A cross between a milkshake and lemonade, this Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade is just the thing to get you through the hottest days of summer. This Chick-fil-A copycat recipe comes together in minutes so it’s perfect for pool days – and 100% kid-approved too!
Love the Chick-fil-A menu? Don’t miss our recipe for their beloved Chick-fil-A Sauce!
Copycat Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade Recipe
Once you try this frosted lemonade recipe (and especially if you share it with the kids!), it may become the most requested drink of the summer. It’s refreshing and thirst-quenching while still being sweet and creamy so it feels a bit like drinking dessert. I can’t think of a better kid-friendly drink for enjoying by the pool!
What Is Frosted Lemonade?
Frosted lemonade is a refreshing drink that’s a cross between regular lemonade and a vanilla milkshake. It’s made with lemon juice or lemonade and vanilla ice cream, and was made popular by Chick-fil-A a few years back.
The citrus lightens up the vanilla ice cream and ice water is also added to thin it out a bit, giving it a texture that’s thinner than most milkshakes but thick enough you can still enjoy it with a spoon if desired.
Ingredients Needed
Frosted lemonade is made with just 3 ingredients, plus water.
(Scroll to the bottom for our easy printable recipe with the complete directions.)
- Lemon juice – Instead of using lemonade, I like to use freshly squeezed lemon juice to make my frosted lemonade.
- Sugar – Since we’re using lemon juice instead of a lemonade mix, sugar is added to balance out the tart citrus.
- Vanilla ice cream – Any brand will do, though one with a softer texture is ideal.
- Water – It is essential that the water is ICE COLD. To do this, I usually add ice cubes to the water, let it sit for several minutes, then remove the ice cubes before adding the water to the drink.
- Sliced lemons – For garnish.
Recipe Variations
Here are a few ways to customize your frosted lemonade!
- Use lemon concentrate. Instead of freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar, you can make this with frozen lemon concentrate and vanilla ice cream.
- Swap the ice cream for yogurt. Use frozen vanilla yogurt instead of ice cream and add some extra sugar. The yogurt gives it a bit more tang, plus is a bit healthier than ice cream.
- Use lemonade. Instead of freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar, try a bottled lemonade like Sunkist or Simply Lemonade. For an interesting twist, try it with the flavored versions like Simply Raspberry Lemonade.
- Switch up the citrus. Try lime-flavored frosted lemonade by using freshly squeezed limes or give it an orange flavor with orange juice.
- Make it boozy. Add your favorite liquor, like lemon vodka or rum. Jack Daniels could also be interesting, similar to a Lynchburg Lemonade recipe.
How to Make Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade
Here’s how to make this super easy Chick-fil-A copycat.
(Scroll to the bottom for our easy printable recipe with the complete directions.)
- Make the lemonade. Blend the lemon juice and sugar until the sugar fully dissolves. Add in the ice cold water.
- Add the ice cream. Blend in the ice cream until smooth.
- Enjoy. Divide into glasses, garnish with slices of lemon, and enjoy immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Ideally, you’ll serve this drink immediately, but if you don’t need all of it right away, you can freeze it for a few hours. You’ll then need to thaw it a bit or blend in some extra ice cream before serving, to get it back to a milkshake-like consistency.
Since this frosted lemonade recipe has a bit of a thick, milkshake-like texture, it can be enjoyed with a spoon or a straw. I always add some fresh lemon slices to the top for a pop of color. This lemonade milkshake is perfect for enjoying poolside in the summer!
More Refreshing Summer Drinks:
- Shirley Temple Drink
- Mexican Horchata
- Frozen Mudslide
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Southern-Style Sweet Tea
- Cherry Limeade
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups ICE COLD water (see note)
- 6 cups vanilla ice cream (about 12 scoops)
- sliced lemons , for garnish
Instructions
- Pour lemon juice and sugar into a blender. Give it a whirl until sugar fully dissolves. Then add in the ice cold water to dilute and chill.
- Add in the ice cream; blend until combined and smooth.
- Divide mixture among 3 glasses.
- Garnish with slices of lemon and enjoy immediately with a straw or spoon.
This was so good!!! I made it at work and everyone loved it and it perked them up!
If you use lemonade, do you still use sugar?
Rick, Step away from the kitchen. From now on you are only to use the kitchen when you are supervised by a competent cook. If you use lemonade, do not add the sugar. The sugar is already in the lemonade.
I used pre-made lemonade and I didn’t use sugar but its kinda up to you, more sugar made it sweeter when I tried it
Enjoy this on a hot humid day with my girls – we loved it!!
It is delicious! I did add more water though so that it’s not as thick.
This was such a hit – perfectly tart, sweet, creamy, and refreshing on a hot day. Thanks for sharing!
It is a great dessert for a hot day! Easy to do!
This was the best copy cat treat I have ever made! So refreshing for a hot day!
My girls and I loved this!
It is extremely delicious
This was DELICIOUS! And so simple. Can’t believe I never thought to do this. Thanks for sharing!
Loved this recipe!
DELICIOUS!! Perfect summer treat for the sweltering Georgia summers.
Believe it or not, I make this with the refrigerated low sugar lemonade and frozen yogurt, drops the calories dramatically and still is a treat
This was so good and easy – tasted just like it! The nearest chick fil a is not close to us so this was awesome to be able to make at home – thank you!
If I use lemonade concentrate, do I add the water listed in the recipe?
Can you use monk fruit or stevia in replacement of sugar?
Made this over the weekend for my girls and they LOVED them! So easy. Great summer drink, thanks for sharing!
So easy and YUMMY!!!