When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, it definitely felt like we were one of the few cities completely excluded from pro basketball season. It still kinda feels that way, but we get a big boost from colleges and universities during the big basket tourney that tips off in March, which, for me, means it's time to make all the snacks!

Little apps, snack mixes, milkshakes, meat-lovers’ pizza and … wait for it … homemade slushies! You can even make them into shooters.

That’s what I’m talking about.

My brothers played baseball every summer when I was growing up, and while I had a very short softball stint, I would mostly spend my time at the fields. And you want to know what was ridiculous? I would look forward to working at the concession stand with my mom, and be insanely excited about it. I know. Like, what?

It was definitely a tween’s dream, though: all that candy and taffy and a big old slushie machine. I’m pretty sure that at one point I tried every single flavor of slush in ONE drink. (I do not suggest it. I’m probably still fighting the cavities from it.)

I was never a huge juice lover; when it came to frosty drinks, I always gravitated more toward the soda-based ones. I’ve never enjoyed carbonated drinks, but when the soda is mixed with iceand gets all frosty and whatnot, the carbonation doesn’t burn through my mouth! Winning. Plus, how freaking delicious is a syrupy cola slush? Ugh. So good.

That’s what I went for here. I’m a cherry girl at heart when it comes to basic (and artificial, ha!) flavors. I have swirled many a classic soda-and-cherry slush together in a cup, so I was dying to try it at home. The base slushy comes from a can of cherry cola, but it’s topped off (and bottomed off?) with cherry juice.

And there is vodka, too! What more could you ask for?

Boozy Cherry Cola Slushies
Serves 2

6 cups ice

1 1/2 cups cherry cola

1/4 cup cherry juice, plus extra for drizzling

1/4 cup cherry vodka

Cherries for topping

Place the ice, cola, juice and vodka in a high-powered blender and blend until frosty. With the blender turned off, I use a wooden spoon to move the ice around a bit so it blends evenly.

To serve the slushies, pour a glug of cherry juice into the bottom of two glasses. Top with the cola slush, then pour a little more cherry juice over the top. Place a cherry or two on top and serve!

Jessica is the voice behind the blog How Sweet Eats. She can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and she’s on Snapchat at howsweeteats.