A beloved Korean dessert: Mango Bingsu! Fluffy shaved ice and sweet mangoes make the most delicious and refreshing summer treat. No need to buy a fancy ice shaver. Instead, replicate that light, fluffy, snow-like texture at home with the grater attachment of a food processor. So easy and so good!

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Mango Bingsu (Korean Shaved Ice)

Korean Shaved Ice, also called Bingsu, is one of the most popular Korean ice desserts. Enjoyed on hot summer days, it’s frozen milk that’s shaved into light and fluffy ice particles. It tastes like a bowl of fluffy snow! There’s a wide variety of Bingsoo flavors: Mango, Oreo, Strawberry, Matcha, Tiramisu, etc.

Mango Bingsu is especially delicious with lots of sweet, juicy mangoes. To intensify the mango flavor, there’s sweet mango puree and fresh mango chunks. There’s also chewy mochi bits and a drizzle of condensed milk. YUM!

Different from Hawaiian Shaved Ice, it’s made with frozen milk instead of water. As a result, the ice shavings are milky and creamy. The texture is soft and fluffy — like snow!

Also, Korean Bingsu includes lots of toppings. You’ll find an assortment of different flavors and textures — sweet red bean paste or adzuki beans, fresh fruit, sweet rice cakes, injeolmi rice cakes, crunchy oreo cookies, and even soybean powder or green tea powder. A drizzle of condensed milk adds sweetness without being overly sweet.

To make this popular Korean Shaved Ice Dessert at home, you don’t need an electric shaved ice machine. Instead, use a food processor with a grater attachment. Making your favorite bingsu is just as easy as making homemade popsicles!

Ingredients:

• Milk. For ultra-creamy, softer-than-snow ice — whole milk is preferred. Can be swapped with 2%, or 1%. I don’t recommend skim milk because it will be too icy; the fat in the milk gives the best result and keeps the texture light and fluffy.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk. A canned dairy product with a long shelf life that’s sweet, thick, and syrupy. Popular in Asian countries throughout the world, it’s often used to sweeten desserts and drinks. The flavor is sweet, rich, and mellow. The texture is syrupy and sticky. Not the same as evaporated milk. A generous drizzle is a common sweetener for Korean Bingsu.
• Mango. For the sweetest flavor, choose ripe mangoes. Ripe mangoes smell fragrant and are slightly soft to the touch. I prefer Ataulfo mangoes, which are small and not overly fibrous. Half of the mangoes will be pureed, and the other half will be cut into chunks.
• Sugar. To lightly sweeten and thicken the mango puree.
• Mochi Bits. *Optional; adds an addictively chewy element! Make your own or order Mochi Sweet Rice Cake Topping (affiliate) online. You can also use fresh tteok (dduk) from the Korean grocery store, cut into little bits.

Instructions:

1. Freeze milk. Pour milk into ice cube trays. Transfer to the freezer, until completely frozen. About 6 hours or preferably overnight.
2. Make mango puree. Peel and roughly chop 2 mangoes. Add sugar. Use a hand immersion blender to puree everything until smooth. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to use.
3. Chop mango chunks. Peel and carefully dice 2 mangoes into 1-inch chunks. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to use.
4. Grate ice cubes. Set up a food processor with a grater attachment. Add ice cubes through the feed tube until the frozen ice is grated to a light and fluffy texture.
5. Assemble bowls. Transfer the shaved ice to chilled bowls. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk on top. Add mango chunks and mango puree. Top with mochi bits. Serve and enjoy immediately!

Watch how to make it:

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• Ice Cube Trays. Regular ice cube trays work great. The standard-sized ice cube tray freezes the milk into portions that fit into the food processor. Note: If the cubes are too small, they can slip under the food processor lid and be difficult to grate. If they are too large, they won’t fit in the feed tube. Also, silicone trays make it especially easy to remove.
• Hand Immersion Blender. An easy way to crush the mangoes into a silky-smooth puree.
• Food Processor + Grater Attachment. The key to making that fluffy, light-as-snow ice shavings without purchasing an electric ice shaver machine or expensive stand mixer attachments. Grater attachments are included with standard-size food processors. Do not crush ice cubes directly into the food processor or it will produce dense, heavy results. I’ve tried other methods but the grater attachment is by far the best way to achieve restaurant-quality, fluffy texture.

OR

• Box Grater or Hand-held Microplane. An alternative to a food processor with the grater attachment. However, it will take much longer. Use a clean, cold kitchen towel to hold multiple ice cubes together. Then grate as quickly as you can into a chilled bowl. Ideal for 1 portion.

PRO Tips:

• Keep everything cold. Chill the food processor and the grater attachment in the fridge until cold to the touch. Chill serving bowls in the fridge or freezer (if they are freezer safe) as well. Simple steps that will prevent the snow from melting too quickly.
• Handle as little as possible. Handle the snow gently and lightly. The shaved ice is so light and delicate, it will begin to melt almost immediately. Do not mix, scoop, or shake the shaved ice more than necessary. Any additional movement can make it clump into hardened lumps, like a packed snowball.
• Eat quickly! Enjoy immediately. The impossibly light and feathery, snow-like texture will melt quickly.

To serve:

For ease and convenience, serve in chilled serving bowls. Some suggestions:

• Small Soup bowls. For a pretty presentation, pile everything high in a small soup bowl. Chinese or Japanese soup bowls with a tapered bottom work well.
• Clear glass bowls. For the prettiest presentation, serve in a clear glass bowl. You can see everything on the bottom, as well as on top.
• Footed ice cream bowls. For a festive, celebratory presentation. Not everyone owns them but if you do, they make the presentation especially charming and fun.

Variations:

• Add ice cream. A scoop of vanilla ice cream makes it extra special! Coconut or mango ice cream also make good additions.
• Add whipped cream. Add a little bit of indulgence with a dollop of store-bought or homemade whipped cream.
• Add additional toppings. For more flavor or contrast, add: crunchy granola bits, nuts, crushed graham crackers, or crispy thin ginger cookies.

More dessert recipes:

• Mango Coconut Sago
• Coffee Jelly (Jello)
• Coconut Mochi Cake
• Easy Mochi Donuts
• Korean Strawberry Milk Popsicles