Light cold strawberry granita is just what you need to cool off on a hot day. Made with strawberries and stevia, it’s a fun dessert with no sugar.

All I can say is, “It’s hot outside!” The mercury is rising and icy, strawberry granita is light and cold; just what I need to cool off on these hot summer days.

Earlier this month, I made a sparkling raspberry lemonade pressé with fresh lemons and raspberries.

It was the perfect summer drink, and I loved that because it was homemade, I could sweeten it with stevia and choose organic berries, free of chemicals and pesticides.

As the days grow more humid here, my kids have been eating more ice cream. The pressé gave me the idea to make a healthy frozen dessert for them instead with fresh berries!

For more dessert inspiration, check out my complete collection of dessert recipes. From classic favorites to innovative treats, there’s a gluten free surprise waiting for you at every turn.

What Is granita?

I decided on a strawberry granita, a dessert originally from Sicily, similar to snow cones and Italian ice.

My version is made with organic strawberries and stevia for a refreshingly fun dessert without a drop of sugar.

This summer has been unusually busy. In the past, my family looked forward to summer as a break from the year-long homeschooling schedule.

Now, however, nearly all the children are graduated and busy with their own schedules.

All the more reason why my family appreciated this fruity treat today.

While I savored the delicious icy granita crystals melting in my mouth, I looked around at my children’s faces. They were just as delighted as I was to take a break from work to cool off with this wonderful treat.

Granita is so quick to mix together, and then you just have to return to the freezer every now and then to scrape the crystals as they form.

I didn’t mind at all because it was a particularly hot day, and it was wonderful every time I opened that freezer and felt the gush of cool air.

Want more strawberry goodness? Don’t miss out on these refreshing options: melt-in-your-mouth Strawberry Protein Popsicles, nutritious Berry Good Smoothie or infused Strawberry Lemon Water.

What is the best way to prepare strawberries?

In order to preserve as much of the fruit as possible, hull the berries with a paring knife.

Remove the stems and core beneath the cap by inserting the tip of a paring knife on an angle into the core. Then rotate the knife and fruit in opposite directions until the core is released.

Now you’re ready to make your cool summer treat.

Instructions

*Free printable recipe card is available at the end of the post.

First bring water and stevia to a simmer. Stir so that the stevia dissolves completely. Then let it cool to room temperature.

Place the hulled strawberries in your blender. Add the sweetened water (syrup) and lemon juice and process until smooth, about 1 minute.

Pour mixture into a 9 x 13 baking pan, cover and place in the freezer. And that’s it; only 3 ingredients plus water.

After 40 minutes scrape the icy crystals that have formed on the edges into the middle of the pan with a fork. Repeat this every hour for the next 4-6 hours.

You want to stir often to avoid chunks of ice from forming. An icy sorbet-like consistency is what you want.

I have left my strawberry granita in the freezer overnight. Then I used the fork to scrape it up again before serving.

Pro tips and recipe notes

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Today, I used this brand of stevia for sweetener because I have found that it doesn’t have a back taste. Give it a try or go with whichever sweetener you prefer.

Now that you know how to make it, you can make granita in your favorite flavors. Will you go with watermelon, lemon-lime, or mixed berries?

I have heard that almond flavored is popular using puréed almonds, almond paste, and almond extract in the mix.

Or would you like a more savory granita infused with herbs like basil, rosemary, or cinnamon? Or how about wine or champagne?

And be sure to let me know how you make yours in the comments!

This really was love at first taste.

After just one spoonful, all my son Michael wanted to know was when I would be making delicious frozen strawberry granita again!

Go ahead and make strawberry granita this week. There’s a smile and a taste of summer in every spoonful.

More healthy desserts you’ll love

How to make coconut whipped cream Here’s a step by step tutorial for how to make coconut whipped cream from coconut milk. Paired with organic blackberries for anytime you want a dairy free topping.

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins (Paleo, Grain Free) – Get your ingredients together, and you’ll be taking these coconut flour blueberry muffins out of the oven in just 25 minutes.

Dark Chocolate Drizzled Coconut Macaroons – Cookies with the healthiest ingredients! Yes, please.

Healthy Coconut and Almond Dark Chocolate Bark – This frozen bark is sheer happiness in your mouth: a layer of toasted coconut flakes, coconut oil, almonds, and chia seeds topped with a thin layer of delicate chocolate and sprinkled with more chopped almonds. Yum.

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