28 Homemade Sorbet Recipes To Make This Summer
Cool and creamy, sorbets are the ultimate light summer treat. They're not only super refreshing (and palate cleansing), but are also some of the easiest frozen desserts to make. Since most sorbets do not contain any dairy (with a few rare exceptions), they make a delightful alternative to ice cream for the dairy-free folks in your group. From Tequila-Lime Sorbet and Strawberry-Black Pepper Sorbet to Rose Water Sorbet with Chopped Pistachios and Mango-Lime Sorbet, these sorbet recipes showcase the versatility of this simple frozen treat.
This easy sorbet nets rave reviews from our staffers for two reasons. First, it's super easy to make; fresh squeezed orange juice, orange zest, sugar, and water are all you'll need. Plus, the orange flavor, much like French sorbets, is both intense and refreshing.
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Summer Sorbet Trio
You can make cantaloupe, honeydew, and strawberry sorbet with this one recipe. Letting the sorbet stand in the refrigerator gives it time to soften, but you can speed up the process by breaking it up and pulsing it in a food processor fitted with a metal blade.
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Lemonade Iced Tea Sorbet
Full-flavored English Breakfast tea is usually made from a blend that includes black tea leaves. But consider substituting your favorite tea to make this refreshing lemonade iced tea sorbet.
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Tequila-Lime Sorbet
Serve this refreshing sorbet after a spicy Mexican meal or summer barbecue as a way to tame the heat and end things on a sweet note. Lime juice, sugar, and water are the main ingredients, but a small splash of tequila livens up the flavors.
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Vanilla Bean Sorbet with Pineapple Topping
On its own, this sorbet is sweet, but the spicy tartness of the pineapple topping is the perfect foil. A touch of corn syrup in the sorbet keeps it from freezing solid and allows for easy scooping.
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Limoncello-Mint Sorbet with Fresh Blackberries
Limoncello, the citrusy Italian liqueur, brightens this sorbet. It's nice to have a bottle on hand to splash with soda in a spritzer or macerate with fruit for a quick dessert.
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Pineapple Sorbet
Cool down on a hot summer night with this deliciously smooth and creamy pineapple sorbet - you'll never believe how easy it is to make!
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Blackberry Wine Sorbet
You'll need 1 (750-milliliter) bottle of wine for this sweet, fruity, and boozy sorbet. The secrets to this dessert: Make sure all liquids are cold, and don't overfill the freezer container.
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Strawberry-Black Pepper Sorbet
This luscious sorbet has just a hint of black pepper to contrast and accentuate the sweetness of ripe summer strawberries. To crush the peppercorns, use a mortar and pestle, the side of a chef's knife, or the bottom of a heavy pan or skillet.
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Raspberry Sorbet
Anne Walker and Sam Mogannam, the couple behind San Francisco's Bi-Rite Creamery and Bi-Rite Market, love to host ice-cream socials at their home in Sonoma. For this vibrant sorbet, they supplement farmers' market berries with those from bushes in their backyard--if their two young daughters haven't already stolen them.
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French Martini Sorbet
This is a twist on the classic martini cocktail. The red food coloring gives the sorbet a light rose color, but it is optional. Three small scoops in a martini glass make an elegant presentation.
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Pink Grapefruit Sorbet
In this refreshing and palate-cleansing sorbet, the sugar tames the tartness of grapefruit juice. It could not be simpler to prepare. A serving delivers about two-thirds of your RDA for vitamin C, and only 145 calories.
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Banana-Strawberry-Lime Sorbet
This fruity sorbet is the perfect sweet ending to a hot and sultry summer day. Have extras or want to enjoy it later? Spoon the pureed mixture into small paper cups and freeze with an ice-pop stick in the center until firm.
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Rhubarb Sorbet
The caramel notes of brown sugar tame rhubarb's tang. If you've frozen the sorbet overnight or longer, let it stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes to soften before scooping.
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Piña Colada Sorbet
Three kinds of coconut products—coconut water and milk and cream of coconut—offer the best flavor and texture. Look for coconut water by the fruit juices. For an adult treat, drizzle rum on top.
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Raspberry-Ginger Sorbet
Traditional sorbet is used as a palate cleanser between courses, often before a meat dish. Our version is rich and sweet enough to be a dessert all on its own. Like typical sorbets, this one contains no dairy, making it a light and fat-free treat.
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Raspberries with Peach-Basil Sorbet
Here's a twist on peach Melba, the classic dessert of poached peaches with raspberry sauce. We turn juicy summer peaches instead into a velvety sorbet spiked with basil and serve it with fresh raspberries for the perfect ending to a summer meal.
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Mango-Lime Sorbet
Depending on how sweet your mangoes are, you can add more or less lime and more or less simple syrup. To make simple syrup, combine equal parts water and granulated sugar in a saucepan; stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow syrup to cool before using.
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Buttermilk Sorbet with Strawberries
A smidgen of sugar brings out the berries' sweetness, but if they're very ripe, they may not need sweetening. Garnish each serving with fresh mint sprigs, if desired.
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Mango-Agave Sorbet
This Mexican-inspired dessert is the perfect ending to a feast of tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, and more. Because tequila also comes from the agave plant, it fits naturally here; we use silver, or clear, tequila to keep the mango color vibrant. Dress up scoops with lime rind curls, if desired.
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Cantaloupe-White Balsamic Sorbet
This sorbet is refreshing, with an almost creamy texture. The white balsamic vinegar is subtle, but it adds a depth of flavor that enhances the melon.
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Rose Water Sorbet with Chopped Pistachios
For a super-smooth treat, freeze this sorbet in an ice-cream maker, preferably one big enough for 3 quarts. You can substitute orange flower water for rose water. Rinse pistachios, and pat dry with a paper towel to remove salt.
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Green Apple Sauvignon Blanc Sorbet
Sauvignon Blanc's characteristic green apple flavors blend seamlessly with the fruit itself.
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Bittersweet Chocolate-Cherry Sorbet with Fresh Cherry Compote
Tart-sweet cherry and strong dark chocolate flavors meld beautifully in this surprisingly rich sorbet crowned with juicy fresh cherries. Use a high-quality jam for the sorbet, and be sure to start the process a day ahead for the best flavor and texture.
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Rosy Strawberry Sorbet
This juicy strawberry sorbet isn't merely rose-colored. It also contains rose water, which combines so beautifully with strawberries that its flavor seems like an extension of the fruit. Neither heavy nor perfume-y, it gives the sorbet a delicate, aromatic sweetness.
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Soft-Serve Mango-Banana Sorbet
Cut-up frozen fruit is the trick for lightning-quick sorbet. To make ahead, freeze in an airtight container and defrost at 30-second intervals in the microwave until soft enough to scoop (about 1 1/2 minutes total). For a pretty garnish, top with paper-thin mango slices and lime rind strips.
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Lime Basil Sorbet
A traditional salt and ice electric freezer works best for this sorbet, as opposed to a tabletop freezer, which won't freeze the mixture firmly enough. Use sweet Italian or lemon basil.
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Caliente Mango Sorbet
Caliente Mango Sorbet gets its kick from red Fresno chile peppers. The fire and ice element to this cool scoop, makes it a favorite midsummer treat. Remove the seeds for a milder taste.