Oh you guys, this LA heat wave has been pretty unbearable. It was so hot the other night that Matthew and I wrapped ice packs with a towel and put them on our stomachs to help us fall asleep. Sad but true! The late summertime heat is a bit of a deterrent for me to bake desserts so I wanted to make something that would be cold cold cold!
This Blackberry and Mint Granita recipe is it! It’s delicious and so refreshing. If you’re wondering what a granita is, it’s a semi-frozen dessert that uses sugar, water and flavorings of choices. It’s similar to a sorbet or Italian ice. Granitas are perfect on a hot day, or when you’re just wanting to satisfy your sweet tooth.
If you’re looking for something to make for Labor Day that doesn’t require use of your oven, this recipe is it! There are only three ingredients involved: blackberries, sugar, and mint, so you won’t need to hunt down a bunch of things, or spend a lot of money. Both those factors tend to be important when I’m making something, especially for a crowd!
Blackberry and Mint Granita
makes 6-8 servings
INGREDIENTS
1 lb blackberries
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup water
2 bunches of mint, plus additional for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and add mint leaves. Cover and let steep for 1 hour. Remove the mint leaves and chill the syrup in the fridge.
Puree the blackberries and simple syrup {recipe makes about 3/4 of a cup} in a blender. Strain out the seeds and the pulp.
Pour into a container {I used a loaf pan} and freeze for about 5-6 hours. Every hour, remove from the freezer and rake the mixture with a fork.
When finished, add into dishes and serve with a spring of mint.
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This recipe is extremely easy with it’s short three steps! The one thing you have to do, though, is make sure to be home while you’re making it since you do need to rake the mixture about every hour for the 5 to 6 hour freezing time. I started making this in the morning on Sunday and spent the day cleaning and organizing, so it worked out easily for me. It was nice and ready for a late afternoon snack!
Here are some other easy dessert recipes!
Or go big and make this Strawberry & Rhubarb Pie. It’s one of my favorites!!
xox
