Delicious smooth ice that is bursting with lemon peel and not shaved like those icy ones you get in the supermarket.
This ice can be made in your freezer in simple containers or by purchasing an ice cream maker to whip this so it turns into a soft sorbet almost like snow!
If you are looking to cool off on those hot summer days, this will do the trick for sure and quench your thirst deliciously.
During the hot summers in Central Utica, New York, we couldn't wait until May when all the Italian pastry shops started to put this back on their menu after a long hard cold winter.
My hometown Utica is famous for so many Italian specialties like this one and so much more Tomato Pie, Italian Greens, Pizza Fritta, Chicken Riggies, Manny's Cheesecake, Oscugnizzo Pizza, Pusties and Rosato Chocolate Cookies.
This Italian Lemon Ice was always something we had to look forward to when growing up and making it in your own kitchen is easier than you may think.
My dad would always have this in our freezer when it first hit the stores, then when I couldn't find it here in Florida, it was time to learn the tricks on how to make it.
I promise you this recipe will not disappoint you and our step-by-step directions will impress everyone who takes that first spoonful.
Just scroll down to the recipe card and follow these step-by-step instructions and you will never have to buy it again.
Addicting and Unforgettable Italian Lemon Ice
Growing up in Central New York my hometown, Utica, New York, was a staple in our freezer starting right after Memorial Day.
You never forget childhood foods and this lemon ice was one we always looked forward to.
Not only was the ice made in the Italian bakery unique in comparison to store-bought ice, but it's smooth and not with chunks of ice like a granita.
This ice comes out the same exact way popular Italian bakeries make it, the stirring will make it smooth and almost like sherbert, but to make it faster the ice cream maker will eliminate time.
We always gathered around the table on a Sunday afternoon when it was stifling hot and enjoyed this not only as a dessert but also to cleanse the palate.
My Dad
Lemon Italian ice was Dad's favorite and maple walnut ice cream was his second choice during hot summer months.
I always remember him every Father's day and make his favorite foods in his memory, and this is one of them.
I remember Dad walking to the Italian pastry shop on Bleecker Street, in our hometown, Utica N. Y.
As soon as they started to make it at the beginning of June we would always have it in the freezer all summer long.
There really was nothing more refreshing than this icy confection on a hot day in Upstate, New York.
Dad would sure be proud of me if he was still here to see if I could make it so good.
Ice Cream Machine
It's worth investing in an ice cream machine, it comes out really whipped and creamy!
I made this for every family get-together here in Florida now.
Growing Up In Utica New York
We had the best bakeries that specialized in Italian Lemon Ice where I grew up.
We couldn't wait every summer when they would put this back on their menu to buy.
People in our hometown, Utica, New York, would stand in line for hours waiting to get this delicious creamy whipped ice with that lemony flavor.
It was the most refreshing confection we had all summer long.
Moving away and missing the foods
After I moved away to Florida, there is something from childhood you will always miss, that is etched in your mind forever, this recipe is it.
I had to try hard to recreate it since I hardly get home and travel there to get all the different childhood foods.
Italian lemon ice tops the list of missing those hard-to-find tastes moving away.
Simple and Refreshing
Even though lemon is the original flavor, ice is refreshing in any flavor you like and easily can be changed.
I love lime and have a lime tree, so use lime juice sometimes for a refreshing change of ice flavor.
I also have more flavors in the recipe card below you can try like orange, strawberry, and more.
No comparison
This refreshing confection is so much better than anything you can buy in the supermarkets.
It's a smooth fluffy texture and not icy at all made in the ice cream machine, and it's just the perfect slushy lemon ice.
I promise you will never buy it again.
Water and boiling
You're really making a simple syrup for this lemon ice.
I do use bottled water, it seems to be pure with no aftertaste and works the best for flavor.
You must follow the directions exactly, and make sure you don't stop the boiling process before the time allotted.
After many tries, this is almost exactly what I remember.
Using an ice cream machine to make the Italian lemon ice is a must-have.
Smooth and Lemony
It whips the ice so that comes creamy and doesn't freeze like ice does. It has no crystals in it and is smooth as silk.
I love this recipe and make it often. It brings me back in time, makes me remember the good old days.
I still miss my family, friends and the bakeries.
Fresh Lemons Are the Best To Use:
You can use part fresh and part concentrate, but if you want the best results, I recommend all fresh lemons.
