Sugar free Cappuccino Granitas Recipe
Cappuccino Granitas, sugar free frozen treats with a buzz!
Due to my food sensitivities to sugar and milk as well as a desire to make healthier snacks for my kids, I’m experimenting with various frozen treats this summer. While I do have a ice cream maker, I wanted to try out some simpler recipes for fruit popsicles, granitas and paletas first.
Granitas
Granitas is the Sicilian version of sorbet, but more course and crystalline. I liken it to shaved ice with grownup flavors. According to Wikipedia, it’s served in Italy more like an ICEE with a straw, unlike how I made it – more frozen and served in a bowl with a spoon.
Inspired by the Espresso Granita in the June 2011 issue of Bon Appetit, I came up with two healthier espresso-flavored granitas. Instead of milk I used coconut milk and I sweetened the drinks with stevia. To me, both versions taste like a delicious icy, iced coffee.
Just a note of warning! This is a highly caffeinated dessert, so be careful feeding it to the kids or treating yourself to a big bowl after dinner. Unless you all want to be bouncing off the walls that is.
Sugar Free Cappuccino Granita with Chocolate
This is the darker granita shown above on the left.
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
Directions:
Stir all ingredients into a medium bowl into well combined.
Pour into a 9x9x2 metal baking pan.
Freeze for 90 minutes.
Remove pan from freezer and stir, mashing any frozen parts with the back of a fork.
Cover and freeze until firm, about 2 hours more.
Remove pan from freezer. Using a fork, scrape granita vigorously to form ice flakes.
Divide granita among bowls or glasses and serve.
Nutritional information
Calories 52
- Calories from Fat 44
- Total Fat 4.9g
- Saturated Fat 4.3g
- Trans Fat 0.0g
- Cholesterol 0mg
- Sodium 14mg
- Total Carbohydrates 1.7g
- Dietary Fiber 0.7g
- Sugars 0.8g
- Protein 0.7g
- Nutrition Grade C- from CalorieCount
- Weight Watchers POINTS = 1.5
- Sugar Free Cappuccino Granita with Cinnamon
- This is the lighter granita shown above on the right.
- Makes 6 servings
- Ingredients:
- 2 cups hot espresso
- 1/2 cup Stevia Extract In the Raw
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup light coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
Stir all ingredients into a medium bowl into well combined.
Pour into a 9x9x2 metal baking pan.
Freeze for 90 minutes.
Remove pan from freezer and stir, mashing any frozen parts with the back of a fork.
Cover and freeze until firm, about 2 hours more.
Remove pan from freezer. Using a fork, scrape granita vigorously to form ice flakes.
Divide granita among bowls or glasses and serve.
Nutritional information
Calories 97
Calories from Fat 86
Total Fat 9.5g
Saturated Fat 8.5g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 17mg
Total Carbohydrates 2.6g
Dietary Fiber 1.1g
Sugars 1.4g
Protein 1.0g
Nutrition Grade C- from CalorieCount
Weight Watchers POINTS = 2.5
This Mama’s tips
If you forget to do the first stir and the granita has frozen solid, leave out for a while to soften up before scraping. Or you can break up the block of granita in your food processor. Return it to the pan and freeze for 30 minutes to firm up. Then scrape, flake and serve.
If you’re concerned about the amount of fat from the coconut milk, substitute low fat or skim cow’s milk.
Worried about the caffeine? Use decaf espresso.