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Homemade Rainbow Italian Ice

A vibrant, sweet, and refreshing layered slush dessert made at home with bright fruit flavors. Perfect for a hot summer day and completely dairy-free!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6 cups
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 205
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Syrup Base
  • 4 cups filtered water
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp light corn syrup prevents hard freezing
Flavorings and Colors
  • 1 tsp cherry extract for red layer
  • 1 tsp blue raspberry extract for blue layer
  • 1 tsp lemon extract for yellow layer
  • 1 tsp green apple or lime extract for green layer
  • 10-12 drops food coloring red, blue, yellow, and green

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • 4 shallow freezer-safe containers
  • Metal fork
  • Clear plastic cups

Method
 

  1. Combine water, sugar, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Stir until the liquid simmers and sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
  3. Divide the cooled syrup evenly into four separate shallow, freezer-safe containers (about 1 cup each).
  4. Whisk cherry extract and red food coloring into the first container. Repeat for blue, yellow, and green flavors/colors in the remaining containers.
  5. Place all four containers flat in the freezer for 45-60 minutes until edges become slushy.
  6. Using a metal fork, thoroughly scrape the frozen edges into the center to break up chunks. Return to freezer.
  7. Repeat the scraping process every 30 to 45 minutes for 3 to 4 hours until the mixtures are fluffy and completely frozen.
  8. To serve, scoop alternating layers of blue, red, yellow, and green ice into clear plastic cups, doming the top.

Notes

If freezing overnight, allow the containers to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to temper before attempting to scoop.