If you’re from Hawaii, you know about Guri Guri – Hawaiian Ice Cream. The best way for me to describe Guri Guri is if a slushie and ice cream had a baby, the product would be Guri Guri. It’s a creamy delight that is a perfect dessert for the hot summer days. Plus, it’s super easy to make, takes only three ingredients, and you don’t need a fancy ice cream maker. Winner!
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What is Guri Guri?
Guri Guri is usually a mixture of juice, lime soda, and condensed milk that is frozen to produce a creamy frozen treat. It was first invented in Japan by Jokichi Tasaka in the early 1900’s. His son, Gunji Tasaka brought the recipe to Maui from Japan and sold this treat to Japanese plantation workers. The treat was originally called “goodie goodie”, but the older Japanese couldn’t pronounce it properly and the name was later changed to “guri guri”. Since its popularity, the family opened up a shop that did extremely well. The shop has since moved around several times and is now located in Kahului, Maui where it is still a destination stop for locals and tourists after a day at the beach. The Tasaka Guri Guri store only serves two flavors: strawberry and pineapple.
I honestly can’t remember the first time I ate Guri Guri – Hawaiian Ice Cream, but I’m pretty sure my first time wasn’t on Maui. While the recipe for the Tasaka Guri Guri is a family secret, similar recipes can be found in small mom and pop stores all over the islands.
Ingredients for Guri Guri
Some Guri Guri recipes will use flavored soda and others will use canned juice, but the key ingredients are the 7 Up and condensed milk. It’s easy to customize this treat by using different flavored sodas and juices. What flavors will you try?
Update 04/19/2020: For pineapple Guri Guri, substitute the strawberry soda with pineapple soda and add a small can of well drained crushed pineapple, a can of 7Up, and condensed milk. The crushed pineapple adds a little bit of texture and my hubby loves this flavor the best.
How to Make Guri Guri
Mix all ingredients in a bowl or large plastic container, cover, and freeze. Stir the mixture when partially frozen and return to freezer. Try to mix the guri guri several times while freezing, but if you forget, don’t worry. It might not turn out as creamy, but it will still be tasty. Note: the mixture will expand and bubble, so make sure the bowl is large to allow for expansion.
Guri Guri - Hawaiian Ice Cream
How to make Guri Guri or Hawaiian Ice Cream with ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 (12oz) cans Strawberry Soda
- 1 (12oz) can 7 Up Soda
- 1 (14oz) can Condensed Milk
Instructions
Mix all ingredients in a bowl or large plastic container, cover, and freeze. Stir the mixture when partially frozen and return to freezer. This only needs to be done once, but can be done several times. If you forget to mix, don't worry. It will still turn out okay. Note: the mixture will expand and bubble, so make sure the bowl is large to allow for expansion.
Once frozen, scoop out, serve and enjoy!
Notes
Update 04/19/2020: For pineapple Guri Guri, substitute the strawberry soda with pineapple soda and add a small can of well drained crushed pineapple, a can of 7Up, and condensed milk. The crushed pineapple adds a little bit of texture and my hubby loves this flavor the best.
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Hey Erlene,
Found your posts on Pinterest, they are all lovely.
This cutesy Ice cream recipe is something I have never even heard before. I am intrigued to try this next week. I will go grocery shopping this weekend and get these ingredients. I can’t wait to try this out-of-this-world ice cream.
Keep sharing, Love them.
Hey, thanks a lot! What is the best time of year to go to Hawaii?
Anytime is good, but I would avoid Jan & Feb as it tends to rain more during these month.
I’m born & Raised in Hawaii. I live on the island of Oahu but I have been to maui and tried this. They have absolutely the best guri-guri!!! We’d buy some frozen pints to back home. I just made this (before I found your recipe). Only difference was it also called for heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup, otherwise the rest was the same as yours. Next time I’ll have to try with just 3 ingredients. The simpler the better (not to mention less calories). Mahalo for sharing both the recipe and the history!!!
Thanks for visiting and commenting. I’ve never tried it with plain whipping cream, but I’ll try it then next time I make it. Probably will make it less sweet and a bit more creamy.
Hi, Erlene. Thank you for sharing your recipe. It was a great success at home and I am planning to make it tomorrow for our 4th of July at-home picnic. I have a question: Why do you call it Hawaiian Ice Cream if it was invented in Japan?
This looks so delicious! Would it work with diet soda? I have to cut back on carbs and sugar. Just wondered if it would freeze right with diet soda.
The makers of Guri Guri on Maui suggest not to use diet soda. I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know what the difference in flavor/texture it would make.
Hello! I made this recipe the other day and it was a huge hit with my hubby! I was wondering how you got yours to look so smooth in the picture, though. When I made it, the texture was more icy and crystal-like rather than smooth. In your pictures the guri guri doesn’t look as crystal-y as mine did. Any advice?
Thanks for trying the recipe and glad your hubby liked it! Try scooping it out with an ice cream scoop. If you use a small spoon, it can break up the guri guri and get icy like.
hi, this is a first for me but I’d love to give it a try! I have an ice cream maker, do you think it would work in one?
many thanks, Barbie
Hi Barbie, I’ve never used an ice cream maker to make this since you don’t need it to make this. It might make it freeze faster, so that’s a plus.
Can you make it with a machine?
If I add crushed pineapple, do I add less of the soda?
Have you tried other types of fruit (fresh, frozen, canned)?
I’m trying this recipe today with mango soda!
thanks!
Hi Rachelle. Keep the recipe the same, just make sure you drain the pineapple juice before adding it. I save the juice for marinades. Yes, I’ve tried other juices. It’s awesome with guava juice and I’m sure it will be good with mango.
So are you subbing the strawberry soda for pineapples? And what did you mean when you said 24 oz total?
I will update, but I found that you can drain a small can of fresh pineapples and add it to the mix. If I can find pineappe soda (found at 99 cent stores) I’ll substitute the strawberry soda with it and just add the drained crused pineapples and follow the rest of the recipe as usual.The texture will change a bit, but still good.
How about cream soda and club soda? I was thinking it might be too sweet with the 7-up.
It’s actually not overly sweet and I’ve never tried it with club soda.
Kids would be totally all over this.
Saving the recipe. Thanks! 🙂
Amy
This looks so good. My husband can not have strawberry anything. Is there something I can substitute for the Strawberry soda?
You can use any flavor soda to sub with the strawberry. We’ve made pineapple guri grui and it’s one of our favorites.
The Guri-Guri store I remember from my youth was in the Kahului Shopping Center. . .
the “original” one… I think there might be several there now…
It was on the corner of one of the buildings there…
It was a few doors down from a barber shop where I would get my hair cut…
After every visit, they would give me a business card from the Guri-Guri store;
I would take it down there and get a small cup of guri-guri
(not very much bigger than a water cooler-sized cup)…
My parents arranged to pay for my haircuts … I never had to pay when I visited,
so I am not sure if the treat at the end was free or not. . .
* * *
that same store used to sell Nichol Cola (a local root beer) for nine cents…
I would get three pieces of dried squid for a 5 cents each…
and carry it to the Kahului Movie Theater and get in there for 25 cents…
Yep . . . a movie and snacks for 50 cents… well, 49 cents to be exact…
(grin)
* * *
I’m going to have to introduce the family to this wonderful treat…
I had no idea it was so simple to produce…
(wink)
Thank you so very much. . .
“Born on Valley Isle,
Home now North Caolina;
Aloha y’all…”
Oh WOW, never heard of this before, seems easy enough and really delicious… A must try soon or my girl!!! Pinning!
XOXO
How I love the internet. It has been 11 years since I had Guri-Guri!!! My family loves it. We ate it everyday we were on Maui. I can’t wait to get home from work to make this. If it is as good as what we had on Maui I will love you for-ev-er!!!!!
Hi Erlene, This looks amazing! Just found this on Pinterest! It’s hit triple digits here, and I’m looking for something refreshing! Can’t wait to try this! Pinned!
Christine@CherishingaSweetLife
sounds awesome…quick question??? Can you use the 7-Up, strawberry soda and strained crushed pineapple and condensed milk? Just wonder if anyone tried the strawberry with pineapple. Thanks!
I don’t see why not. I’ve made this with crushed pineapple before and it’s delicious. I think the mix would be wonderful. Just make sure you mix it half way through freezing or the pineapples will settle to the bottom.
Yum! This would be so fun to try! Thanks for sharing!
My kids love when I make this during the summer. They like the strawberry flavor and I like pineapple.
Oh my gosh this is so interesting! My mother in law makes a dessert she calls Purple Passion. It’s a mix of grape soda and condensed milk, frozen to a slush.
Thanks for sharing with See Ya in the Gumbo. The party will resume tomorrow.
This is awesome!! I’m making this for our annual fantasy football draft party luau
Your welcome for the feature!! Look forward to having you stop by!!
What a great summer treat!
My kids and hubby love it. I’ve made it using crushed pineapple too, which is my hubby’s favorite flavor.
Good morning Erlene I wanted to let you know that I am featuring your ice cream on my Weekends Are Fun Linky Party today, Hope you can stop by and link up some other fun posts.
Have a great day!
Hi Karren,
What an honor to be featured on your party! Thank you 🙂 I’ll be headed over to link up.
Slushie and ice cream mixed…sounds fantastic! I so need to try this! I think I’ll go with your combo!
