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Side view of two glasses of kakigori Japanese shaved ice, topped with matcha syrup and blueberries.
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5 from 5 votes

Kakigori (Japanese Shaved Ice)

Enjoy Kakigori, a traditional Japanese shaved ice dessert! Try it topped with easy homemade syrups like matcha, strawberry, and mango.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Cooling Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 6
Calories: 143kcal
Author: Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Pot
  • Fine Mesh Strainer

Ingredients

For the Shaved Ice:

  • 6 cups ice cubes

For the Syrups (make one or more flavor)

Matcha Syrup

  • 2 tablespoons matcha powder
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 1 cup sugar

Strawberry Syrup

  • 1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen, no need to thaw)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

Mango Syrup

  • 1 cup mango chunks (fresh or frozen, no need to thaw)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

Optional

Instructions

Prepare one or more syrups

    Matcha Syrup

    • Heat the water in a pan on the stove until simmering.
    • Whisk the matcha with a little of the hot water in a small bowl, until dissolved.
    • Add the sugar to the pot of simmering water and heat for 5 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved. Whisk in the dissolved matcha and heat for a further minute.

    Strawberry Syrup

    • Simmer strawberries, sugar, and water for 10 minutes.
    • Strain through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl. Cool and refrigerate.

    Mango Syrup

    • Simmer mango, sugar, and water for 10 minutes.
    • Strain through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl. Cool and refrigerate.

    Assemble Kakigori

    • Shave ice into fine, fluffy snow using an ice shaver or whiz in a blender.
    • Fill a small bowl or cup with shaved ice.
    • Drizzle with syrups and (if using) the condensed milk.
    • Add optional toppings like fruit or mochi.
    • Serve Immediately

    Nutrition

    Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg