We're celebrating frozen confections all week long on Healthy Eats. First up: granita! Reminiscent of an Italian ice, granita has less sugar and a harder texture than sorbets. You can easily make your own and flavor it up with coffee, mint, juice and wine along with fruit. The best part? No ice cream maker needed.

Granita is one of the simplest frozen desserts to make. First, make a simple syrup: combine equal parts sugar and water and heat until the sugar is dissolved. Then, use the syrup to sweeten your liquid of choice: pureed fruit, coffee, fruit juice and wine are common choices. Some fruits, like watermelon, are sweet enough without any added sugar.

When the mixture begins to freeze (it takes about 3 hours), scrape it with a fork every 20-30 minutes so ice crystals start to form. Once the mixture resembles coarse crystals, scoop and serve.

• Watermelon, Lime and Mint Granita
• Strawberries with Basil Granita
• Cantaloupe Granita
• Strawberry and Mascarpone Granita (pictured)
• Tropical Granita
• Champagne Granita
• Hibiscus Granita

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. See Toby's full bio »