---
title: "Cool summer desserts: homemade granita and sherbet"
date: 2008-07-10T18:15:22Z
modified: 2008-07-10T18:15:22Z
permalink: "https://elizabethyarnell.com/watermelon-pineapple-granita/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 3775
categories:
  - Kids
  - Recipes
tags:
  - frozen fruit dessert
  - granita
  - homemade ice cream
  - kid dessert
  - Martha Stewart
  - sherbert
  - summertime dessert
author: Elizabeth
---

I came across this recipe for [Honeydew Granita](http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/17/sweet-and-savory-s-is-for-sake/ "Granita recipe") in the paper the other day and couldn’t stop thinking about it. When we were invited over for brunch recently I thought it would be the perfect refresher to bring along on a hot summer day.

Only, I didn’t have a honeydew melon on hand. So I put half of the flesh of a seedless watermelon together![granita](http://elizabethyarnell.com/WP/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/granita.jpg) with half of the flesh of a freshly-cut pineapple together in the blender. I added 1/2 cup sake and 1/4 cup simple syrup (melted organic sugar with water that I had prepared earlier because I like it in my iced tea). Once blended into a puree, I poured it into an 8×10 pyrex baking dish to put in the freezer.

Well, my _intention_ had been to only mix half of each fruit with the sake and save the rest for a kiddie dessert, but I had little helpers that morning and when I turned my back for a second all of the fruit had been added to the sake mixture.

What can you do when a helpful 5-year old dissolves into tears over a simple kitchen miscommunication? Take a deep breath and move on to plan B.

Plan B meant adding more sake and simple syrup to the doubled amount of fruit and returning it to the blender for further mixing. I poured it back into the baking dish and popped it into the freezer. Every 20 minutes or so, I removed the dish from the freezer and used a fork to break apart the ice crystals and scrape any frozen parts. This is what gives granita it’s granular texture.

![homemade sherbet](http://elizabethyarnell.com/WP/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/sherbert.jpg)

The rest of Plan B called for adding more pineapple to a clean blender with what was left of the watermelon puree, adding some vanilla soy milk, and pouring it into ice cube trays to make smooth and creamy, non-alcoholic, non-dairy Pineapple-Watermelon Sherbet cubes. I once saw Martha Stewart make [homemade strawberry banana sherbet](http://www.marthastewart.com/strawberry-banana-sherbet?lnc=5a79cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD "homemade sherbert Martha Stewart") this way and had enjoyed it then.

The day was saved, and while the adults enjoyed their delicious treat the kids enjoyed theirs, and a good time was had by all.