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Milky Shaved Ice With Strawberries

a cup of shaved milk with strawberries on a blue background
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.

There’s nothing I want more than a big bowl of shaved ice on a hot, humid summer day. While a shaved ice machine is a worthy investment for the fluffiest, lightest version of this dessert, you can also make it granita-style by freezing milk in a pan and scraping with a fork. Strawberries and condensed milk are my go-to toppings (here we use frozen strawberries that are thawed but not drained to preserve the precious juices), but this dessert’s riffability means you can top it with whatever you please: store-bought mochi bites, your favorite fruit (think mango or raspberry), tapioca pearls, or nata de coco. —Genevieve Yam

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 4

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1 10-oz. package frozen strawberries, thawed but not drained
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. (or more) fresh lemon juice
4 Tbsp. condensed milk, plus more for serving
Sliced fresh strawberries (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    If using a shaved ice machine, fill ice molds with whole milk and place on a level surface in freezer and freeze until solid, 4–6 hours.

    Step 2

    If not using a shaved ice machine, pour whole milk into an 8" square metal baking pan and freeze until edges begin to set, 30–35 minutes.

    Step 3

    Using a fork, scrape milk to break up frozen portions. Continue to freeze, scraping and breaking up every 20–30 minutes, until mixture resembles fluffy shaved ice, 2–4 hours.

    Step 4

    Bring frozen strawberries and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; simmer until saucy, 5–8 minutes. Remove from heat and crush berries with a potato masher or fork. Mix in lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice if needed. Chill strawberry sauce until cold, about 45 minutes.

    Step 5

    If using shaved ice machine, remove frozen milk from freezer and let thaw 5 minutes. Place into machine and shave according to manufacturer’s directions.

    Step 6

    To serve, place 1 Tbsp. condensed milk and 1 Tbsp. strawberry sauce into each glass. Spoon shaved ice over, dividing evenly. Top shaved ice with fresh strawberries and more strawberry sauce, then drizzle a little more condensed milk over.

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