Lemon Italian Ice

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Easy

Italian ice is a smooth frozen dessert of sweetened water and fruit with no dairy, softer and finer than a granita. This lemon version is churned so it comes out creamy-looking without a drop of milk. Makes 6 scoops in about 4 hr 40 min.

Prep 15 min

Cook 25 min

Cooling 4 hr

Total 4 hr 40 min

Yield 6 scoops

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

scoops

2 cups (480 ml)water, cold
1 cup (200 g)granulated sugar
1 cup (240 ml)fresh lemon juice, strained
1 tbsp (6 g)lemon zest, finely grated
1 pinchfine salt

Fresh ingredient guides

LemonsHow to pick, season & nutrition · 24 kcal per 84 g

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Instructions

Combine half the water with the sugar in a small saucepan and warm over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves completely, about 3 minutes.
Take it off the heat, stir in the lemon zest and let it steep for 10 minutes.
Stir in the remaining cold water, the lemon juice and the salt.
Refrigerate until very cold, at least 3 hours.
Churn in an ice cream maker for 20 to 25 minutes until thick and smooth like soft sorbet.
Freeze in a chilled container for 2 hours to firm up, then scoop into cups.
No machine: pour into a shallow pan, freeze, and blend the frozen chunks in a food processor every 45 minutes twice more for a smooth texture.

Tips

Use fresh lemons; bottled juice tastes flat in a dessert this simple.
Italian ice is best the day it is made because it hardens fast.
Zest only the yellow part to avoid bitterness.
Good with cold sparkling water.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make lemon italian ice?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking, plus 4 hours to chill. The recipe makes 6 scoops.

How should I store lemon italian ice?

Freeze in an airtight container up to 3 days; let it soften 10 minutes and stir before serving.

Can I make lemon italian ice ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Serve it with cold sparkling water.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

141 Calories / serving

0.1g Fat

37.1g Carbs

0.5g Protein

34.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~846 cal · 1g fat · 223g carbs · 3g protein · 206g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.