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Healthier Cherry Daiquiri

March 4, 2019 by Ginger Hultin MS RDN

Frozen strawberry daiquiris have a reputation for being extremely sweet vacation drinks that are hard to resist, but always leave you feeling not-so-great afterwards. I love the idea of this drink, but wanted to make my own version that was less sugary and more flavorful: introducing the Healthier Cherry Daiquiri. This boozy frozen cocktail is super simple and perfect for cooling off in the summer or retreating to paradise in the winter. 

This drink is ideal for summer get-togethers, whether you’re at the pool, the park or just hanging out in your backyard. I know you can buy pre-made daiquiri mix at the store, but with all the added sugar, preservatives and weird chemicals…it’s just not worth it. I promise that making your own at home is super easy and tastes much much better. By using frozen fruit with just a little ice, it prevents the drink from getting watered down and makes it deliciously smooth. Next time you have some friends over, whip up a pitcher of my Healthier Cherry Daiquiri – it’ll be a crowd-pleaser (trust me).

beautiful, pink, frozen slushy daiquiri drink

The Frozen Daiquiri 

The classic daiquiri, which is made up of 3 simple ingredients – rum, lime juice and simple syrup – has been around since 1896. This beloved cocktail was created in Cuba, where rum is plentiful, and didn’t become a frozen drink until the 1930s, when one bartender at a small bar in Havana mixed the beverage with ice and blended it in a blender, creating the frozen daiquiri. It is said that Ernest Hemingway drank 15 of these frozen, boozy beverages while at that very bar – helping this drink gain some serious popularity. By the 1940s, Americans started seeing the frozen daiquiri as the perfect drink to enjoy by the beach or pool and that reputation has been the same ever since. Today, this sweet, slushy drink is served up at many restaurants and bars and is commonly combined with strawberry or other fruit flavors. 

Although frozen daiquiris are refreshing, sweet and make you feel like you’re on vacation, they are usually ridiculously high in added sugar. A typical store-bought mix (which a lot of restaurants use) has about 45 grams of added sugar in just one serving – to put that into perspective, that’s almost 11 teaspoons of sugar. Everyone deserves to enjoy a beverage without guilt but why settle for something mediocre when you can whip up a simple, delicious version of your own at home? My Healthier Cherry Daiquiri is not only easy to make, but it also is super flavorful. 

What Makes it Healthier?

Other than being lower in sugar, there are so many more benefits to my Healthier Cherry Daiquiri. The peaches provide fiber, various vitamins and minerals as well as important antioxidants to the drink. The mangos also provide antioxidants to this drink (specifically polyphenols) as well as lots of vitamin C and good amounts of vitamin A. There are also no artificial flavors or colors used – even the Maraschino cherries I use are free from artificial colors, dyes and corn syrup. Overall, this daiquiri is a delicious, healthier alternative to the traditional frozen daiquiri. What more could you ask for?

Making the Healthier Cherry Daiquiri 

This drink is so simple to make. All you need is rum, limes, canned peaches, frozen mango and Maraschino cherries! Most of this stuff I usually have on hand, which makes it that much easier to whip it up. 

The Rum 

I used silver rum for this recipe, but if you prefer gold rum or that is just what you have, that would be equally as delicious. Silver rum doesn’t have a super strong flavor so it tends to work best with fruity drinks because it allows the other flavors to be the star of the drink, which is why I prefer using it for my Healthier Cherry Daiquiri. Gold rum has a bit of a richer taste than silver, but still is fairly mellow, so it doesn’t overpower the other flavors – making it a good replacement for silver rum. Dark rum on the other hand, is NOT a good replacement. This type of rum has a much stronger flavor because it is loaded with spiced and tends to have a heavy molasses taste and some caramel tones – flavors of which would not work well with the rest of the flavors in this drink.  

The Fruit 

I used canned peaches, which actually have just as much nutrients as fresh peaches – as long as you get the ones packed in their own juices (NOT in syrup). Peach season is super short, plus buying them fresh can add up, so getting them fresh isn’t always ideal. Plus, canned peaches are picked at the peak of freshness, making them naturally sweet and delicious – perfect for smoothies and blended cocktails! 

Along with the ice, I also use frozen mango chunks to make this drink frosty. By using some frozen fruit along with the ice, you will get a thicker and creamier end result plus it will prevent the drink from getting watered down. If you only have fresh mango, you can freeze it and make this drink the next day or just use more ice to get that frosty finish. I recommend buying a big bag of frozen mango and making other fun recipes with it, like my Vegan Turmeric Banana-Mango Lassi

I do use Maraschino cherries in this drink, which can have some scary ingredients and are full of red food dye, but thanks to Pacific Coast Producers, I have these incredible Bordeaux Maraschino cherries. These cherries are completely free from artificial flavors and corn syrup – making them a better alternative to regular Maraschino cherries. 

The lime juice is crucial for this recipe, so it is important to get it fresh from limes. Store-bought lime juice is commonly loaded with preservatives to keep it fresh, plus it can have a dull taste, so it is not ideal for cocktails. Fresh lime juice gives the Healthier Cherry Daiquiri a bright flavor that brings the whole drink together. Plus, you can cut out a slice before juicing for a tasteful garnish. 

Once you have all your ingredients together, all you have to do is blend them together, pour it in a glass and garnish with a lime or Maraschino cherry – so simple! 

If you are a fan of frozen cocktails and need more inspo, check out my
3 Ingredient Frosé and Spicy Blackberry Citrus Margarita.  And if you try this recipe, let me know in the comments! 

beautiful, pink, frozen slushy daiquiri drink

Healthier Cherry Daiquiri

A whole-foods-based, better-for-you blended beverage
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Course: Beverage, cocktail
Cuisine: Americana
Keyword: classic cocktail, cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories:

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups ice cubes
  • 4 fluid ounces rum silver or gold
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 15 ounce can peaches in their own juice, drained
  • 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
  • 10 whole Maraschino cherries stems removed
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt for the rim if desired

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy. Fill glasses with 1-inch of space between liquid and rim. Garnish with Maraschino cherries and enjoy.
Tried this recipe?Mention @champagnenutrition

2 Comments

  1. Casey on June 12, 2020 at 10:56 am

    This drink is far superior to an ordinary daiquiri. It is safe to say I will not be purchasing pre-made mixes anymore. Thanks for sharing!

    • Ginger Hultin on June 13, 2020 at 1:31 pm

      Love! No need to purchase anything premade – you’ve probably got it all at home anyhow. Enjoy!

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Ginger Hultin,MS, RD, CSO

An award-winning, nationally recognized nutrition expert and media spokesperson.

Thanks for visiting! If you’re like me: obsessed with eating, wine, going out and traveling, you’re in the right place. Champagne Nutrition® LLC is a Registered Dietitian-run concierge virtual practice helping clients look and feel better. On this blog, you’ll find cocktails, mocktails, and plant-based recipes that are easy to make quickly at home and pack for leftovers on your adventures.

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