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Citrus-Granita and Orange-Mousse Parfaits
© John Kernick

Citrus-Granita and Orange-Mousse Parfaits

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN Plus 8 hr chilling
  • SERVINGS: 8
  • •MAKE-AHEAD
  • •STAFF-FAVORITE

"I love a hot fudge sundae, but this is more refreshing," says Jimmy Bradley about this light, citrusy mousse layered with orange granita and chopped almonds.

Granita

  1. 1 cup sugar
  2. 1/2 cup water
  3. 1/3 cup light corn syrup
  4. Pinch of salt
  5. 4 cups fresh orange juice
  6. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Mousse

  1. 3/4 cup sugar
  2. 1 teaspoon powdered plain gelatin
  3. 8 large egg yolks
  4. 1 cup heavy cream
  5. 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
  6. 3/4 cup finely chopped salted roasted almonds
  1. In a saucepan, bring the sugar, water, light corn syrup and salt to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved; cool. Stir in the orange and lemon juices, transfer to a large glass baking dish and freeze until ice crystals form around the edge, 1 hour. Stir the ice crystals into the center and continue to freeze for 4 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes, until fairly solid.
  2. In a saucepan, combine the sugar with 1/2 cup of water and boil until the sugar syrup reaches 220° on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 2 tablespoons of water and let stand until softened, 5 minutes. Whisk the softened gelatin into the sugar syrup.
  3. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the egg yolks until smooth. With the machine at medium-high speed, carefully drizzle in the hot sugar syrup, then beat at high speed until the mousse base is thick, fluffy and cool, about 5 minutes.
  4. In a bowl, beat the cream until firm. Add the whipped cream and zest to the mousse base; fold in until no white streaks remain.
  5. Scrape the granita with a fork until fluffy and spoon half of it into 8 dessert glasses. Top with half of the orange mousse and almonds. Repeat with the remaining granita, mousse and almonds. Freeze the parfaits until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
Make Ahead The assembled parfaits can be frozen for up to 2 days. Let stand in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to soften slightly before serving.

Suggested Pairing

It's delicious with a bright, lively Cuvée Brut, an Italian sparkling wine made in the same manner as Champagne.