Apple Cider Granita with Ginger Cream

With the warm weather we`ve been experiencing here in Ontario I`ve been thinking about cool desserts again. When we had mom over for dinner a few weeks ago we had a large menu so I wanted something light and refreshing to finish up the meal. This recipe from Bon Appetit was perfect!

I really loved this recipe. It's very simple yet the final result has a complex, unexpected flavor, especially with the ginger whipped cream. I know that we`ll be making this one a lot over the next few months!

Apple Cider Granita

4 cups apple cider
2/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
20 whole allspice
10 whole cloves

Stir first 4 ingredients in saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, cover and let steep 1 hour. Strain mixture into 8-inch square metal baking pan. Freeze until edges begin to set, about 1 hour. Whisk; freeze again until mixture is slushy, about 1 hour. Whisk again to blend well. Freeze without stirring until granita is frozen solid, at least 3 hours or overnight. Using fork, scrape granita until entire mixture is mass of crystals. Cover and freeze until ready to serve.

Scoop granita into 6 chilled glasses. Top with Ginger Whipped Cream.

Ginger Whipped Cream

1/2 cup chilled whipping cream
1 tablespoon (packed) brown sugar
2 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger

Beat cream and sugar in medium bowl until peaks form. Fold in ginger. Cover and chill up to 4 hours (before serving, whisk cream to thicken if deflated).

Comments

[bellini]

It sounds very light an refreshing Jerry!

[Kayte]

This sounds like a really great combination...granitas such fun and the ginger sounds perfect with it. Thanks...will give it a whirl around the pool this summer.

[JDeQ]

It was perfect bellini. It will be appearing on a number of menus in the near future. :-)

Funny thing Kayte - I always forget how easy these things are to make . . . one would think I'd learn! There should always be a container of delicious granita in the freezer . . . my motto for 2012.