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Make this easy recipe ahead and have frozen drinks on hand all summer.

Key Points

• Jennifer Garner shares a frozen paloma recipe from Ina Garten, perfect as a cocktail or mocktail.
• The frozen paloma blends fresh grapefruit, lime juice and simple syrup for a refreshing summer treat.
• Prep ahead and freeze for an easy, vibrant drink to enjoy with guests on warm evenings.

Jennifer Garner, queen of delightful content, has another idea for us over on Instagram. The Five Star Weekend star recently shared a frozen cocktail recipe from none other than the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten. The news gets better—this particular concoction, a Frozen Paloma, tastes great with or without alcohol, so you can enjoy it as a mocktail if you prefer.

The drink is a puckery, sweet mixture of grapefruit and lime, usually served with tequila, though without is just as yummy. Sometimes it’s made with a grapefruit soda or club soda for a little effervescence, but a frozen paloma works well with flat juice. You can buy the juice pre-squeezed, or, like Garner, can make it with fresh juice, which always tastes a bit more vibrant.

On another episode of her “Pretend Cooking Show,” Garner describes these drinks, which you can prep ahead of time, as “a perfect little kiki in your freezer this summer.” Since they only take a few minutes to put together, it’s a great way to have something refreshing ready to go when you have guests on a warm summer evening. This recipe recommendation comes from an Ina Garten cookbook, Modern Comfort Food, which Garner says is her favorite cookbook. She also says the frozen palomas are a favorite of hers, and we definitely see the appeal. The mix of sweet juice and refreshing ice recalls summertime slushies with a grown-up sophistication.

To whip up a batch, Garner grabs her juicer and gets ready to slice up some citrus. First, she halves a few grapefruits and juices them until she has more than a cup of beautiful, pink juice. She adds ½ cup of freshly squeezed lime juice, which she gets from about three or four limes. She also makes a simple syrup on the stovetop, using a one-to-one ratio of sugar and water. She adds about ¼ cup to her juice mixture, but you can scale that amount up or down depending on the sweetness that you’d prefer. 

For the batch including alcohol, Garner also stirs in white tequila. She puts the mixtures in freezer-safe jars and freezes them until solid.

Once it’s time to party, Garner brings out the frozen paloma mix and breaks it up with a fork. She puts half the mixture in the blender with ice and a pinch of kosher salt, then blends until smooth. The final product is a beautiful light rose color. This final step will make about two servings, so repeat as needed for your number of guests. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge, and you’re ready to party.

“I’m glad we didn’t make them strong,” Garner says as she enjoys her drink. “Because I’m gonna want more than one.” Ina Garten herself commented on the post, saying “save one for me!”—oh, to be invited to that garden party.

Need some delicious ideas to pair with your frosty palomas? Here’s what we’d recommend for your next outdoor mocktail hour: