Spotlight Recipes: Granita

Dig in to these delicious frozen treats that are reminiscent of Italian ices. Granita’s are harder in texture than sorbets and contain less sugar. To make a granita, cook up a simple sugar (combo of sugar and water) and add flavors such as coffee, mint, juice and wine along with fruit. Once the mixture has begun to freeze (it takes about 3 hours), scrape the ice crystals every so often as they start to form. Once frozen, scoop and serve.

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Granita

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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 101

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.

Recipes to Try:

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

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