Apple Pie Granita

Apple Pie Granita: This is a great light desert when you just need a little something to put that final “fini”with an exclamation point. A granita is also nice as a mid-course palate cleanser or even as part of an amuse-bouche. The granita here is another “basic”, so you can substitute other juices and flavors, even alcoholic beverages like margaritas. Just remember that alcohol lowers the freezing point, so too much alcohol and you just get a really cold drink-not necessarily a negative….

 

Apple Pie Granita

• 1/3 cup sugar or Splenda/Truvia (use proper sweetness conversion)
• 3 cups apple juice
• 1 lime
• 2 tbsp Apple Pie Spice (recipe follows)
• 6-8 oz vanilla yogurt

Combine all ingredients except yogurt in a blender and thoroughly mix. Bring to a simmer (do not boil), and allow to cool gently back to room temperature. Filter through fine sieve lined with cheesecloth. Pour the mixture into a 9 or 10 inch metal baking pan. Freeze the mixture, checking every hour or so to smash out lumps or chunks if the form. It should be fully frozen in 4 to 5 hours. To serve, place a tablespoon of yogurt on the bottom of a martini or other cocktail glass. Shave thin layers of the granita and place on top, serve immediately.

Apple Pie Spice

• 4 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp ground allspice
• 1 tbsp ground cardamom

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container, mix well and store. This will keep for several months.