You’re only three ingredients away from this refreshing recipe for Easy Lemon Granita that makes for the perfect palate cleanser or brunch companion.
Table of Contents
Cool, crunchy, tangy, sweet and with a hint of mint. It doesn’t get much more refreshing than a big ol’ scoop of Easy Lemon Granita.
“Gra-what?” you ask. Granita! As in, a fancy word for shaved ice or, as we call them around our house, snow cones. But here’s the kicker. This recipe is made with only three ingredients and doesn’t require any special equipment to make beyond a fork. Ready for the not-so-secret, super simple shortcut?
Refrigerated lemonade!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Most granita recipes call for making a simple syrup or squeezing endless lemons. Here, we’re kicking all that unnecessary work to the curb and twisting open a bottle of Florida’s Natural® Brand Lemonade.
- Cool and refreshing.
- Made with just 3 simple ingredients.
- No fancy equipment is needed.
- Incredibly easy.
As a mom of four little ones, I have had my fair share of crazy pregnancy cravings, but the number one craving during my pregnancies with all four kids was… lemonade (specifically this frozen lemonade pie recipe!).
It was a cool, sweet, sour, and caffeine-free solution to quenching my thirst and I drank it nonstop—regardless if I was 9 months pregnant in the summer or winter.
So naturally, when I was pregnant with my second son, I was looking for creative ways to turn my favorite beverage into an even more refreshing snack without a whole lot of stress or mess. And that’s how this Easy Lemon Granita was born.
I’ve paired my favorite Florida’s Natural® Brand Lemonade with plenty of minced fresh mint and then taken the presentation up a notch by serving the granita in hollowed-out lemons. Not only is Florida’s Natural a delicious and refreshing addition to this recipe, they’re also committed to supporting Florida growers and being a farmer-owned cooperative. Major win!
Kelly’s Note: Because I’m cooking and entertaining nonstop (pregnant or not!) I love this added touch to the presentation. It adds mere minutes to the prep and really wows guests, whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue, baby shower or spring soiree.
- Lemonade: When it comes to flavor profiles, you can use any variety of Florida’s Natural® Brand Lemonade, but I really love the deep-purple hue of the Lemonade with Blackberry (bonus points for all of those added antioxidants!).
- Pineapple juice
- Fresh mint
Pro Tip: For a boozy twist, whisk in ½ cup of your preferred liquor (such as vodka or rum) and continue with the recipe as directed.
How to Make Granita with Lemonade
- In a 13×9-inch metal baking pan, whisk together the lemonade, pineapple juice and minced mint.
- Transfer the pan to the freezer and scrape it with a fork every 30 minutes for about 2 ½ hours or until the mixture crystallizes. Scoop and enjoy!
Grab the lemonade and find inspiration for more citrus-packed favorites with my other Brunch Club recipes for French Toast Roll-Ups, Orange Baked French Toast and Tropical Brioche Bread Pudding.
- Hollowed out lemons can be made a day or two in advance to save time. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge to keep them fresh.
- Not a fan of mint? You can skip the fresh herb or swap in thyme or basil for a different fresh herb flair.
- Granita can also function as the ultimate chiller for cocktails of mocktails in place of ice! Simply pour your cocktail of choice atop a glass of granita and enjoy.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups Florida’s Natural® Brand Lemonade
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, minced
Instructions
- In a 13×9-inch metal baking pan, whisk together the lemonade, pineapple juice and minced mint.
- Transfer the pan to the freezer and scrape it with a fork every 30 minutes for about 2 ½ hours or until the mixture crystallizes.
- When ready to serve, scoop the granita into hollowed out lemons or bowls and serve immediately.
Kelly’s Note:
- For a boozy twist, whisk in ½ cup of your preferred liquor (such as vodka or rum) and continue with the recipe as directed.
- Hollowed out lemons can be made a day or two in advance to save time. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge to keep them fresh.
- Not a fan of mint? You can skip the fresh herb or swap in thyme or basil for a different fresh herb flair.
- Granita can also function as the ultimate chiller for cocktails of mocktails in place of ice! Simply pour your cocktail of choice atop a glass of granita and enjoy.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Florida’s Natural for an exclusive endorsement of not-from-concentrate Florida’s Natural® Brand Orange Juice and Florida’s Natural® Brand Lemonade. This blog post is sponsored by Florida’s Natural Growers. All opinions are my own.
Very refreshing as I am going to make for guests out in the harsh heat in the outback of Australia
Thanks for the recipe
You are so welcome, Glenda! I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Not a pineapple juice fan. Can I just use all lemonade?
Absolutely! That would be delish :)
Love those lemon “cups,” so cute and such an easy way to class up the beverage :)
Thanks so much, Laura!
Hello…can you use any type of lemonade..?
Sure!
If you are using lemons for the cups anyway, why not use the whole lemon? Then perhaps you are not getting some ingredients you may not want.
Good idea, however, for a light summer dessert.
Lemonade Granita! YaY!!
How did you hollow out the lemons, with a simple ol’ spoon?
Hi Elizabeth! I used a pairing knife to cut off the tops then slice around the inside. And then you can use a spoon to scoop them out. Hope that helps and enjoy the granita! :)