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Juniper Gin Granita

A refreshing iced granita scented with crushed juniper berries and finished with gin. The flavour is bright and aromatic, capturing the botanical character of juniper while remaining light and palate-cleansing.

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Keyword: Granita, Granite, Ice, Juniper, Lemon, Gin
Category: Frozen Desserts
Course: Dessert, Desserts, Frozen
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Freezing Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 99kcal
Author: MJF
Cost: £1.00

Equipment

  • 1 Small Saucepan
  • 1 Non-Reactive Shallow Tray, for freezing the mixture.

Ingredients

  • 500 ml Water 17 fl oz
  • 120 g Caster Sugar 4¼ oz
  • 4 g Juniper Berries, lightly crushed 1½ tsp
  • 60 ml Fresh Lemon Juice 4 tbsp
  • 45 ml Gin 3 tbsp

Instructions

  • Place the Water, Caster Sugar and Juniper Berries in a saucepan.
  • Bring gently to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
  • Remove from heat and allow the juniper to infuse for 20 minutes.
  • Strain the syrup through a fine sieve to remove the berries.
  • Stir in the Fresh Lemon Juice and Gin.
  • Pour the mixture into a shallow tray and place in the freezer.
  • After approximately 30–40 minutes, scrape the surface with a fork to break up the forming ice crystals.
  • Return to the freezer and repeat the scraping process every 30 minutes for 2–3 hours until the granita forms light crystalline flakes.

Presentation

  • Spoon the granita into chilled glasses or small bowls. Serve immediately as a palate cleanser between courses or as a light summer dessert.

Notes

Juniper berries provide the signature botanical character associated with gin. Their pine-like aroma should remain delicate and refreshing rather than dominant.

For a citrus variation, add 1 tsp Lemon Zest during the syrup infusion.

For a softer texture and richer flavour, the mixture may be churned in an ice cream machine to produce a Juniper Gin Sorbet rather than a granita.

A small garnish of lightly crushed juniper berries or a thin strip of lemon peel reinforces the aromatic profile of the dessert.

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.02mg

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