Summertime is full of outdoor fun and sunshine, and while sunscreen is easy to remember, staying hydrated can be a challenge—especially with kids. Whether your children love plain water or avoid it, adding a touch of natural flavor can make them reach for their cups more often. My kids and I solved this by making DIY fruit ice cubes, and the result was colorful, refreshing fruit-infused water that both kids and adults enjoy.
We had a great time making these together. My kids were so engaged—almost like we were doing a little science experiment—which made the whole process even more fun. I’ll walk you through how we made them and share a few tips to make the experience smooth and stress-free.
We started in our garden: my kids had planted a small herb patch as a Mother’s Day gift, and they were excited to pick basil. After harvesting the basil, we washed the fruit in a colander so the kids could see everything at once. We had leftover homemade lemonade from a previous recipe, which we used for some of the ice cubes—if you don’t have lemonade on hand, plain water works perfectly too. I did the slicing while the kids arranged fruit in the tray, and they loved being part of every step.
Total Bonus!
Here’s a helpful trick: kids often want to taste whatever they make immediately, which is tricky when something needs freezing. With this recipe you’ll have leftover fruit from prepping the cubes, so once the tray goes into the freezer you can serve the extra fruit as a quick fruit salad while you all wait. It keeps little hands busy and gives them a treat right away.
Great for Moms Too
Although this is a kid-friendly activity, adults get a lot out of it as well. The day after we made the fruit ice cubes, I had a busy workday and needed a small break. I grabbed two fruit ice cubes from the freezer, added them to a glass of water, and instantly had spa-like, fruit-infused water. It’s an easy way to take a mini moment for yourself—keep a few trays in the freezer for those times you need a quick, calming pick-me-up.
Below is the simple recipe we used. It’s naturally gluten-free and vegan, makes a dozen colorful cubes, and is a great way to keep everyone hydrated with minimal fuss.
DIY Fruit Ice Cubes
DIY Fruit Ice Cubes
This recipe is naturally gluten free and vegan. It makes 12 ice cubes.
15 minutes
5 hours
6
40 kcal
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup water
- 2/3 cup lemonade
- 5 basil leaves
- 1 strawberry medium sized
- 4 raspberries
- 10 blueberries
- 1 orange
- 1 kiwi peeled
- 1 lemon
Instructions
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Slice the lemon, peeled kiwi, and orange horizontally into circular slices. Cut each slice into quarters and set aside. Add any leftover fruit to a bowl to enjoy later.
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Wash and slice the strawberry. One medium strawberry yields about four slices; cut those in half to make eight small pieces.
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Rinse the blueberries and raspberries and set them aside.
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Pour your lemonade into a measuring cup with a pour spout for easy filling.
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Place your ice cube tray on a flat surface.
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For the first two compartments, add about 2½ small basil pieces and 2 strawberry slices. Fill to the top with lemonade.
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For the next two compartments, add 2 blueberries and 2 raspberries each. Fill to the top with lemonade.
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For the next two compartments, add two quarter-kiwi pieces and 2 strawberry slices. Fill with lemonade.
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Prepare water in a measuring cup for the remaining cubes.
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Fill the next two compartments with one quarter orange slice and 3 blueberries each. Top with water.
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Fill the next two compartments with one quarter lemon slice and one raspberry each. Top with water.
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Fill the last two compartments with two quarter-kiwi pieces and a quarter orange slice. Top with water.
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Place the tray in the freezer for about 5 hours, or until fully frozen.
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Remove the cubes and add two to a glass of water for a refreshing, naturally flavored drink.
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