
- Peach Milkshake? Throw in some frozen peach chunks instead of lemon and ice!
- Strawberry? Absolutely! Just use a cup of frozen strawberries. No ice needed.
- Want to up the protein? Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder (you may not need any sweetener)
The possibilities are endless! Have a question? Drop it below. 🙂 ENJOY.
Frosted Lemonade (Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup ice
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 Tbs raw cashew butter - I used homemade
- 1 lemon - zest and 1.5 Tbs juice
- 1 Tbs granulated monkfruit/erythritol
- Splash vanilla
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender cup, starting with ice.
- Blend smooth.
- Taste and adjust with more of any ingredient you like if needed. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
More Dairy-Free Lemon Treats
Check out these delightfully low-carb dairy-free lemon desserts! (Have I mentioned how much I LOVE lemon!?)
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