In the realm of refreshing summer treats, few desserts surpass the delightful charm of sweet cherry granita. This vibrant Italian dessert, with its alluring scarlet hue and invigorating icy texture, offers a symphony of flavors that dance on the palate. Its culinary roots firmly planted in Sicily, granita has been tantalizing taste buds for centuries, enchanting all who partake in its frozen magic. Whether enjoyed as a palate-cleansing intermezzo between courses or savored as a standalone sweet treat, sweet cherry granita promises to transport you to a realm of pure refreshment and culinary delight.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
SWEET CHERRY GRANITA
Stirring granita during the freezing process lets large, flaky ice crystals form.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Time 10m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a blender, puree cherries, sugar, and lemon juice until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth. Pour into an 8-inch square baking dish. Freeze 6 hours, scraping with a fork every hour (mixture should be icy and fluffy).
- To serve, pour 1 tablespoon liqueur into each of 12 small bowls or glasses. Top with 1/2 cup granita and a small dollop of whipped cream, if desired. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 110 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 1 g
SOUR CHERRY GRANITA
We came across a cherry tree while staying in southern France and used some of our lovely fruit in this recipe. If you want to add another layer of flavour, try steeping some green tea in with the mixture, when you add the ginger. A dash of amaretto could be nice as well.
Provided by Sackville
Categories Frozen Desserts
Time 5h30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Wash the cherries, then drain and pit them into a bowl, keeping all the juice.
- Place the cherries and their juice in a food processor or in a blender and purée. Pass the purée through a fine sieve, set over a saucepan, and throw away the pulp.
- Measure the cherries and add enough water to bring the total amount of fruit and water up to three cups. This should be about 2/3 cup water.
- Put the cherries and water in the saucepan over a medium heat, along with the sugar and the ginger.
- Cook until the sugar has dissolved, then take the pot off the heat and cool.
- Run through a sieve again, if you feel it is necessary.
- Pour into a shallow dish and freeze, stirring about once every hour, bringing ice crystals from the edge into the centre.
- It will take about 5 hours to freeze completely.
- Serve, or store in the freezer, covered, up to 2 days. You may have to take it out of the freezer for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 244.2, Fat 0.5, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 0.3, Carbohydrate 62.7, Fiber 4.8, Sugar 54.5, Protein 2.5
SOUR CHERRY GRANITA
The surprise ingredient here is balsamic vinegar.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Yield Makes 1 quart
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Set a colander over a bowl, and drain cherries, reserving all the liquid.
- Place cherries in a food processor or in a blender, and puree. Pass the puree through a fine sieve, set over a medium bowl. Using the back of a spoon, press cherries to extract the juice. If any solids remain in juice, pass juice through the sieve again. Discard pulp left in the sieve.
- Add reserved liquid from step one and vinegar to the strained juice.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar with 2/3 cup water; cook over medium-high heat until sugar has dissolved, about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, and let stand until cool.
- Add cooled syrup to juice mixture, and stir until combined. Pour this new mixture into a shallow metal pan large enough to hold the liquid; place in freezer until ice crystals begin to form around edges, about 1 hour. Using a fork, stir the ice crystals into the center; return to the freezer. Stir ice crystals once an hour until all the liquid has frozen and has a grainy consistency, about 5 hours. Serve, or store in the freezer, covered, up to 2 days.
SIMPLE FRUIT JUICE GRANITA
This is a very simple treat that can be used with your favorite fruit juices to make many different variations. My favorite variation has banana in it. It brings a bit of creaminess to the icy treat. The small bottles of prepackaged juice in the produce section are the perfect amount of juice for this recipe--just pick a flavor! Don't let the mixture freeze completely before you scrape. The secret is to scrape as it freezes.
Provided by FrackFamily5 CA->CT
Categories Desserts Frozen Dessert Recipes
Time 4h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Mix sugar and water together in a glass, microwave-safe, 8x8-inch dish. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Mix with a fork until all sugar is dissolved. Stir in juice.
- Freeze for 1 hour. Scrape mixture with a fork. Return to the freezer in increments of 30 minutes, scraping with a fork to create small granules after each one. The granita is ready when it resembles icy sand, about 3 hours total.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 112.8 calories, Carbohydrate 28.7 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 0.2 g, Sodium 7.3 mg, Sugar 25.7 g
Tips:
- To achieve the best flavor, use ripe and flavorful cherries.
- For a smoother texture, strain the cherry mixture before freezing.
- If you don't have a blender, you can mash the cherries with a fork or potato masher.
- To make the granita ahead of time, freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 weeks.
- When ready to serve, thaw the granita for 15-20 minutes at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
Conclusion:
Sweet cherry granita is a refreshing and delicious summer treat that is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up fresh cherries and is a perfect dessert for any occasion. Whether you are looking for a light and refreshing snack or a sweet and satisfying dessert, sweet cherry granita is sure to hit the spot.
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