Orange clove granitas are a refreshing and cooling frozen treat. The bright citrus flavors from the orange are enhanced by the warm, aromatic notes of the clove, creating a delightful balance of sweetness and spice in every spoonful.

What are granitas?
Granitas are frozen desserts with a coarse texture that originated in Italy. They are made by freezing a mixture of water, sugar, and a flavoring (often fruit). The mixture is scraped or blended to create icy crystals. Granitas are refreshing treats, perfect for hot days. They come in a wide variety flavors, such as fruit or coffee, and are a perfect treat for a hot summer day or a light dessert.
What are orange clove granitas?
Orange clove granitas are a tasty frozen dessert that combine the vibrant citrus flavors of oranges with the aromatic warmth of cloves. This icy treat is made by freezing a mixture of fresh orange juice, sugar, water, and cloves, then scraping it into icy flakes. The result: a refreshing and tangy dessert with a subtle spiced undertone, perfect for cooling down on a hot day or as a light and flavorful ending to a meal.
Serving Suggestions
These granitas are best served right out of the freezer. For best results, place the dessert dishes in the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. This will help prevent the granitas from melting quickly.
orange clove granitas
Serves: 3 people
Ready in 5 hours 30 minutes
Active time: 10 minutes
Inactive time: 5 hours 20 minutes
Equipment
- A small saucepan
- A 13×9 glass baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 cup of fresh orange juice (about 4 oranges)
- 1 cup of water
- 2 cloves
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
Method
Step 1
In a small saucepan, cook the water, sugar, and cloves over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup begins to simmer (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat. Let the syrup cool to room temperature (about 20 minutes) and pour through a mesh strainer into a large bowl.
Step 2
Whisk the fresh orange juice into the cooled syrup.
Step 3
Pour the mixture into a 13×9 glass baking dish. Freeze until the edges start to set (1 hour). Remove from the freezer. Scrape and stir the frozen parts using a fork. Return mixture to freezer and repeat the forking process every hour for 4 hours until it reaches a texture similar to sorbet.
Step 4
Just before serving, stir the granita with a fork. Spoon into dessert dishes.
Notes
- If you do not have a 13×9 glass baking dish, divide the mixture into storage containers.
Storage
These granitas can be stored in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to one month. To re-fluff the granita, scrape it with a fork before serving.
Fun fact
- In Sicily, granitas are often eaten alongside brioche.
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