As the sunny days roll in around here, we start craving snow cones and shaved ice treats. And while we love a classic, syrup-covered cone served out of the window of a snow-cone truck, making them at home means we can have custom flavor options and keep the ingredients a bit more natural.

Unless you have a shaved ice machine or a really fancy blender, it’s not that easy! Until I learned how granita is made! No fancy equipment necessary. You just need time, a little patience, and a fork!

This recipe is endlessly flexible—swap the cinnamon for chocolate syrup or vanilla, change the ratio of coffee to water, or add a splash of your favorite milk. It’ll be the best coffee break you’ve taken all year!

Gather your ingredients

• 3 cups cold brew concentrate or strong-brewed cold brew coffee*

• 1 cup of water*

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• Whipped cream (optional, for serving)

• Cinnamon sticks (optional, for garnish)

Make the granita

• In a small pot on the stove, heat the water until just hot enough to dissolve the sugar.

• Add the sugar and stir to dissolve, then add the cinnamon and stir that in too. Remove from the heat and set your cinnamon sugar water aside to cool.

• Once the mixture is cool, stir in the cold brew and pour the mixture into a loaf pan, spreading it evenly.

• Place the pan in the freezer, loosely covered with foil or plastic wrap, and let it freeze for about 1 hour, or until the edges start to get icy.

• Using a fork, gently scrape and stir the mixture to break up any ice crystals. Make sure to focus on the edges and corners, since those freeze first.

• Return the pan to the freezer and repeat the scraping process every 30 minutes for about 3 to 4 hours, or until the entire mixture has become the texture of shaved ice.

• Once the granita is fully frozen, remove it from the freezer. Use a fork to fluff and break up any large ice chunks.

• Serve your granita in chilled glasses or bowls. We wouldn’t object to a cinnamon/sugar-rimmed glass.

• Add a dollop (or three) of whipped cream.

** If you’re making cold brew concentrate with our classic recipe, then the 3:1 concentrate-to-water ratio will make a strong coffee-flavored treat. Adjust the water and cold brew amounts to get the flavor just right for your brew method.