Sparkling Lemonade Granita Recipe
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It’s hot, you’re thirsty, and all you want is a refreshing beverage. You can reach for a glass of honey-sweetened ginger lemonade. Or take your lemonade up a notch and make this refreshing fluffy lemonade granita! The simple 3-ingredient lightly-frozen treat mixes lemonade with effervescent lemon-flavored sparkling water, plus lemon juice and zest. As it freezes, the mix is fluffed into light, icy flakes and is perfect served by itself or scooped over a creamy dollop of ice cream.
I was inspired to make this recipe from one my grandmother would make called peachy slush (her version of a brandy slush). I would watch her take the 9×13 pan out of the freezer and scrape a fork through the icy mix. Every once in a while she would even let me do the scraping – It was fun to watch the flakes fluff up. Though, I wasn’t allowed to taste-test since she added booze to it. Grandma! 🙂
This lemonade granita is like a combination of grandma’s slushy and a traditional Italian lemon granita. In place of making homemade syrup, I keep it simple with pre-made lemonade, but still use the classic technique of fluffing the liquid with a fork as it freezes to achieve the icy flakes. And of course, in my creative baker fashion, I had to add a twist with the sparkling water, which adds a fun tingle on your tongue.
This is the ultimate cool-down lemonade treat (unless you count creamy whipped frozen lemonade 🙂 ) and I’m all about simplicity when it’s hot. Sometimes I don’t even want to turn on the cooktop. Unless I need to use up piles of extra blueberries – then I’ll make blueberry syrup blueberry lemonade!
I’m not ashamed to use store-bought lemonade. I do for the homemade strawberry lemonade because I’m already taking time to make the strawberry syrup!
I usually reach for the Simply brand because it has a punchy flavor. And for the sparkling water, these San Pellegrino cans take up permanent residence in my fridge year-round. If you’ve had any of the flavors, you’ll understand why!
A Few Simple Steps
- Zest and juice a medium lemon. You can even do two lemons to get deep flavor!
- Mix the lemonade, sparkling water, lemon juice, and zest in a shallow dish. I use a 5×7-inch casserole dish to make my granita.
- Now it’s time to let your freezer do the work! After every 30 minutes in the freezer, take the granita out and scrape it with a fork. Do this for at least 4 hours. You don’t want it to be rock-solid frozen, but you do want icy flakes.
- When you’re ready to serve, fluff it up with a fork. The ice granules will remind you of carnival ice or shaved ice – but with flavor all the way through!
Granita In Any Flavor
I have made granita with different fruits. My cranberry spice granita is fun for the holidays (and just so striking!). This goes to show that really any fruit can be turned into juice and made into a granita. Next up for me – watermelon!
How about you? Let me know in the comments below if you have made your own variation on this easy icy treat!🍧
Sparkling Lemonade Granita Recipe
EQUIPMENT
- Serving Glasses
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ cups lemonade (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 cup lemon sparkling water (or unflavored)
- 1 medium lemon (zest and juice the whole lemon)
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a small shallow dish, stir together the lemonade, sparkling water, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cover tightly and freeze for 30 minutes.1 cup lemon sparkling water, 1 medium lemon, 1 1/2 cups lemonade
- Remove the granita from the freezer. The edges and top should have started to freeze. Scrape the mixture with a fork and freeze again. This creates a flaky texture. Repeat this process every 30 minutes for up to 4 hours. The granita is ready when it's completely frozen with a dry, flaky texture.
- When ready to serve – Fluff the granita one final time. It is delicious by itself, spooned over ice cream, or on top of creamy yogurt.
RECIPE NOTES
- Serving Size – This is a small batch recipe that can easily be doubled in an 8×8 dish, or tripled in a 9×13 dish.
- Lemonade – Store-bought works great, but you could also change up the flavor and use my ginger lemonade recipe or strawberry lemonade recipe.
- Sparkling Water – Use any flavor you like. The lemon flavor I linked punches up the citrus flavor.
- Enjoy Immediately – It’s frozen, so eventually it will melt!
- Storage – Freeze the granita for up to 1 week, or longer. The longer it is frozen, the more it will lose its fluffy texture. Scrape with a fork to serve.
About the Author …
Hi, I’m Erin! With years of experience baking for two in my own small household, I know about the love for desserts without the leftovers. I’ve tested, written, and photographed every one of the 300+ recipes on my website. And even had some of my desserts featured on Taste of Home, The Spruce Eats, ELLE, Parade, and more! From traditional to gluten free desserts for two, I have the recipe for you.
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