BHA & BHT Free Watermelon Mint Granita

Total time4 hr 20 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time5 min

4.6

(21)

Few frozen desserts feel as effortlessly refreshing as a granita made with peak-summer watermelon, and this one delivers that icy, flaky texture that practically melts on your tongue. Every ingredient here is whole and recognizable — fresh fruit, honey, lime, mint, and a pinch of salt — which means none of the synthetic preservatives like BHA or BHT that sneak into so many packaged sweets and store-bought frozen treats. The mint syrup is steeped right on the stovetop and strained clean, so you get a delicate herbal sweetness without any artificial flavoring or additives. A little lime juice brightens the whole thing and keeps the watermelon flavor tasting vivid and alive rather than flat. The technique is genuinely satisfying: you scrape the freezing mixture with a fork every half hour or so, building up those signature loose, feathery crystals that no machine can quite replicate. It's an impressive dessert that looks like it came from a fancy restaurant but requires nothing more than a blender, a baking dish, and a little patience. Serve it in chilled glasses with a sprig of fresh mint and watch it disappear fast.

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Ingredients

6 servings

6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes (about ½ small watermelon)
3 tbsp honey
¼ cup water
¼ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime)
1 pinch salt

For serving

fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Combine the honey and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the honey fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add the mint leaves. Let steep for 5 minutes, then strain out and discard the mint leaves.
2
Working in batches if needed, blend the watermelon cubes in a blender until completely smooth, about 30 seconds.

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