Granita Recipe: How to Make an Italian Granita

Originating in Sicily, granita is a simple Italian dessert made of sweetened fruit purée that has been frozen and shaved into an icy, crystalized treat. While granita and sorbet are created from the same base ingredients, these frozen treats differ slightly in texture. Sorbet has a smooth, creamy quality, reminiscent of gelato or ice cream, while granita has a flaky texture comparable to a snow cone. This Italian staple is a dairy-free and gluten-free dessert that requires only a few ingredients including fruit, sugar, and water.

Granita is an extremely versatile dish that allows for countless fruit combinations and toppings. It is very simple to make, but there are a few rules of thumb that cooks can follow to make a perfectly flaky, cool, refreshing granita.

1. 1. Mix and match your fruits. This simple dessert can be made with countless varieties and combinations of fruits. Some classic granita flavors include watermelon granita, strawberry granita, and lemon granita. You can even mix the flavors to make granitas like mango pineapple and lemon strawberry.
2. 2. Make the granita ahead of time. Granita keeps well covered in the freezer for up to one week, making it a great make-ahead treat for heat waves and outdoor warm-weather occasions.
3. 3. Experiment with different toppings. This super simple dessert can be paired with a variety of sweet and savory toppings for different flavor combinations. Some delicious granita toppings include fresh fruit, fruit zest, yogurt, chocolate sauce, ricotta, pistachio nuts, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, whipped cream, and balsamic vinegar.