Typically when a group of us get together we like to unwind with frozen cocktails, like margaritas, but since we are so close to the Napa Valley, wine cocktails and mixers (like Sangria) are becoming more and more popular.

To mix it up a little, I thought I would try a recipe that would integrate the sweet fruity flavor of Moscato into a frozen treat.  I love the idea of a granita because it is a hybrid of “cocktail” and “dessert” since you don’t really drink it, but rather eat it with a spoon.

Plus it only uses THREE INGREDIENTS and doesn’t require anything special in terms of equipment.

You can make Granitas with pretty much any fruit, a little sugar, some Moscato and water.   In this case I went with strawberries because they were on sale.

Frozen Strawberry Moscato Granitas:

2 cups water
1/2-1 cup sugar (less if you don’t like sweet, more if you want it your granita to taste a store bought frozen slushy)
1 cup  White Moscato
1 1/2 cup sliced strawberries (about 1/2 pound of whole berries)

Please keep in mind that you must be 21 years or older to enjoy this frozen treat.  Like anything containing alcohol, please consume it in moderation and NEVER drink and drive.  

Clean and slice up your berries.

In a small sauce pan add you water, sugar and the berries and heat until the sugar is completely dissolved and the berries have softened slightly:

Take this mixture and add it to a blender (you can wait for it to cool off or not.. I was in a rush so I added it warm):

Blend the mixture pretty well until is is smooth:
Remember if you are blending hot liquid to always hold the lid down with a dishtowel over your hand. The blended mix may get a little foamy and that is okay.

Add your Moscato and give the blender one or two quick pulses to incorporate the wine. Pour the mixture into a shallow freezer proof dish (Metal is recommended but I used ceramic since none of my metal pans would fit in my freezer):

If you are worried about the smoothness of your blended strawberry mixture you can strain it though a sieve. I didn’t but I don’t mind the seeds or little chunks.  For a smoother granita you should strain it.
Throw you pan in the freezer for a few hours:

When it is frozen (and it won’t be super super solid because the sugar and alcohol prevent it from becoming a rock) use a fork to scrape across the surface.  You want to form flaky ice crystals:

I then used an ice cream scoop to serve the fluffy ‘shavings’ in a shallow glass:

Or even a regular old high ball glass works great.. just add a sliced strawberry on the side to garnish:
If you wanted to mix it up a little, you could also try some of the new varietals, like the peachy flavor of the Pink Moscato paired with peaches or orange juice, or the berry flavors of the red moscato with raspberries or even pomegranates.

After scraping the frozen granita mix with a fork, the shavings can be stored in the freezer for up to 24 hours. A perfect way to prep a dessert in advance for a party, since it only requires scooping to serve.


Don't miss this collection of 20 more fabulous drink recipes: