I Tried a 1-Ingredient Orange Soda Granita for Summer Dessert in a Pinch

This summer has been a scorcher so far, and anytime a heatwave hits, it always gets me interested in desserts and treats to help beat the heat. Anything that tastes refreshing and doesn’t require a ton of effort definitely fits the bill. Sometimes, even no-bake desserts are too much work. So when I stumbled upon this one-ingredient Coca-Cola Granita from Martha Stewart, I knew I had to give it a try for myself. However, instead of using a bottle of Coke, I swapped it out for my favorite orange pop and the result was the world’s easiest orange soda granita.

How to Make an Orange Soda Granita

With only one ingredient, this recipe is all about the technique and a little bit of strategic timing. All you have to do is pour some orange soda into a freezer-safe container. Then just pop it in the freezer, and set a timer. I used an 8-inch square baking pan because it fit easily in my freezer.

I waited about an hour before reaching in with a fork to fluff the semi-frozen soda. At this point, it looked a bit like a partially melted Slurpee. Then, I waited another hour. It had frozen even more. This time, I was able to fluff the ice crystals further, and it really started to take on a granita texture. After one final hour, and a bit more finesse with the fork, it was ready to serve.

I spooned it into dessert bowls and couldn’t wait to give it a try.

What Does It Taste Like?

The result was delightful! I was really surprised how the texture of the fluffed ice crystals transformed a bubbly beverage into a chilled treat. Since I used orange soda, I decided to top it with a little bit of whipped cream. This gave the dessert orange creamsicle vibes that was both nostalgic and delicious. Since the technique was so easy, it made me want to try other sodas like root beer or other granita recipes beyond the one ingredient trick.

Here are a few other low-ingredient granita recipes:

• Zesty Lemon Granita
• Honeydew Granita
• Rhubarb Strawberry Granita