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Lemon granita (granita al limone) is the ultimate sunny-day pick-me-up—bright, zesty, and refreshingly sweet with just the right amount of tang. Made with fresh lemons, sugar, and ice, this classic Italian treat is ridiculously easy to whip up at home. Topped with a sprig of fresh mint, it’s as pretty as it is delicious. One spoonful, and you’ll feel like you’re lounging on a Sicilian terrace, soaking in the Mediterranean breeze. Perfect for scorching summer afternoons or whenever you need a little citrusy escape!
Beat the heat with this refreshing lemon granita recipe! Perfect for hot summer days, it’s easy to make and is such a tantalizing, delicious sweet treat for adults and kids.
You might also like to cool down with a frozen mint julep slushie, some coconut pineapple frozen yogurt, or this easy sparkling strawberry lemonade.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: Once you’ve dissolved sugar in water and added lemon, you simply have to freeze the granita and mix it up for a crushed ice texture.
So refreshing: Beat the heat with this thirst-quenching, zesty granita al limone.
Kid-friendly: This isn’t just a treat for the grownups. You’ll find the kids love this sweet treat too!
Dairy-free and gluten-free: Granita is a dairy-free treat (unlike most ice cream recipes) and also contains no gluten.
Granita al Limone Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Purified water: This acts as the base for dissolving the sugar and balancing acidity. Purified water freezes better than tap water and it also has the chemicals and impurities removed, which could otherwise make the granita cloudy or give it an unwanted flavor.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the granita while keeping it from freezing too solid.
Fresh lemon juice: Provides the signature tartness. Fresh juice is best, but bottled lemon juice can be used if it’s all you have.
Lemon zest: Intensifies the citrus aroma and flavor. If unavailable, a few drops of lemon extract can be used instead.
Fresh lemons: For serving. These add an elegant, eco-friendly presentation. Oranges or grapefruits can be used instead to make the serving “bowls” or even coconut halves.
Fresh mint leaves: This bright and fresh garnish complements the citrus notes.
How to Make Lemon Granita
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Dissolve the sugar: Add the sugar and water to a saucepan and gently heat until the sugar dissolves.
Add the lemon: Let the mixture cool to room temperature and then add the lemon zest and lemon juice, mixing to distribute the flavor.
Freeze it: Pour the mixture into a baking dish or similar container and freeze for 30 to 45 minutes.
Scrape it: Scrape the icy parts with a fork and freeze again, then repeat this several times until the whole mixture is frozen and the consistency of crushed ice.
Assemble the granitas: Cut fresh lemons lengthwise in half and scoop out the pulp. Freeze them for 15 minutes and then spoon in the granita mixture. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Lemon “bowls”: You could use orange or grapefruit shells instead of lemons.
Fresh mint leaves: Basil or edible flowers are great alternatives to the mint.
Sweetness: Adjust the sweetness by using less or more sugar.
Different flavors: There’s lots of scope to get creative with granita recipes. You could make granita al caffè with strong coffee or espresso, water and sugar, or perhaps swap the lemon for another fruit such as orange, grapefruit, lime, or strawberries.
Garnish: I like to use fresh mint leaves or sprigs. You could add whipped cream and perhaps some flaked almonds or chopped pistachios. A few lemon or lime slices or wedges are also a nice garnish.
Adults-only version: Drizzle homemade limoncello over the granita before serving (or enjoy a shot on the side!)
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: One of these chilled appetizers starts your meal perfectly.
Main dishes: Next up, enjoy a refreshing watermelon feta cucumber salad, buffalo chicken bowls or a Greek salad.
Dessert: Finish off with some delicious homemade lemon granita, either as it is or with whipped cream to add extra indulgence. You could also pair it with a scoop of matcha dulce de leche ice cream.
How to Store Lemon Ice Granita
In the freezer: Granita is best fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to one week—stir and fluff with a fork before serving.
Top Tips
Making simple syrup: It can take up to 5 minutes for it all to dissolve. Keep the heat low. You don’t need to boil the water; a gentle simmer is fine to cook it.
Check the granita every half hour: The mixture will freeze at the edges first. Every 30 minutes, take the granita out of the freezer and use a fork to scrape the icy parts to make ice crystals.
Use a food processor: You can use the S-shaped attachment in your food processor to create the ice crystals instead of scraping it every 30 minutes with a fork. You’ll need a capable food processor to do this (something like this one!)
Freeze the lemon shells: Freezing the empty lemon shells briefly before filling them helps keep the granita colder longer.
Traditional Italian Granita al Limone FAQs
You can. The granita mixture can be prepared and frozen up to a day in advance. The hollowed lemon shells can be stored in the freezer for a few hours before serving.
You could use your preferred artificial sweetener instead of the white sugar. Bear in mind the amount needed depends on which sweetener you’re using.
Best Italian Lemon Granita Recipe
Lemon Granita
Equipment
- Saucepan Medium
Ingredients
- 2 Cups purified water
- 1 ½ Cups granulated sugar
- zest of 2 lemons
- 1 Cup lemon juice, fresh, 4 or 5 lemons
- 6 lemons, large, to serve
- mint leaves, fresh, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the purified water and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan.
- Heat over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves completely, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and pour into a glass bowl to allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Once cooled, stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Mix well to distribute the citrus flavor evenly.
- Pour the lemon mixture into a shallow, freezer-safe dish (such as a baking dish).
- Place it in the freezer.
- After 30 to 45 minutes, once the edges start freezing, scrape the icy parts with a fork and stir them into the center. Return to the freezer.
- Repeat the scraping process every 30 minutes for 3 to 4 hours; continue scraping and stirring to achieve a light, flaky texture.
- Cut 6 lemons in half lengthwise so they form small serving bowls.
- Use a spoon or a citrus reamer to carefully scoop out the pulp, leaving the rinds intact.
- Freeze the empty lemon shells for at least 15 minutes before filling. This helps them hold their shape.
- Once the granita is fully frozen and fluffy, spoon it into the chilled lemon shells.
- Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve immediately.
Notes
Check the granita every half hour: The mixture will freeze at the edges first. Every 30 minutes, take the granita out of the freezer and use a fork to scrape the icy parts to make ice crystals.
Use a food processor: You can use the S-shaped attachment in your food processor to create the ice crystals instead of scraping it every 30 minutes with a fork. You’ll need a capable food processor to do this.
Freeze the lemon shells: Freezing the empty lemon shells briefly before filling them helps keep the granita colder longer.
Nutrition
If you’re looking for something refreshing and thirst-quenching that isn’t necessarily a drink or a popsicle, how about this easy lemon granita recipe? It’s really easy to make and you only need water, fresh lemons and white sugar, along with a few hours so it can freeze to perfection. Once you taste lemon granita, you’ll crave it all summer long.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
