This post contains affiliate links.
This easy watermelon granita recipe has just 3 ingredients and is an ultra-refreshing way to cool off in the heat of summer. With only 5 minutes of hands-on prep, it’s ready to go in no time. Just freeze, scrape, and enjoy!
save this recipe!Summer In A Cup
Nothing screams summer more than refreshing frozen treats! Homemade popsicles, ice cream, and slushies are all the rage on swelteringly hot days, regardless of your age. But have you ever tried a watermelon granita?
It’s like shaved ice with a twist, falling somewhere between slushies and sorbets with a burst of pure watermelon flavor. And with only three ingredients, this watermelon scraped ice is an easy-peasy dish that packages everything you love about summer into a delightfully cooling treat.
Reader rating
Grab These 3 Ingredients
Delicious AND with minimal ingredients? Say no more. (Full recipe in the recipe card below!)
- Watermelon: Everything starts off with ½ of a medium seedless watermelon. Of course, you can double the recipe by using the whole berry if you’d like! (Yes, watermelon is a berry. Who knew?!)
- Lime Juice: To add tang and zest, we’ll use a dash of fresh lime juice!
- Sugar: Finally, we’ll add some sweetness! Watermelons are tasty as they come, but a little extra sugar helps the flavors pop when frozen. You can substitute the sugar for a sugar alternative (like Stevia or Splenda), or go with a liquid sweetener (like honey, maple, or agave).
Making Shaved Ice Couldn’t Be Easier
This simple watermelon granita recipe can be broken down into two parts.
Step 1: Blend The Ingredients
Scoop the flesh out of the watermelon. Puree the watermelon in a blender or processor until it reaches a thin consistency. Stir in the lime juice and sugar.
Step 2: Freeze Everything
Pour the mixed ingredients into a large baking dish and freeze for 4 to 6 hours. Throughout freezing, remove it from the freezer and scrape at the frozen sides and the top.
Recipe Tips
Use The Right Dish: To allow the mixture to freeze quickly and evenly, use the widest dish you have. This should also (optimally) be a glass or ceramic dish, which won’t scratch as you scrape away at the watermelon granita.
Choosing A Watermelon: Select a ripe, seedless watermelon for the sweetest, juiciest flavor. A ripe watermelon will have a deep, uniform color with a yellow spot and a hollow sound when tapped.
Mix In Herbs: For a cool herbal note, add finely chopped mint or basil to the mixture before freezing. The extra layer of flavor is so refreshing!
Grown-Up Granitas
Optionally, you can take your dessert one step further and make grown-up granitas! Add ½ cup of vodka when you add the lime and sugar. This version will be more slushy-like in texture, as the vodka will not freeze solid.
Sweet Melon Magic
Frozen Watermelon Daiquiri
5 minutes
Watermelon Rind Smoothie
5 minutes
Watermelon Cucumber Smoothie
5 minutes
3-Ingredient Watermelon Granita
Ingredients
- ½ medium seedless watermelon
- 1 Tbsp lime juice, about ½ lime, 15 mL
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- Blend: Scoop the fruit out of the watermelon. In a blender or food processor, puree watermelon until it reaches a thin, even consistency. You should have about 6 cups of watermelon juice. If you have seeds in your watermelon, strain them out with a mesh colander. Stir in lime juice and sugar.
- Freeze: Pour into a large baking dish and freeze for about 2 hours. Remove and scrape at frozen sides and top. Place back in the freezer. Repeat this process of freezing and scraping every few hours until the mixture is completely frozen and scraped.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Made it! Loved it. Will make again,
Yay! Enjoy! 😀
This was astonishingly good. The whole family loved it! I added a lot more lime juice — in all, about 5 Tbsp.
Thank you, Sarah. 🙂
I’m so happy to hear it, Amanda!! Happy summer!! 🙂