Bittersweet Chocolate Granita

Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 cups water
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 4 -8 sprigs fresh mint (optional)
• whipped cream (optional)

Recipe

• 1 combine water, sugar, and cocoa in a medium saucepan.
• 2 cook on medium-low heat, until just starting to bubble at the edges. whisk for 1 minute, still over medium-low, until slightly thickened.
• 3 allow mixture to cool.
• 4 pour into a baking dish or other wide, shallow container (the shallower the granita mix is in the dish, the faster it will freeze).
• 5 cover and freeze for one to two hours, until it is frozen at the edges. scrape the ice with a fork, breaking up any large pieces and mixing towards the center of the dish.
• 6 repeat every 20-30 minutes, until the granita is completely frozen (the texture should be somewhere between slushy and flaky).
• 7 keep frozen until ready to serve. should the granita become too solid before serving, use a fork to loosen it, and let sit for a few minutes to soften slightly.
• 8 top with whipped cream and a spring of mint, if desired.
• 9 quick freeze method: freeze mixture into an ice cube tray; once solid, use a food processor or ice shaver to flake.