Pinning it.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
This sounds so yummy and easy too! Pinned. Thanks for sharing with SYC. I will definitely try strawberry.
hugs,
Jann
This looks so good! Pinned. We really appreciate you taking the time to be a part of our party. Please join us tonight at 7 pm. It is a pleasure to have you! loulougirls(dot)blogspot (dot) com/
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
This sounds yummy. I love anything with sweetened condensed milk! Thanks for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday!
So happy you joined us this week on The Yuck Stops Here recipe link party! I hope you’ll come back soon to share more of your yummy treats! Miss you as a host. HUGS
this sounds great. I’d love to try it for the kids. Pinning this to the Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesday board. Thanks for linking up!
That looks so refreshing and cooling during this hot summer. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
Hi stopping by from the Say G’day Saturday linky 🙂
This looks yummy! I love anything Hawaiian and this looks really easy, so I must try this!
Definitely pinning 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you try this…it’s super tasty and so simple to make.
This sounds and looks SO good! We’ve been to Hawaii and few times and haven’t heard of this! Can’t wait to try! Thanks for sharing on Sunday FUNday! Pinning!
You can find it in small local drive inns or small mom/pop stores. Definitely stop by the Tasaka Guri Guri shop in Maui if you can.
I have never heard of Guri Guri…but I can’t wait to try it! It looks delicious and easy – 2 things I need in a recipe. Thanks for sharing.
P.S. – I’m stopping by from A Bit of Wine’s Wine Wednesday Blog Hop
Cheers!
Katie
Katie thanks for stopping by. It’s really good and really is easy to make 🙂
Hi Erlene! Never heard of Guri Guri but this looks yummy! I will be trying it soon 🙂
It’s really yummy and creamy. Hope you try it.
That looks so refreshing and delicious too. Thanks for sharing this at the Say G’Day Saturday linky party! I’ve pinned this to try it when summer arrives Down Under!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Is it winter there? I think your season are opposite of ours right? Thanks for pinning and let me know when you try it.
Hi Erlene! Stopping in to let you know I will be featuring your Hawaiian Ice Cream this Friday in my P3 Party Board Summertime Treats Roundup post! Congrats and yum! Thank you so much for pining to my party board!
Kim
Eeek! I’m so excited Kim:-) Thank you so much for sharing and featuring my post on your P3 Party Board.
This sounds amazing! I cannot wait to try it out. Thanks so much for sharing this with us on Snickerdoodle Sunday.
Wow! Looks so easy and yummy : )
just pinned this one ….. will definitely try this one as soon as I get home.
This is so creative. Soda and condensed milk = delish ice cream! YUM! and easy. Thanks for sharing at #theWeekendSocial. See you again on Thursday at 9:00 PM EST when we do it all again! 🙂 Off to pin! I’m sure you appreciate that, right!?
I am definitely pinning to try. Looks so delicious and easy to make! My favorite kind of recipe:)
It’s so easy to make. I’m planning on making a pineapple one this week.
This looks SO interesting!! #pinned and +1’d. I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks for pinning. Let me know how you like it.
What a perfect summer treat! Sounds wonderful!
I can’t believe it’s that simple! So glad I don’t need an ice cream maker to make this. #GetHimFed
Love goodie-goodie! Thanks for sharing. Now I’m homesick, lol :). Have to make some this weekend to cure that 😉
Happy Aloha Friday!
i’ve never heard of this (but i’ve never been to hawaii either). i’m so intrigued though! must try it out 🙂
Wow, this looks so good and refreshing! Thanks for sharing on Wake Up Wednesday! 🙂
Cathy
Yum! This looks so good and easy to make. So glad you shared this on the Pretty Pintastic Party! I’m heading over to share your link on my Facebook page!
I bet this is really good! Thanks for sharing on the Thursday Blog Hop!
Wow, I’ve never tried Guri Guri but it looks and sounds absolutely amazing! I am a sucker for ice cream and all frozen treats:) Thanks so much for sharing Erlene!
Love that you don’t have to use an ice cream machine for this! We’ll definitely have to try this one. If you’re interested in linking up to more parties, I’ve got one that is live now and would love to have you over.
Wow, that looks so yummy! I got my tonsils out yesterday and I have been trying all sorts of frozen treats to help feel better, the fizziness in the soda might not be a good idea just yet for me, but I’m definitely going to try this in a few days!
I’m really going to try this! I’ve lived on Oahu all my life except for one year and I’ve never had Guri Guri. I seriously need to go on food adventures, but I’m so excited to try this at home. 🙂
Oooh! I love condensed milk on toast, but have never used it to make ice cream. will try this out!
Who would have thought ! Looks delicious, Erlene – pinned for our Summer time 🙂
I have to try this. I grew up Louisiana and my family made what they called pop rouge ice cream. It was red soda and condensed milk. They used an ice cream freezer. I love the idea of adding the lemon-lime flavor and not having to get out the ice cream freezer. Pinning! Thanks so much, what a lovely post.