Food and Recipes Desserts Orange Cream Granita Be the first to rate & review! Try this granita for a zesty and refreshing frozen treat. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 9, 2023 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Hands On Time: 15 mins Total Time: 4 hrs 50 mins Yield: 4 to 6 servings Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham A cool treat on a hot day is heaven. We're talking ice cream, ice pops, gelato, and even granita. Any yummy treat to beat the heat is welcomed during the dog days of summer. Some of our favorite ingredients to incorporate into desserts are in season during the summer. We love anything with berries, citrus, and even working in sweet corn. We never shy away from classics like blueberry cobbler or sheet cakes, but some days are just not meant to be spent in the heat of a cramped kitchen. While it's much too hot to turn on the oven on days like these, we have the recipe for you if you like whipping together something homemade. This frozen treat couldn't be easier to make. It takes just a few minutes of active time and you're on your way to a cool afternoon snack. You'll want to gather just a few ingredients for this recipe. One of the most important ingredients is the freshly squeezed orange juice. Freshly squeezed juice has bright flavor that can't be matched, which is why you won't want to cut corners here. While it can be a pain to freshly squeeze the juice yourself, believe us when we say it's worth it. Once your ingredients are gathered and mixed according to the instructions, you'll want to grab your pan and pour the mixture in. It's vital that you let the mixture freeze for four to five hours so ice crystals can form and your frozen treat is actually frozen and not just really cold. Once it's properly frozen, take an ice cream scoop and shave away portions of the icy mixture to serve in bowls. We love eating this orange cream granita on it's own, but if you're looking to spice things up, we think it would pair well with any simple baked goods you may have lying around. Before we serve our orange cream granita, we like to garnish it with some fresh mint leaves. The citrusy tang of the granita and the fresh minty spice from the leaves balance each other for the most refreshing flavor. This homemade treat will make all your sweet citrus dreams come true. Ingredients 1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest 2 cups fresh orange juice (including pulp) 1/2 cup Simple Syrup 1/2 cup half-and-half 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Whipped cream (optional) Chilled orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier), optional Directions Whisk together first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl; pour into a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan. Freeze 4 to 5 hours or until ice crystals form, stirring every hour. If desired, top each serving with whipped cream or a shot of chilled orange liqueur. Rate it Print