Watermelon Frosé (Frozen Rosé)

Easy Watermelon Frosé

The obsession with frozen summer drinks continues.

What first started off with an easy Homemade Frozen Lemonade quickly evolved to include a Frozen Mojito, Piña Colada, and now this watermelon frozen rosé.

And this one is OFF. THE. CHARTS, you guys!

Seriously, though.

Who knew that something as simple as freezing watermelon chunks and rosé wine and then blending them up together with some fresh mint could BE. THIS. GOOD?!

And it’s anything but basic. 😉 Because instead of using fresh strawberries like you’d find in a classic frosé recipe, we’re using big chunks of juicy watermelon to sweeten up this Summer drink.

Good news! There’s no fancy simple syrup or straining with a fine mesh strainer involved. We’re making it super simple so even a beginner bartender can make it with ease! This cocktail recipe is a great way to cool off on hot summer days OR make your own happy hour.

What is frosé?

A frosé is a frozen rosé wine, usually blended with a sweetener and fruit. Unlike other frozen drinks, like a Watermelon Margarita, the alcohol is wine and not liquor. It just might be the perfect summer cocktail.

If there’s one thing people love in the summer, it’s frozen drinks. And even better if there’s a little booze included!

Ingredients

The simple ingredients needed to make this easy frosé recipe include:

• Rosé Wine. There is a large variety of rosé wines you can purchase and use in this recipe. Read below for more details about the best bottle of rosé.
• Watermelon. A personal-sized, mini watermelon without seeds is best. If you only have a watermelon with seeds, you can use it, but you will need to remove all of the seeds prior to making this recipe. (You can learn how to pick a watermelon and how to cut a watermelon if you don’t already know!)
• Sweetener. There are a few different types of sweeteners you can use. Honey was used in making this recipe and is the best choice. It pairs perfectly with the tart wine and adds a nice floral flavor to the drink. Agave nectar is a liquid sweetener option that can be used if you are vegan. Regular white sugar can be used in place of the honey if you do not care to avoid refined sugar (try making your own simple syrup). Liquid or powder stevia can be used in place of the high-sugar sweeteners if you would like to limit the sugar. The amount of sweetener you use depends on your preferences and the bottle of wine you choose. 
• Mint. Just a little bit goes a long way! This refreshing herb really helps to brighten up and balance out the sweetness in this drink.

Best Type of Rosé Wine

While you can’t really go wrong, there are a few types of rosé wine that will work better when making a homemade frosé recipe:

• Color. Pinot Noir and Malbec rosé wines tend to be a beautiful and bright pink color. While you can always use a sandy-colored wine, your finished drink won’t have that same pop of pink color.
• Dry versus sweet. This is absolutely your personal preference. If you like your drinks sweet, pick a sweeter variety. If you prefer them dry, pick a wine with a higher alcohol by volume. (This is not always foolproof but is generally a good indication of the relative amount of sugar added.)
• Drinkable. You want to really LOVE the rosé wine all by itself. It is one of two main ingredients so the finished drink will taste very similar to the wine you start with.

How to Make a Frosé?

The steps for how to make a homemade frosé are actually super simple to follow:

Prep the Watermelon and Wine

Slice a sweet watermelon into smaller, 1-inch chunks. They don’t have to be uniform shape, as you’ll blend them.

Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet or in a plastic container.  Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

Pour the rosé wine into a freezer-safe container. Cover with a lid and freeze for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. Due to the alcohol content, the rosé wine will not freeze completely but instead will have a slushy consistency once fully frozen. You can also pour it into ice cube trays.

Blend Until Smooth

One of the most important elements when making frozen drinks at home is to use a very good blender.

While less expensive blenders will work, you’ll get a super smooth and more slushy-like consistency if you use one of the following:

• Vitamix – Hands down the best blender to use due to its large capacity and extremely high power.
• Nutribullet – A great second option, but you may have to blend your ingredients in batches.
• Food Processor – While this won’t give you the same slushy consistency of a blender, you will be able to process all of your ingredients at the same time.

Add frozen watermelon cubes and frozen wine (rosé ice cubes) to a large blender along with the honey or a bit of sugar and mint. Blend the boozy slushie on medium-high speed for 1-2 minutes or until smooth.

Serve immediately and enjoy! You can also freeze until ready to serve.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep Ahead: Both the rosé wine AND the watermelon chunks need to be frozen for a MINIMUM of 4 hours before blending. It’s best if they’re frozen overnight. You can also make the entire drink and THEN freeze.  
• To Store: This refreshing drink, like other slushy cocktails, is best enjoyed immediately. 
• To Freeze: Place the rosé wine and watermelon or the prepared frosé in a freezer-safe, airtight container. Keep for up to 3 months. To serve, remove from the freezer about 30 minutes in advance to let it slightly melt at room temperature. Blend until smooth and to your desired consistency. Serve this Summer cocktail in a cute glass with a paper straw, a wedge of watermelon, a sprig of mint, and a sugared rim (use the same technique as salting a rim).

Does frosé have alcohol?

Traditionally, frosé does have alcohol. The type and amount may vary. But the term frosé is frozen rosé shortened. It’s perfect for summer gatherings.

Does frosé taste like wine?

Frosé usually does not taste a lot like wine! Because of added ingredients, usually sweeteners and fruit, frosé tastes more like fruit.

What is the meaning of frosé?

Frosé is a combination of two words: frozen and rosé. This fun word describes the refreshingly satisfying frozen drink that’s perfect for a hot summer night.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Sip the wine. Make sure you like it first since the flavor will come through.
• Try it with strawberries. Watermelon is great, but strawberries are amazing too!
• Plan ahead. Make sure to freeze the rosé wine and the watermelon chunks at least 4 hours in advance.
• Use agave nectar if vegan. This will still offer an amazing sweet taste while avoiding refined sugar.
• Make it fancy. Serve with a sugared rim.

More Frozen Cocktails

A frozen drink is delicious any time of the year, but especially in the summer months. You may also enjoy these other boozy drinks.

Classics like Piña Colada and Frozen Mojito are always a refreshing cocktail.

Whip up a fruity drink like Watermelon Margarita, Mango Margarita, and Frozen Peach Wine.

The kids will love a Frozen Lemonade, or add a shot of vodka for a grown-up slushie.