Orange Creamsicle Granita is made with freshly squeezed orange juice, a touch of sugar then frozen and scooped onto vanilla ice cream. So simple, beautiful, refreshing and so much better than an ice cream truck Orange Creamsicle popsicle. It is a perfect summer dessert.
This is a dessert that can be served simply and enjoyed while swinging with your hubby, on the porch, on a warm summer evening. It’s also a dessert that can be adorned with a mint leaf, a fresh orange slice and a vanilla bean to be the star at any white-tie dinner party.
Look closely at this dressed up Orange Creamsicle Granita. You might notice the granita, mint, orange slice and vanilla bean look similar to some of the British women’s fascinators (hats) worn at Prince Harry’s wedding.
Here are a few other ways to serve Orange Creamsicle Granita:
- Drizzle with a favorite liqueur, such as Amaretto, Cointreau or Creme de Cacao.
- Add a touch of champagne to make a mimosa granita.
- Use other flavors of ice cream, such as chocolate, black walnut or butter brickle.
- Serve just the Orange Granita in a small dish for a light and refreshing treat.
Here are a few tips when making Orange Creamsicle Granita:
- To get the most juice from the oranges, allow the oranges to come to room temperature then press and roll them on the counter before squeezing.
- Ultra fine granulated sugar is best to use. If ultra fine isn’t available, process regular granulated sugar in a food processor to create a finer grain. If a food processor isn’t available, make a simple syrup (directions in the recipe card). When using ultra fine sugar, the sugar will dissolve quickly and it isn’t necessary to make a simple syrup.
- Be sure to break the ice crystals up with a fork every hour for the first 4 hours while the granita freezes.
- Don’t worry if the granita doesn’t hold together well when scooping it out.
- Have fun with this recipe by substituting other citrus juices, flavors of ice cream and liqueurs.
- It is best to make the orange granita the day before serving to give it plenty of time to freeze thoroughly. At the very least, allow 6 hours freezing time.
- If adding liqueur, allow more time for the granita to freeze.
…an interesting tidbit:
Granitas and sorbets are often mistaken for each other, but they are more first cousins than siblings. Their differences are due to the freezing process used for each. Granita is stirred often which results in a slushy texture with larger ice crystals. Sorbet is smooth-churned resulting in a denser and smoother texture.
Orange Creamsicle Granita could and should have been served at the Royal wedding. If only I had posted Orange Creamsicle Granita before the Royal wedding. If only I had sent a photo of this gorgeous dessert to Prince Harry and Meghan. If only…
Enjoy!
Please stay and look around awhile. Here are a few favorite recipes:
Roast Chicken with Saffron, Hazelnuts & Honey
Peruvian Chicken with Green Sauce, and
Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes.
…a huge hanks to Becky Hardin, aka: The Cookie Rookie, (aka: my daughter) for taking these gorgeous photos. Please check out some of these delicious recipes recently shared on her blog:
Blueberry Pancakes with Lemon Sauce and
Orange Creamsicle Granita
Orange Creamsicle Granita is made with freshly squeezed orange juice, a touch of sugar & vanilla ice cream. So simple, beautiful and refreshing. It's even better than an ice cream truck Creamsicle and the perfect summer dessert.
Ingredients
- 3 cups orange juice (6-8) fresh squeezed
- 1/4 cup ultra fine granulated sugar *see note
- 2 tablespoons Cointreau optional
- 1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
Instructions
Wash the oranges and squeeze or press the juice from the oranges into a medium-sized bowl. With the back of a small spoon, scrape the inside of the oranges to extract all the juice.
Pour and press the juice and pulp through a fine mesh strainer set over another medium-sized serving bowl.
Add the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the Cointreau, if using.
Pour the orange juice mixture into a lidded freezer dish large enough so the liquid is not more than 1-inch deep. Cover the dish and set it level in the freezer. Freeze the mixture and, after 1 hour, scrape it with a fork to break up the ice crystals. Freeze an additional 3 hours (at least), stirring gently with the fork, every 30 minutes. Once ice crystals form and the mixture thickens, it isn't necessary to keep stirring. The mixture can be left in the freezer several days until ready to serve. (If it becomes too hard, scrape it with a large metal spoon to break up the ice crystals.)
When ready to serve, place 1-2 scoops of ice cream into each serving dish and place a scoop of the frozen orange granita on the top or side of the ice cream. If you want to be fancy, garnish the granita with a mint leaf and an orange slice. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*Note - If ultra fine sugar isn't available, it can be made very easily. Place the amount of granulated sugar needed in a food processor and process the sugar until the crystal size is much finer. Be careful not to over- process the sugar or it will turn to powdered (or confectioner's) sugar.
If a food processor isn't available, just make an orange simple syrup using 1/2 cup of the orange juice and 1/4 cup regular granulated sugar. In a small saucepan (set oven medium heat), bring the orange/sugar mixture just to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Stir until the sugar is dissolved completely. Allow the orange simple syrup to cool to room temperature and refrigerate it until cold. To make the granita, add the cold orange simple simple syrup to the remaining 2-1/2 cups squeezed orange juice, stir well, freeze and follow recipe instructions.
Dan from Platter Talk
Susie, Only you can lure me in with a delicious treat like these gorgeous creamsicles and within a minute have me chuckling and drooling at the same time. I'll likely never be able to look at a mint garnish again and not think of the parade of hats that always appear at royal weddings. Too funny! I'm betting that nothing this pretty or delicious makes it to those head tables. This makes the common folk like us all the luckier! Thanks, once again for such delicious inspiration and the humor; I'm a huge fan of both.Natalie
It sounds so easy to make. Thank you for sharing the recipe! What a nice treat for summer. http://name-generator.online/