Coffee Granita (Granita di Caffè)

Two small glasses of coffee granita topped with whipped cream with two demi-tasse spoons in the background.

Coffee Granita (Granita di Caffè)

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Gluten Free

Keyword: coffee granita, granita di caffè

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 0

Freezing time: 6

Total Time: 6 10

Servings:

Calories: 502kcal

Coffee granita is a sweet and slushy frozen Italian dessert that's easy to make at home. Just brew your favorite espresso, add sugar and freeze away!

Print Recipe

US Customary - Metric

Equipment

moka coffee pot or espresso maker, or regular coffee maker
mixing bowls
whisk

Ingredients

2 cups espresso or strong coffee
1 ½ cups sugar
1 cup heavy cream optional

Instructions

Brew espresso in a moka pot or strong coffee in a regular coffee maker. Pour it into a large bowl and whisk in the sugar until completely dissolved. Allow to cool completely. (Chill overnight if desired, see note below.)
Pour into a dish leaving at least 2 inches above the coffee so it has room to expand as it freezes.
As crystals begin to form, remove the dish and scrape across it and around the sides with a fork, then place back in the freezer. Continue to stir the coffee and scrape the ice crystals every 30-60 minutes.
Once the granita has reached a well-frozen yet spoonable texture (like a loose sorbet) it is ready! You can leave it in the freezer until you're ready to serve. If it gets too frozen to scoop out, just leave it on the counter for 15 minutes to soften up.
Use a hand mixer or whisk to whip the cream into stiff peaks.
Transfer the granita to small serving dishes or glasses, and top with unsweetened whipped cream.

Notes

For faster freezing, chill coffee overnight in the fridge before putting it in the freezer.
Use a large, shallow container to keep the coffee in a somewhat thin layer. It will freeze faster this way. I used a 9" x 9" baking dish. Ceramic or glass dishes work better than plastic because they get very cold and speed up the freezing process.
The whipped cream is optional, but it does add a nice balance. You can also serve it with non-dairy whipped cream to make this dairy free.

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