Coffee Granita

A granita is a classic Italian frozen dessert that can be flavored with fresh fruit, liquors and juices, but we love the coffee granita in particular because it has the added benefit of a little caffeine boost. A batch can be made with just two ingredients: freshly brewed espresso and sugar. When placed in the freezer and stirred occasionally, the sweetened espresso transforms into a shaved ice-like treat that’s especially delicious when served with rich whipped cream.

Coffee granita is probably the simplest of all our no-bake dessert recipes, one that you can make ahead of time and keep in the freezer. It’s especially elegant when served in a pretty dessert dish. It’s also a perfect choice for a little afternoon pick-me-up or as a dessert on warm summer evenings.

Ingredients for Coffee Granita

• Espresso: Brew some espresso with your espresso maker, or with a smaller appliance like a French press, pour-over filter or Moka pot. Pick a blend that you love, because the flavor of the ground coffee beans will really shine through.
• Sugar: When it’s stirred into the hot espresso, granulated sugar dissolves quickly to lightly sweeten the dark coffee.
• Heavy whipping cream: Make a simple whipped cream by beating cold, heavy cream with a hand mixer or a wire whisk, if you’re feeling up to the task.
• Toppings: This granita is delicious as it is, but you can add optional toppings like ground cinnamon or chocolate shavings for extra flair.

Directions

Step 1: Sweeten the espresso

Whisk the hot espresso and granulated sugar together in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the mixture into an 8-inch square dish or freezer container and cool the liquid to room temperature.

Step 2: Freeze and stir the espresso

Place the pan of sweetened espresso in the freezer for an hour. Then, stir the mixture with a fork to break it up into small pieces.

Return it to the freezer for another two to three hours, stirring the mixture with a fork every 30 minutes, until the granita is completely frozen.

Step 3: Make the whipped cream

Pour the heavy whipping cream into a small bowl and beat it until soft peaks form.

Step 4: Serve the coffee granita

Stir the granita with a fork just before serving. Spoon it into dessert dishes. Garnish the granita with whipped cream and, if desired, sprinkle ground cinnamon or chocolate shavings over the top.

Editor’s Tip: You can also reverse the order and serve the granita on top of the whipped cream!

Coffee Granita Variations

• Make an espresso martini-inspired version: Stir two tablespoons of vodka and two tablespoons of coffee liqueur into the cooled espresso mixture, then freeze it. Garnish dishes of the frozen granita with a single coffee bean—or three—like you would on an espresso martini.
• Try other sweeteners: Stir brown sugar into the espresso to give it light caramel notes, or sweeten the espresso with simple syrup.
• Add flavored syrups: Stir a few shots of your favorite flavored syrup into the espresso. Flavors like hazelnut, orange, vanilla, amaretto or caramel would be especially nice.
• Make a Baileys granita: Stir two to three tablespoons of Baileys Irish Cream into the cooled espresso before freezing it. Granitas made with spirits like vodka or Baileys will have a softer, slushier texture, but they’ll still be very refreshing and delicious.

How to Store Coffee Granita

Keep the coffee granita frozen to preserve its texture. Cover the pan tightly, and stir the mixture with a fork before serving to break it apart. Store any leftover whipped cream in the fridge.

How long will coffee granita last?

For the best flavor, enjoy your coffee granita within a few days of freezing it. The whipped cream will last in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Coffee Granita Tips

Can you use other types of coffee for coffee granita?

We prefer espresso in granitas for its strong flavor, but other types of coffee will work too. Making a granita is a great way to use up leftover coffee. Or, make granitas with cold brew coffee. You can even use a cooled latte or cappuccino.

Why is the coffee granita too slushy or icy?

If your granita seems too slushy, it may need more time to freeze. Plan for a minimum of two hours in the freezer, and add up to an additional hour as needed. Keep the pan in the coldest part of your freezer. Granitas made with additional ingredients like sweetened syrups or liquor will not freeze as hard, so expect a slushier texture with these variations.

How do you serve a granita?

A granita can be served very simply with unsweetened whipped cream, but another option is to combine it with sweetened whipped cream, either homemade or canned from the store. If you want to use a flavored whipped cream, coffee granitas would be especially tasty with bourbon whipped cream. You can also drizzle a little sweetened condensed milk over your coffee granita for a treat that’s reminiscent of a cafe Cubano. For a more filling dessert, serve vanilla cookies, gingersnaps or thin slices of pound cake on the side with the coffee granita.

What’s the best way to serve a granita so it doesn’t melt too fast?

To help it stay frozen for longer, granitas should stay in the freezer until the moment you’re ready to serve them. Stir the mixture with a fork, and then fill the serving dishes. Another tip is to stash the bowls or dessert dishes in the freezer ahead of time so that they stay cold, too.