Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (2024)

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Looking for a super easy summer dessert that will impress? This simple Strawberry Granita has just a few ingredients and lets you showcase fresh summer strawberries!

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (1)

(This recipe for Strawberry Granita was originally published in September 2011, but was updated with new photos in 2020).

I'm going to be honest here. I'm not quite ready to let go of summer. And you know what? I shouldn't have to since summer doesn't officially even end for another few weeks.

I'm on a constant search for easy desserts to make that utilize fresh summer produce to make for entertaining. Granita couldn't be any easier. This strawberry granita recipe is from David Lebovitz's book The Perfect Scoop (an absolutely awesome resource for any wannabe ice cream makers!).

I decided to halve the recipe from what the book notes, but then realized Lebovitz also has a halved version on his website. Note that you can easily double the recipe I have below; just use a larger dish to freeze it in (I recommend a 9x13).

What is Granita?

I guess we should start by talking about what a granita actually is, right? Granita is a semi-fine frozen Italian dessert that generally consists of water, sugar, and the flavoring of your choice. They're a lot like slushes or Italian ice, but are a bit finer and grainier/coarser. You're literally shaving the ice with a fork as the mixture freezes, so you could also refer to granita as shaved ice.

Granitas are super easy to make as they usually just consist of blending ingredients together and freezing for a bit before chipping away at with a fork. If you use fresh fruit, like in this strawberry granita, you'll need to purée it first.

Unlike lots of other frozen desserts, you don't have to wait long for this one to freeze! You just need to give it about an hour in the freezer before you can start chipping away at it. It will take about 2 hours total in the freezer before it's ready to be enjoyed.

How to Make Strawberry Granita

In a medium bowl, combine strawberries and sugar. Mix until the sugar is just dissolved and the strawberries begin to release their juices.

Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour.

Try your BEST not to eat the sugar-covered strawberries since I promise the granita is really worth it!

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (2)

Combine the strawberries, including their liquid, water, and lemon juice in a blender and puree until smooth.

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (3)

Pour the mixture through a strainer to eliminate any seeds. I usually use the backside of a mixing spoon to press all of the liquids through the strainer, but this puree was already super smooth and barely anything was left behind.

Then transfer the liquid into an 8x8 or 9x9 dish.

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (4)

Place dish in freezer and after about an hour, begin chipping away at the edges of the mixture with a fork to break it into smaller pieces.

Place the dish back in the freezer. 30 minutes later, check again and continue to scrape with a fork. After about 2 hours, you should have it completely scraped.

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (5)

Serve the strawberry granita in little bowls with a strawberry garnish if you'd like.

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (6)

This granita has become one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh summer strawberries as it truly lets their flavor shine. It's wonderfully icy and perfect for eating with a spoon.

Some people serve granitas as palate cleansers between courses of a meal and this one would be fabulous at a fancy summer dinner party.

But I like to eat it for dessert on a night when I'm craving something a little bit lighter.

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (7)

One of the reasons I'm most sad for summer to end is that I'll miss fresh strawberries so much.

But while this strawberry granita is a summer dream come true, I'm also thinking about all the other delicious flavors of granita that are in my future.

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (8)

I hope you get the chance to make this strawberry granita while strawberries are still at their freshest!

And here's hoping you enjoy the rest of your summer. Until it's officially over, that is 🙂

What's your favorite frozen dessert?

If you like this strawberry dessert, be sure to check out my White Chocolate Strawberry Ice Cream and my Strawberry Soufflé. And I'm super excited to make these Strawberry Cream Pie Popsicles from Healthy Little Vittles!

📖 Recipe

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (9)

Strawberry Granita

Looking for a super easy summer dessert that will impress? This simple Strawberry Granita has just a few ingredients and lets you showcase fresh summer strawberries!

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Eclectic, Italian

Keyword: Frozen Desserts, Strawberry Desserts, Summer Desserts

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour hour

Makes: 4 servings

Author: Sues

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and sliced
  • 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine strawberries and sugar. Mix until the sugar is just dissolved and the strawberries begin to release their juices. Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour.

  • Combine the strawberries, including their liquid, water, and lemon juice in a blender and puree until smooth.

  • Pour the mixture through a strainer to eliminate any seeds.

  • Transfer mixture into an 8x8 or 9x9 dish, cover with foil, and place in freezer.

  • After about an hour, remove dish from freezer and begin chipping away at the edges of it with a fork to break it into smaller pieces. Place the dish back in the freezer. 30 minutes later, check again and continue to scrape with a fork. After about 2 hours, you should have it completely scraped.

  • Serve in bowls with strawberry garnish, if desired.

Notes

Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (10)

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Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (15)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sarah k. @ the pajama chef says

    i must say...i'm excited for fall... but with recipes like this, summer could last a little longer, i suppose!

  2. lynn @ the actor's diet says

    so beautiful and simple! i always want to make granitas but i never have freezer room!

  3. Kathryn says

    Yum, this looks delicious! I think I could eat granitas all year long, nevermind about the season!

  4. Erica says

    Mmm- i bet itd be fun to do a mixed berry version too.

  5. Emily @ A Cambridge Story says

    So refreshing! I made watermelon granitas this weekend - couldn't believe how easy they were!

  6. Mal @ The Chic Geek says

    I love granita in the summer, this looks so good!

