Cream & SlushFind
Sorbet

Lemon Italian Ice

By Marty Cole Β· March 27, 2026

πŸ’ Be the first to rate this
πŸ₯„ 6 min prep❄️ 24 hr freeze🍦 1 pint
CitrusFruityTangySweet
Lemon Italian Ice

Closest I've gotten to the Italian ice cart from my hometown boardwalk is this Lemon Italian Ice out of the Ninja Creami. Just water, fresh lemon juice, and sugar, frozen overnight and run on Italian Ice till it's that fine, slushy, eat-it-with-a-spoon texture. My buddy Dave didn't believe it was three ingredients until he watched me make it. Use fresh-squeezed lemon, not the bottled stuff, because the bottled kind tastes faintly like cleaning supplies. Make sure the sugar fully dissolves before freezing or you get gritty bits at the bottom.

How it spins

🍦
Program
Italian Ice
❄️
Freeze
24 hrs
πŸ₯„
Prep
6 min
πŸ₯‘
Makes
1 pint

Tip: freeze the pint on a level shelf for a full 24 hours. If the first spin looks crumbly, add a splash of milk and run Re-spin.

Ingredients

  • Water1.75 cup
  • Fresh Lemon Juice0.5 cup
  • Granulated Sugar0.5 cup

Directions

  1. 1Stir the water, lemon juice, and sugar until every grain of sugar has dissolved.
  2. 2Pour into a Creami pint, staying below the max-fill line.
  3. 3Freeze the pint flat for about 24 hours.
  4. 4Lock the pint in and select the ITALIAN ICE preset.
  5. 5Since this base is fat-free, it usually needs a Re-spin or two with a tablespoon of water to smooth out.
  6. 6Serve as a slushy scoop.

Tips

  • Freeze the pint completely flat and level for 16-24 hours so it shaves evenly when you spin it in the Creami, not in chunks.
  • If your result comes out crumbly or icy, add a splash of whole milk or cream and re-spin immediately for a smoother texture.
  • Use fresh lemon juice, not bottled, for bright flavor that actually tastes like lemon when frozen and spun.

Variations

  • Swap half the water for sparkling water or club soda before freezing for a lighter, slightly fizzy sorbet.
  • Add 1-2 tablespoons of limoncello or vodka to the base before freezing to keep it slightly softer and easier to spin.

FAQ

Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh?
You can, but fresh juice tastes noticeably better when frozen and spun. Bottled tends to taste flat and sour rather than bright and lemony.
Why did my pint not freeze solid after 24 hours?
Make sure your freezer is at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and that the pint is placed on a flat shelf with nothing blocking air circulation around it. Some freezers need 30+ hours.
The Creami scooped it as powder instead of creamy sorbet, what do I take?
Take the pint out, add a small splash of milk or cream, put it back in the Creami, and re-spin using the Sorbet or Lite Ice Cream setting for a smoother result.
How long does the frozen pint keep in my freezer?
It stays good for about 2-3 weeks if kept in a sealed freezer bag, though the texture stays best if you spin and eat it within the first week.

Nutrition

Per serving Β· makes about 2 servings Β· estimated

120
Calories
0g
Protein
31g
Carbs
29g
Sugar
0g
Fat

Ratings & Reviews

No ratings yet

Leave a review

Your rating

Be the first to rate and review this recipe!

Marty Cole, recipe developer at Cream & Slush

Meet Marty Cole

I'm a home cook who got a little obsessed with the Ninja Slushi and Creami. I test every recipe in my own kitchen on a real machine, dial in the texture, and only post the ones my family actually finishes.

More about me β†’

More Sorbet recipes

Browse all β†’