Oh oh oh… I did something a little unexpected.
I made a fudgesicle in a large baking dish, scraped it with a fork, and added more chocolate. Then I called it a granita — mostly because I was winging it and enjoy putting my own spin on classic recipes. It’s a messy, fun way to invent in the kitchen, and it got me through a heatwave with something cold, chocolatey and ridiculously simple.
A few days ago one of my favorite people shared a coconut fudgesicle recipe, and of course, once chocolate and coconut lodged in my head, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I didn’t have popsicle molds handy — they’re probably buried somewhere in the bottomless pit that is my purse — so I improvised with what I had: a baking dish, a little patience, and a fork.
The result is fudgesicle-like crumbles of creamy, cocoa-forward frozen goodness — think fudgesicle meets Dippin’ Dots. It’s easy, no-bake, and gloriously cold — exactly what you want on a hot summer day when you need a quick chocolate fix.
Fudgesicle Granitas
[inspired by Katie, lightly adapted from a fudgesicle recipe]
Serves 2–4
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups light canned coconut milk (about 1 1/2 cans)
2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons salted butter
Instructions: In a saucepan over low heat, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa and coconut milk. Whisk until the ingredients are combined and the sugar begins to dissolve, then raise the heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 10–12 minutes, until the mixture thickens slightly.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and butter until smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish and freeze for 4 hours. Once partially frozen, use a fork to scrape the surface into coarse, icy flakes. If it’s still very soft, return it to the freezer until firm enough to scrape.
After the first scrape, freeze an additional hour and scrape again to create lighter, granular ice crystals. Then freeze for another 4 hours (or overnight) before serving. Spoon the granita into bowls and garnish with chocolate chips if desired.
Optional mix-ins and toppings: peanut butter chips, toasted coconut, crushed pretzels, or any chopped chocolate you love. They all add texture and extra flavor, and are worth trying. Enjoy this uncomplicated, chilly treat that’s great for summer entertaining or a simple solo indulgence.