Trust me when I say the last thing I need is another appliance in my space-cramped NYC apartment—but the Ninja SLUSHi™ Max actually had me second-guessing myself and silently reconfiguring my kitchen layout.
When people talk about a party trick, they're really talking about a fixture like the Ninja SLUSHi™ Max. Guaranteed to spark conversation, oohs and ahhs, and perhaps even a last-minute request to Santa, this appliance is the definition of FUN.
When you think about a frozen drink—dry or boozy—you are likely dreaming about the perfectly soft consistency, really only achieved by those big machines you see at sports bars and family restaurants. The difference between one of those commercial-grade frozen drinks and those attempted at home in a blender is like night and day. It's a challenge to achieve that palatable texture (even more so with those containing alcohol), and you're often left with icy slushies, which, while thirst-quenching, don't quite hit in the same way.
In less than half an hour, the Ninja SLUSHi™ Max managed to create the frozen drink of my holiday dreams, thanks in large part to the SlushAssist Technology. This automatically senses ingredients and auto-adjusts temperature for perfect slush every time—just the set-it-and-forget-it party help you need when you likely have simultaneous kitchen tasks to tackle. If you're familiar with a certain chain store's seasonal peppermint mocha latte, you can imagine the flavor profile here, except it's made even more festive for adults with the inclusion of a coffee liqueur and a bit of vodka. (For a dry, booze-free version, skip the alcohol and make up that amount with equal parts chocolate milk.) Whole milk is used in this recipe for the chocolate milk, but you could easily swap in a lower fat milk, your preferred plant-based milk, or even your favorite prepared chocolate milk to save even more time. A touch (really, just a touch!) of zesty peppermint extract gives the drink its signature zing. The end result is a refreshing, smooth, and creamy concoction that will have you recalling your favorite frappe drink.
The fun doesn't end after the Ninja SLUSHi™ Max sounds its finishing tone. For a party, be sure to spread out an assortment of different-sized glassware, whipped cream (canned is more than fine here, and super fun for all of the kids at heart), chocolate syrup, and crushed candy canes. Your guests can have fun personalizing their glass and customize building their drink just so.
As for logistics, you will need some muscle and some space in your kitchen, but it has the crowd-pleasing capacity to make at least 12 full servings. The upside is that the dishwasher-safe parts and easy-to-use rinse cycle really do make for a hassle-free clean-up. If you take the holidays and entertaining seriously, this is a next-level addition to your hosting kit that will definitely see plenty of gatherings well beyond the normal holiday season (I’m already dreaming of frozen Palomas for summer…).