Cherry Amaretto Granitas

It’s Cocktail Week, which means my blogging buddies and I couldn’t resist the temptation of yet another collaboration. With the July 4th holiday and summer high temps just around the corner, what could be better than cocktails? Nothing! (That’s what WE said!) Here’s my contribution to quenching the proverbial thirst while battling record highs in Houston. You knew it had to be frozen.

Cherry Amaretto Granitas:
Makes 4 cocktails, 4 granitas OR 4 poptails

8 ozs. frozen dark sweet cherries
1/4 cup cherry jam or preserves
1/2 cup simple syrup
1/4 cup Pinnacle Whipped Cream Vodka
1/4 cup Amaretto
2-3 drops of red food color (optional)

Note: To make simple syrup, combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water in a saucepan; bring to a boil, then remove from heat and cool completely.

In a blender, combine all of the ingredients above and blend until the cherries are almost pureed. Pour the mixture into a shallow glass dish and place into the freezer until firm. This may take up to 2 hours, but it can also be made in advance and kept in the freezer until ready to serve.

To serve, use a fork to flake the frozen concoction into a slushy texture. Spoon the slush into an elegant flute or pretty glass and serve with an iced tea spoon and a straw. For a spritzer, add a touch of ginger ale. If you prefer, you can spoon the slush into small bowls and serve as a boozy adults-only granita. Either way, you’ll want to lick the vessel clean.

Speaking of, you can also turn these into grown-up Poptails by boosting the simple syrup amount up to 3/4 cup and reducing the whipped cream vodka to 1/8 cup, which will allow the mixture to freeze hard. Just adjust your liquids and pour the mixture into popsicle molds. Allow them to freeze overnight for best results. Just be sure to mark them “For Adults Only” and keep them out of the reach of children. Who says kids should have all the fun this summer?

Special thanks to: my mother, who helped develop & test way too many cocktails over the past 10 days & my friend Kirsten, who inspired this concoction with a jar of the most wonderful homemade Michigan cherry jam. I couldn’t have done it without either of you ladies. Thanks so much!

Mom takes one for the team by sampling a Cherry Amaretto Poptail

And now, be sure to drop in on these fabulous cocktails:

The Raging Aztec Frappe – by Megan of Wanna Be A Country Cleaver (her post includes a giveaway of a FABulous KitchenAid blender; how convenient!)

Peach Pie Prosecco Palmer – by Allison of Decadent Philistines

Raspberry Thyme Tom Collins – by Carrie of Bakeaholic Mama

Traverse City Cherry Mojitos – by Kirsten of Comfortably Domestic

Amaretto Sours – by Kat of Tenaciously Yours

Watermelon Mojos – by Katie of The Hill Country Cook

Palomas – by Lauren of Climbing Grier Mountain

Radlermass – by Allison of Decadent Philistines Save the World

Blueberry Smash Cocktail – by Madeline of Munching in the Mitten

Peach Bellinis – from Madelyn of La Petite Pancake

And there’s still more to come! Allison is prepping an Anniversary Sgroppino Cocktail, Megan is mixing up a Lavender Lemonade, Carrie is stirring up a Funfetti Martini, Lauren is shaking up a Vodka Gimlet, and I’ll be back soon with a Raspberry Mojito so good my mother gave it ‘two thumbs – way up!’

Don’t forget to drop in on Megan of Wanna Be A Country Cleaver and enter to win that gorgeous KitchenAid Blender. It’s a fabulous addition to any kitchen, and the color will blow your socks off. As if that isn’t enough, she’s giving readers a buhzillion ways to enter, so check it out and tell her NanaBread sent you. Good luck and happy sipping!