Milk Chocolate Granita Recipes

ALMOND-MILK GRANITA (GRANITA DI MANDORLE)

Steps:

• Blend together almond paste, sugar, and 1 1/2 cups water in a blender until smooth, foamy, and white. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into an 8-inch square baking pan, reserving any solids in sieve. Add remaining 1/2 cup water to solids in sieve and whisk over baking pan until most of water passes through (do not press on solids).
• Stir mixture, then freeze, stirring and crushing lumps with a fork every 30 minutes, until firm but not frozen hard, 2 to 3 hours. Scrape with a fork to lighten texture, crushing any lumps.

MILK CHOCOLATE GRANITA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, mix water and milk.
• Place over low heat, then add sugar to dissolve.
• When sugar is dissolved, add chocolate and cocoa.
• Pour into a baking dish or other wide, shallow container (the shallower the granita is in the dish, the faster it will freeze).
• Allow to cool slightly (at least until it is no longer steaming).
• Cover and freeze for one to two hours, until it is frozen at the edges. Scrape the ice with a fork, mixing it towards the center of the dish.
• Repeat every 20 to 30 minutes, until the granita is completely frozen (the texture should be somewhere between flaky and slushy).
• Keep frozen until ready to serve. If the granita becomes too solid before serving, allow to sit at room temperature until slightly softened, then use a fork to loosen.
• QUICK GRANITA METHOD: Freeze mixture into an ice cube tray; once solid, use a food processor or ice shaver to flake.

ALMOND GRANITA

Steps:

• Purée all ingredients with 1 1/4 cups water in a blender until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a 9x9x2" metal baking pan; strain, discarding solids. Freeze mixture for 1 hour. Stir, mashing any frozen parts with the back of a fork. Cover and freeze mixture until firm, about 2 hours. Using a fork, scrape granita vigorously to form icy flakes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover tightly with foil and keep frozen. Give it a quick scrape before serving.

SKIM MILK GRANITA

Steps:

• Place ingredients in blender (or deep and narrow container for the immersion blender).
• Blend on high in a five second burst and then move the larger cubes closer to the blade.
• Repeat the five second bursts until the cubes are chopped into fine grains.
• Pour in a glass and add a straw and/or spoon.

CREAMY MELON GRANITA

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, combine melon with condensed milk, lime or lemon juice, and salt. Puree until smooth. Transfer to an 8-inch square baking dish; freeze until firm. Before serving, scrape with a fork until it has the texture of shaved ice.

MILK CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Chop chocolate bar into small pieces; place in a glass or stainless steel bowl.
• Combine cream and sugar in a small saucepan and bring over medium heat. Just as mixture starts to boil, pour it over chocolate and whisk until combined and chocolate has melted. Stir in butter. Set aside to cool and thicken, at least 15 minutes.