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Shaved ice desserts are far from new. Take Kakigori, a Japanese shaved ice dessert served with sweetened condensed milk, for example—it’s been around for far longer than I can remember. Many could say the same about those brightly-colored snow cones in America. Whatever way they’re being served, we can agree that shaved ice treats are synonymous with a hot summer day. They are also flawless.
That said, if you’re looking to jazz up your frozen desserts with beaucoup flavor and even more je ne sais quoi factor this summer while exerting minimal effort, say bonjour to this simple, nutrient-stacked strawberry shaved ice recipe. This treat’s a smart way to sneak in an extra serving of fruits on a blisteringly hot summer day, plus it’s super refreshing and loaded with fresh fruit flavor.
Learn how to make strawberry shaved ice (or any form of fruit you fancy) ahead—all with four ingredients or less.
How to make a strawberry shaved ice recipe using two ingredients
Frankie Gaw, better known as @littlefatboyfrankie on social media, recently shared his simple four-ingredient strawberry shaved ice dessert on TikTok, and it’s safe to say it was an instant hit. Over the last several weeks, the video has amassed a whopping 4.5 million views, with over 400,000 likes. Do we smell the summer’s hottest viral recipe? Signs clearly point to yes.
Making strawberry shaved ice from scratch is all about technique. Namely, grating frozen fruit—in this case, strawberries—using a Microplane Classic Zester Grater (which retails on Amazon for just $15). In the video, Gaw carefully grates about a cup of frozen strawberries over a bowl until there’s a heaping mound of frozen fruit resembling a fluffy pile of freshly-fallen snow (or shaved ice). Heads up: Your fingers might be slightly cold from handling the fruit as you grate away, so we’d recommend using a food-safe glove if you have one. Better yet, grate the fruit using a food processor—just be gentle. Finally, to sweeten the frozen fruit up even further, Gaw drizzles a spoonful of condensed milk overtop. That’s it. What could be sweeter?
Well. If you want to really enjoy yourself, don’t skip the most important part of any good ice cream-style dessert: the toppings. In this case, Gaw adds crushed peanuts, a sprinkle of black sesame seeds, and a few mint leaves for garnish (optional, of course) before digging in. His genuine reaction of pure joy as he lets a sneaky expletive escape his mouth during his grand tasting reveal. Needless to say, you’ll want to try making this delicious dessert immediately after watching the video.
Other recipes for shaved ice that use frozen fruit
As the easy homemade dessert has exploded in popularity, folks have taken it upon themselves to tweak and personalize the original recipe as they see fit. In response to Gaw’s original video, recipe developer Carolina Gelen crafted a (non-alcoholic) piña colada version of the dessert. To make it, she starts by grating frozen pineapple spears into a glass. Then, she tops it with sweetened condensed coconut milk and toasted coconut flakes.
The best part about this shaved ice dessert is that the options are truly endless. Don’t like pineapple? No problem. You can use just about any fruit of your choice that lends itself to being frozen and grated. Think: mango, peaches, cantaloupe, or even bananas—anything that’s large enough to grate on a Microplane. For bonus hydration points, use some of the most hydrating foods ideal for a hot summer day. (Did you know that watermelon is made up of 92 percent water and contains loads of vitamins C and A, as well as magnesium?)
Plus, have extra fruit left over from a party platter or some that will spoil in the next few days? Freeze it yourself. To do so, ensure that it’s been washed and thoroughly dried. Then, on a parchment-lined baking sheet, place the fruit evenly spread on one layer without touching each other. Then, plop it in the freezer. Once it’s fully frozen, feel free to transfer the frozen fruit to a freezer-safe container to save on room.
Discover an RD’s favorite hydrating foods for summertime:
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