Refreshing and delicious, this watermelon granita is easy to make. No ice cream maker required.

Sorbet or Granita

I used to call this watermelon sorbet and go through a lot of hoops (repeated use of the blender) to create a smooth sorbet. Now I call it granita – same great flavour, just a little more ice crystally. Sorbet and granita are very similar in that they are both dairy free, frozen fruit desserts, but there are subtle differences.

Sorbet – a much smoother, denser consistency which you achieve by scraping more frequently, blending several times and using more sugar but less liquid

Granita – a looser, granular consistency similar to shaved ice which you can achieve with only scraping once or twice during the process.

watermelon granita in pan — Sweetened watermelon, frozen and scraped for a frozen treat or beverages.

Alcohol and Sugar

In this recipe the watermelon is mixed with alcohol and sugar. Both add flavour and prevent the watermelon juice from freezing into a solid ice cube that’s difficult to scrape. If you reduce the sugar or alcohol just be prepared to scrape a little more often so the ice remains easy to scrape.

You can skip the alcohol altogether if you wish.

Recipe for Watermelon Granita

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Watermelon Granita – No Ice Cream Maker

Beat the heat with this refreshing summer time treat. Eat it as dessert or use it as ice in a simple beverage with sparking water. Replace watermelon with your favourite fruit. And skip the alcohol if you wish.

Prep : 10

Cook : 3

Total Time: 3 10

Servings:

Ingredients

8 cups seedless watermelon cubes
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp Grand Marnier (optional)
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1/4 Tsp salt

Instructions

Place all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.
Pour into a 9 x 13″ baking pan or glass dish.
Freeze for 3 hours, stirring and scraping ice crystals from the side of the pan every 60 minutes.
To serve, rest on counter for about 5 minutes then scoop into individual serving dishes and enjoy! Or make a refreshing beverage by putting granita in a glass and pouring sparkling water over top.
For a finer texture, put the frozen mix in the blender and pulse several times to make small ice pieces (not liquid) return to freezer and scrape after 60 minutes.

Notes

If you choose not to use the alcohol, it may be a little more difficult to scrape the mix, but as long as you scrape frequently it will work just fine.

Tried this recipe?Mention @GetGettyS or tag #GetGettyS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fruit, ice cream, summer

Make a Watermelon Granita Slurpee

Simply scoop watermelon granita into a glass, slowly pour in sparkling water and a half tablespoon of lime juice. Stir and enjoy. Just watch out for brain freeze!

Add a little sparkling water and you have a homemade watermelon slurpee!

More Watermelon Tips & Recipes

How to Select the Best Watermelon

How to Cut Watermelon – Two Ways

Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad

Herb & Fruit Simple Syrup

How will you beat the heat this summer? Comment below or if you make this recipe, share your photos with me on Instagram @getgettys or Facebook @GettyStewart.HomeEconomist

Getty Stewart is a Professional Home Economist, speaker, frequent media guest and writer dedicated to putting good food on tables and agendas. She is the author of several recipe books on enjoying and preserving fruit, Founder of Fruit Share, a mom and veggie gardener. Sign up to get articles by Getty delivered to your inbox. You’ll get recipes, practical tips and great food information like this.

Watermelon Granita- No Ice Cream Maker