Italian Lemon Ice
Cool off with the refreshing and zesty flavors of homemade Italian Lemon Ice, a classic frozen dessert that’s perfect for hot summer days. Crafted with only four simple ingredients—fresh lemons, granulated sugar, water, and vibrant lemon zest—this recipe brings the bright, tangy essence of lemons to life in a light, granita-like texture. The step-by-step freezing and scraping technique creates a delicate, icy consistency that melts deliciously on the tongue. Ready in just a few hours with minimal hands-on time, this no-cook dessert is a crowd-pleasing treat that’s naturally dairy-free and bursting with citrusy goodness. Serve it in chilled bowls or glasses with a sprig of mint for an elegant finish that’s as stunning as it is satisfying. Perfect for entertaining or indulging in a solo moment of sweetness, this Italian Lemon Ice is a slice of Mediterranean sunshine in every spoonful.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 large Fresh lemons
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 3 cups Water
- 1 tablespoon Lemon zest
Instructions
Wash the lemons thoroughly under running water.
Zest one of the lemons using a microplane grater to yield approximately one tablespoon of lemon zest. Set aside.
Juice all the lemons into a measuring cup until you have approximately one cup of fresh lemon juice. Remove any seeds.
In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar completely dissolves and forms a simple syrup. This should take about 3-5 minutes. Do not let it boil.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature.
Once cooled, stir in the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest until well combined.
Pour the mixture into a shallow, freezer-safe dish (like a baking dish) and place it in the freezer.
After 30 minutes, use a fork to scrape and stir the mixture, breaking up any ice crystals that form.
Repeat the scraping and stirring process every 30 minutes for about 2-3 hours, or until the mixture is completely frozen and has a fine, granular texture.
Once fully frozen, fluff the Italian Lemon Ice with a fork before serving.
Serve immediately in small bowls or glasses. Optionally, garnish with a sprig of mint or a small lemon wedge.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
942 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 1.8 g | 2% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.2 g | 1% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 34 mg | 1% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 257.9 g | 94% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 17.9 g | 64% | |
| Total Sugars | 215.1 g | ||
| Protein | 6.7 g | 13% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 214 mg | 16% | |
| Iron | 3.6 mg | 20% | |
| Potassium | 847 mg | 18% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