Those memories are no replacement to my childhood days, but this sure brings a smile to my face when I eat it and the family loves it too. We just can't get enough of this Italian lemon ice.
If you would love to learn how to make Italian lemon ice with or without an ice cream machine, see both directions in the recipe card below.
Italian Lemon Ice is easy to make and you will love it all summer long!
Here are some more Ice Cream Recipes to try:
Pumpkin Ice Cream
Pistachio Chocolate Chun
Banana Split Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Cup
Italian Cannoli Ice Cream
Italian Lemon Ice Pin for Later
Watch My Video On Making Italian Lemon Ice
Tips:
- Boil the water exactly to what is called for in the recipe
- You can double this recipe
- If using concentrate, make sure you use more fresh than concentrated or it will be too tart
- Freeze in a large plastic container until slushy, then add the ice cream maker
- Set your time for at least 25 minutes for the ice cream maker to make it smooth and fluffy ice
- I prefer to use bottled water over tap water
lemon Italian ice, lemon ice, Italian ice, slushy, frozen treat, frozen confection
ice cream, frozen dessert, lemon ice
italian
Yield: 8
Lemon Italian Ice
prep time: 12 min cook time: total time: 12 mins
This is how to make a lemon Italian Ice
ingredients:
- 2 cups of bottled water
- 2 cups of sugar
- Zest of 2 lemons ( grated and set aside) around 1 tablespoon
- 1 1/2 cups of fresh lemon juice (I use all fresh lemons) note: (if using reconstituted) use at least 2 fresh lemons squeezed and enough reconstituted juice to make one cup. You can also use limes.
instructions:
- Heat water and sugar to boiling. Simmer for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and zest. Cool to room temperature. Divide evenly into three ice trays and freeze until almost frozen, stirring every half hour when slushy freeze overnight.
- This mixture has to be put in a container and then slightly frozen before using an ice cream maker. After freezing, put the slushy mixture into the ice cream maker it takes around 35 to 40 minutes to reach a perfect consistency.
- ( To use an Ice cream maker, make sure the mixture is slushy before adding to the machine (follow manufacturer instructions).
- Take ice trays out, and shave the frozen ice using a food processor you can use the back of a fork however much harder to do.
- If you have a hard time getting this shaved with a fork or getting this out of the trays, microwave for 10 seconds, and remove the lemon ice.
- Keep in an airtight container, in the freezer.
- This method won't come out right without stirring every half hour.
- Here are some optional flavors following the same instructions: always boil the water and sugar together first to make a simple syrup.
- FRESH PEACH, RASPBERRY or STRAWBERRY ICE
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups of either fruit using raspberries, strawberries or peaches (peaches must be peeled, sliced, ripe peaches)
- 11/2 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Puree fruit in a blender with lemon juice.
- ORANGE ICE
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 grated orange rind (no white part)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- GRAPE ICE
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 11/2 cups water
- 1 cup grape juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice or pineapple juice
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- instructions:
- Heat water and sugar to boiling. Simmer for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and zest. Cool to room temperature.
- Divide evenly into three ice trays and freeze until almost frozen, stirring every half hour when slushy freeze overnight.
- This mixture has to be put in a container and then slightly frozen before using an ice cream maker.
- After freeing, put the slushy mixture into the ice cream maker it takes around 35 to 40 minutes to reach a perfect consistency.
- ( To use an Ice cream maker, make sure the mixture is slushy before adding to the machine (follow manufacturer instructions).
- Take ice trays out, and shave the frozen with a food processor from the mixture in the ice tray (which is recommended), you can use the back of a fork however much harder to do.
- If you have a hard time getting this shaved with a fork or getting this out of the trays, microwave for 10 seconds, and remove the lemon ice.
- Keep in an airtight container, in the freezer.
- This method won't come out right without stirring every half hour.
- Here are some optional flavors following the same instructions: always boil the water and sugar together first to make a simple syrup.
calories
179
179
fat (grams)
6
6
sat. fat (grams)
0
0
carbs (grams)
22
22
net carbs
11
11
protein (grams)
0
0
sugar (grams)
22
22
Created using The Recipes Generator
Italian Lemon Ice Pin for Later
Don't Forget to Try One of My Favorite Ice Creams Below:
Cannoli Ice Cream
Amaretto Fudge Ice Cream
Banana Split Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream