Very Berry Ice Recipe
Introduction
This Very Berry Ice is a refreshing and vibrant treat perfect for warm days. Made from fresh summer berries, sugar, and lemon juice, it’s a simple dessert that delivers bright, fruity flavors with a delightful icy texture.
Ingredients
- 750g summer berries (we used strawberries)
- 140g caster sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Step 1: Hull and chop the fruit, then place it in a bowl with the sugar and lemon juice.
- Step 2: Boil a kettle of water, then pour 300ml of the boiling water over the fruit mixture. Leave to macerate until cool.
- Step 3: Blitz the mixture in a food processor until smooth, then push the purée through a sieve to remove seeds and pulp.
- Step 4: Chill a sided metal tray in the freezer. Once chilled, pour in the purée and cover with cling film.
- Step 5: Freeze until the edges are solid and the center is slushy, then use a fork to break up the ice into smaller crystals.
- Step 6: Return the tray to the freezer and repeat the breaking up process every 30 minutes at least three times until fully frozen and snow-like in texture.
- Step 7: For a quicker finish, freeze the mixture in an ice tray and blitz the frozen cubes in a food processor just before serving for a slightly slushier texture.
Tips & Variations
- Try mixing different berries like raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries for a more complex flavor.
- Adjust the sugar amount to taste, especially if your berries are very sweet or tart.
- Add a splash of sparkling water or a sprig of fresh mint before serving for extra freshness.
Storage
Store the berry ice covered in the freezer for up to one week. To serve, let it soften slightly at room temperature for a few minutes and then fluff with a fork to restore the icy texture.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use frozen berries instead of fresh?
Yes, frozen berries will work but may release extra water when thawed, which can affect the texture slightly. Adjust the sugar and lemon juice if needed.
What if I don’t have a food processor?
You can use a blender or an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth before freezing.
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Very Berry Ice Recipe
- Total Time: 4 hours (including freezing and intermittent scraping)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Very Berry Ice recipe is a refreshing, homemade frozen dessert made with a mix of summer berries, caster sugar, and lemon juice. It involves macerating the fruit, pureeing it smooth, and freezing the mixture with periodic stirring to achieve a soft, snow-like texture. Perfect for a light, fruity treat on warm days.
Ingredients
Fruit Mixture
- 750g summer berries (e.g., strawberries)
- 140g caster sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
Additional
- 300ml boiling water
Instructions
- Prepare the Fruit: Hull and chop the summer berries, then place them in a bowl with the caster sugar and lemon juice. Stir to combine and coat the fruit evenly.
- Macerate the Fruit: Bring 300ml of water to a boil, pour the boiling water directly over the fruit mixture, and let it sit to macerate until cool, allowing the sugar to dissolve and the flavors to meld.
- Puree the Mixture: Once cooled, puree the fruit mixture in a food processor until completely smooth, then pass the puree through a sieve to remove seeds and pulp for a silky texture.
- Chill the Freezing Tray: Place a sided metal tray in the freezer to chill a shelf and the tray, which will help the mixture freeze evenly and quickly.
- Freeze and Scrape: Pour the puréed mixture into the chilled tray and cover with cling film. Freeze until frozen around the edges and slushy in the center, then use a fork to break up the ice crystals. Return the tray to the freezer.
- Repeat Freezing and Scraping: Every 30 minutes, use a fork to break up ice crystals to create a light, snow-like texture. Repeat this process at least three times until fully frozen and fluffy.
- Alternative Quick Method: For a faster version, freeze the mixture in an ice cube tray and blitz the frozen cubes in a food processor just before serving. This results in a slightly slushier texture but is equally delicious.
Notes
- Using a sided metal tray helps the mixture freeze evenly and speeds up the freezing process.
- Scraping the ice crystals multiple times ensures a light, airy texture rather than a solid block of ice.
- The recipe can be adapted using any summer berries or a combination of berries based on preference.
- This dessert is best served fresh but can be stored in the freezer for up to a week.
- The quick method using the ice cube tray and food processor is ideal for when short on time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Freezing
- Cuisine: Western
Keywords: berry ice, summer dessert, frozen berry dessert, homemade ice, fruit ice, frozen treat
