Frozen Italian Lemon Granita with Mint

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-25 · Updated 2026-06-25

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A refreshing frozen lemon granita flavored with fresh lemon juice and mint, perfect for a light and cooling dessert. This Italian-inspired recipe, ready in about 250 minutes, layers fresh lemon juice, granulated sugar, water into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 90 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 240 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 90 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 cup (from about 5 lemons) fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups water
10 leaves, chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tsp for garnish lemon zest

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small saucepan, combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 2 cups water. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let cool.
Step 2: Stir 1 cup fresh lemon juice and 10 chopped fresh mint leaves into the cooled sugar syrup. Pour the mixture into a shallow metal pan.
Step 3: Place the pan in the freezer and every 30 minutes scrape the mixture with a fork to break up ice crystals, continuing this process for about 3-4 hours until fluffy and granular.
Step 4: Serve the lemon granita scooped into chilled glasses, garnished with 1 tsp lemon zest and a fresh mint leaf if desired.