6 oranges
2 C orange juice
1/3 C simple syrup*
2 T orange liqueur
Wash the oranges. Using a microplaner zest three of the oranges. Juice all six oranges and combine with the orange juice and zest. Sweeten to taste with simple syrup (you can use no simple syrup at all if you’re happy with how the mixture tastes). Add the liqueur. Place the mixture in a shallow roasting pan and place in the freezer. After two hours scrape a fork over the mixture to break up the freezing process so that it kind of looks like shaved ice. Return to the freezer and scrape again in another couple of hours. Serve immediately. I like to top mine with fresh fruit, or a dollop of whipped cream or Greek yogurt.
If you want to make this ahead you will need to scrape it again to break it up, it will freeze into a solid mass, and it loses its delicate flavor within about 48 hours.
Serves 6
*Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is a mixture of boiling water and sugar. The reason why you use it in this dish is if you added granular sugar to the juice mix the sugar wouldn’t dissolve. You can also flavor simple syrups with a vanilla bean, or cinnamon stick which can add an interesting twist to your granita.
½ C boiling water
½ C sugar
Combine the boiling water and sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. You can use immediately in the granita, if you have any leftover store in the fridge. It’s a good way to sweeten cocktails like Lemon Drops or Cosmopolitans.
