Espresso Granita with Whipped Cream

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Cocktail Party

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (11)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(11)

Prep Time:
10 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
12 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: 5 hr 0 min
Cook: --
Total:: 5 hr 10 min

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Ingredients

6 cups hot espresso
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, grated or shaved
Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

Directions

In a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish, carefully pour in hot espresso and whisk in granulated sugar until dissolved completely. Place dish in freezer and every hour, scrape the mixture with a large fork to create the granita texture. The granita will need approximately five hours to completely freeze. The first time you scrape, the granita will not be frozen solid. You want to start scraping while it's still slushy so that texture of the granita will be even throughout.

Right before serving, make the whipped cream. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream until soft peaks. Add the vanilla extract and confectioners' sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks.

Line up 12 glass Champagne flutes. Place 1 tablespoon of granita in the bottom of each glass. Using a different spoon, spread a layer of whipped cream. Continue layering the granita and whipped cream, ending with the whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate over the top of each glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Espresso Granita with Whipped Cream
Anna Key Biscayne, FL 07-19-2009
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Great Recipe!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Great Recipe! Really delicious, made this for my family on several occasions. I add chocolate shavings between every layer... and make sure its chocolate you would actually eat, not baking chocolate. It adds a mocha touch. * It's best not to make this at night, it'll keep you up! * I've found that if you sweeten both the whipped cream and espresso its a bit too sweet so try maybe barely sweetening the espresso, it gives it a lighter touch! Great Recipe, great textures! YUMRead more
recipe Espresso Granita with Whipped Cream
Anonymous 07-06-2007
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Delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made these on several occasions for large crowds and they are always a hit! Delicious and very easy to make. If you... are short on time, dividing the espresso mixture into two dishes speeds up the freezing process.Read more
recipe Espresso Granita with Whipped Cream
Julianne Dinuba, CA 06-13-2007
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Refreshing
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe is very simple to prepare. It is so refreshing on a hot summer day and the whipped cream compliments it... perfectly. I've tried it with fat-free cool whip and it was very good. And if Splenda was used instead of the sugar to sweeten the espresso, it would have almost no calories and no fat making it a healthy substitute for ice cream.Read more
recipe Espresso Granita with Whipped Cream
MELANIE Bristol, CT 09-24-2005
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Fabulous...
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I served this at my sister-in-law's bridal shower. Nobody would believe how simple this dish was. They thought is must have... taken hours of labor intensive work. It was delicious and a huge hit...Read more
recipe Espresso Granita with Whipped Cream
Jinann Houston, TX 08-29-2005
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Light and delicious
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I really enjoyed this recipe which is versatile and does well with different toppings along with the whipped cream
recipe Espresso Granita with Whipped Cream
NANCI Hamlin, WV 07-20-2005
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Back in Little Italy, in one bite!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

giada, thanks for reminding me of how much i loved the granita, i had it as a teenager at my neighbors home, and loved it but... never really knew how they did it....now i make it all the time with different juices and flavored coffees because the whole family would rather have it than fruit!Ps. love your show!Read more