  7. Monique says

    I have made coffee granitas and this looks fab!
    (btw, im a wordpress girl now so adios malware!)

  8. Kelly says

    I think I am definitely in the opposite camp of most people when it comes to this. As much as I like summer, fall is my absolute favorite, so I'm not going to lie, i got pretty excited when we had a chill in the air yesterday and I had to throw on a hoodie.

  9. Erica @ In and Around Town says

    So not ready for summer to be over, fall just means being busy and that is no fun! I have yet to make a Granita, but I really should try this out - prolong summer somehow!

  10. Michelle Collins says

    This looks so refreshing, and perfect for the "end" of summer. 😉

  11. carole says

    O.k. I've been looking for a cute, cheap, creative way to label different things in the kitchen and seeing your sugar bowl just gave me a great idea! Thank you! So, is it just chalk paint?

Leave a Reply

Strawberry Granita Dessert Recipe | We are not Martha (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with bad strawberries? ›

We recommend that you cook or macerate them with sugar and only then swirl or blend them into bases for ice cream, popsicles, or sorbet, depending on your preferences. If you are looking for delicious things to do with overripe strawberries, keep in mind that you are not limited to the classics such as jam.

What can I do with tasteless strawberries? ›

Add a little sugar and salt! Wash your strawberries, cut them, and hit them with a pinch of salt and a couple good three-finger pinches of granulated sugar, give them a little tossy-toss, and watch them magically start to darken and get extra juicy.

What is granita ice cream? ›

Light, elegant and refreshing, granita is a simple shaved ice dessert that's perfect for cooling off on a hot summer's day. Made from crunchy ice flavoured with fruit, it has a fresher, cleaner mouthfeel than ice cream, and a coarser, lighter texture than sorbet.

Can you eat strawberries gone bad? ›

A moldy strawberry should be thrown out. If you happen to accidentally eat a moldy strawberry, you'll know it because, usually, moldy strawberries will have an off flavor that is a bit sour and acidic and may remind you of blue cheese.

How long can you leave strawberries out before they go bad? ›

However, they just don't last very long on the counter. In fact, if you'd like your strawberries to stay free of decay, you only have one or two days to keep them at room temperature. If you'd like your strawberries to last more than a few days, it's best to refrigerate them.

What is the secret to sweet strawberries? ›

Sun it is that develops sugar levels in the berries – so make sure your plants get lots, and lots of it.

What happens when you put sugar on strawberries? ›

Sugar maceration is well-suited for strawberries because its hygroscopic properties draw out the water in the berries, creating a syrupy juice. As the berries macerate, they gently collapse, forming a jammy consistency that is ideal for spooning over ice cream, yogurt, or cake.

What enhances the flavor of strawberry? ›

Balsamic Vinegar:

Basically, the vinegar (especially when nuanced with a little black pepper), steps into the background, making the strawberries even sweeter. Strawberries and balsamic vinegar also mix well in toasted bread, flatbread, scones and more. And let's not forget desserts—the role strawberries were born for.

How to sweeten strawberries without sugar? ›

Lay your strawberries out on a baking tray and put them in a pre-heated oven at 350 °F (177 °C) for about 20 minutes. The heat from your oven will cause the natural sugars within the strawberry to concentrate, making them sweeter to your tongue.

What flavor brings out strawberry? ›

Strawberry and Black Pepper: The spicy bite of black pepper accentuates the natural sweetness of strawberry, offering a tantalizing blend of delicate sweetness and bold spiciness. Jammy strawberry flavor works well to temper the black pepper's heat.

What are the traditional granita flavors? ›

The classic granita flavours are lemon, cinnamon and jasmine, with variants such as strawberry, almond and coffee. But there is also pistachio, black mulberry, peach, mandarin and pineapple, depending on the season. Another very popular flavour is the so-called “chocolate granita”, which is actually made with cocoa.

What is the difference between a granita and a sorbet? ›

Like sorbet, granitas are often made from a puree of fruit, sugar, and water. The difference is in their texture. Unlike sorbets, which are smooth-churned, granita purees are scraped repeatedly during the freezing process, loosening their structure into icy flakes.

What can I do with semi bad strawberries? ›

  1. Macerate Them Into a Sauce. Maceration is simply the softening of a food by soaking it in a liquid, but the cool thing about juicy fruits is that, with just a spoonful of sugar, they can be self-macerating. ...
  2. Compound Them Into Butter. ...
  3. Muddle Them Into a Drink. ...
  4. Freeze Them Into Pops. ...
  5. Blend Them Into Your Morning Smoothie.
Jun 20, 2017

How do you fix rotten strawberries? ›

If your strawberries are already rotting, pick off the affected ones, which will give the rest a chance to grow without getting infected. As a last resort, or if mold and rot continue to pester your plants, you can use a fungicide.

What can I do with old moldy strawberries? ›

When you find a few moldy pieces of fruit inside a container, throw out the moldy fruit and any pieces of fruit that are directly touching them. Take a close look at the remaining pieces of fruit: if there are no signs of mold and the fruit is not overly mushy, thoroughly wash the fruit prior to consuming.

Do strawberries go bad in the refrigerator? ›

“Depending on the freshness of strawberries when purchased—which is the biggest factor in how long your berries stay fresh—they're typically best within 3 days when stored in the refrigerator in a shallow container. But I have kept them for up to one week in a glass jar,” Blanchard confirms.

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