Granita
A Sicilian semi-frozen dessert of water, sugar and flavorings such as lemon, coffee, almond or fruit, with a coarse or fine icy texture.
- Frozen desserts and sweet beverages
- Italy, Sicily
Also called: Scirobetta
Granita differs by region. In eastern Sicily it is churned to a fairly smooth, spoonable texture, while elsewhere it is scraped into flaky, crunchy crystals. In Sicily it is often eaten for breakfast in summer, served with a soft brioche for dipping. Coffee granita is frequently topped with whipped cream.
Without a machine, the base is poured into a shallow pan and frozen, then scraped with a fork every 30 minutes or so until it turns into fluffy ice crystals. The sugar level matters: too little makes it rock-hard, too much keeps it slushy.
Make it at VanillaGoods
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RecipeGranita al Limone (Sicilian Lemon Granita)4 hr 35 min · Serves 6 -
RecipeGranita di Caffè with Vanilla3 hr 10 min · Makes 2 glasses -
RecipeHomestyle Granita di Caffè3 hr 10 min · Makes 2 glasses
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Sources
Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
- Granita (Q70612), Wikidata