15 Sensational Sorbet Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is my homemade sorbet so hard? ›

If your sorbet is rock-hard after churning and freezing: Allow it to sit on the counter for 5 minutes to soften before scooping OR. Melt the base back down to liquid, add more sugar, or a bit of corn syrup, or a splash of alcohol, then re-churn and refreeze.

Sucrose is fairly sweet and doesn't add much body to a syrup. That's why pastry chefs look to liquid sugar like invert sugar, glucose, or dextrose, which all make sorbet creamier when used properly. The easiest alternative sugar—the one you can find in any American supermarket—is plain 'ol non-high-fructose corn syrup.

According to Serious Eats, the optimal sugar concentration for sorbet is 20-30%. Sugar dissolved in water lowers the freezing point of the mixture. The sweet spot of sorbet is all about adding enough sugar to prevent it from freezing solid, while not adding so much sugar that it won't solidify at all.

What makes sorbet different from sherbet? Sorbet is strictly fruit juice and sugar while sherbet is fruit juice, sugar, and a bit of milk. That gives sorbet a brighter, more vibrant flavor and sherbet a creamier consistency.

The optional egg white helps to stabilize, emulsify, and preserve the texture of the sorbet if you are going to keep it in your freezer for a few days.

But Italian sorbets, called sorbettos, have the same luxurious mouth-feel as an ice cream. I worked on many batches before discovering that through a combination of reducing down the simple syrup to concentrate it, and then adding some thickening via a bit of cornstarch, it could happen!

Since alcohol doesn't freeze, the vodka helps add smoothness to the the crunchy, icy texture of the sorbet. I made mine with Heritage Distilling Company's vodka. Triple distilled with a smooth finish, it's the perfect addition to this refreshing dessert.

Using a little neutral alcohol will also affect the freezing (without actually affecting the flavour), will help fight the growth of the ice crystals and prevent the sorbet from freezing too hard. But it won't stop the air from abandoning the sorbet.

The base is either fruit puree for sorbet or milk/cream for ice cream. It may be enriched with egg yolks for flavour and its emulsification qualities (it helps bind everything together and give a firmer texture to your finished product).

Why add lemon juice to sorbet? ›

Lemon Water

It may seem like an overwrought step but it really helps. It gives the sorbet even more lemon flavor and just a touch of bitterness which nicely balances the sweet and sour. There is so much flavor in lemon peel it would be a waste not to take advantage of it.

Sorbet has less calories than ice cream and other frozen desserts, and no fat. It's fruit content also makes it rich in vitamin C. Any downsides? That fruit content also means it contains a fair bit of sugar, and if we're comparing it with ice cream and gelato, it has less calcium, vitamin A and iron.

Sorbetto is also called sorbet. Sorbet is frozen blend of fruit, water, and sugar, (sometimes wine or liquor) and it's one of the oldest and most traditional ways of making dessert.

In fact, the biggest difference between sorbet and Italian ice may be their origin. Italian ice is the Italian version of creamy dairy-free ice while sorbet is of French origin. In addition, sorbets often contain liquor flavors while Italian ices do not generally contain alcohol but may compliment it well.

The main difference? Sherbet contains dairy while sorbet has no dairy. Sherbet (not “sherbert” as it's often mispronounced) incorporates a small amount of dairy, such as milk, cream or buttermilk, which give scoops a richer, creamier consistency as with this Raspberry Buttermilk Sherbet recipe (pictured above).

Alcohol doesn't freeze, so it helps prevent sorbet from freezing solid. A little bit goes a long way. 1 to 3 Tablespoons per quart of sorbet is a good rule of thumb.

Too little sugar and you end up with loads of crunchy ice crystals. Some experts swear by a ratio of 4 cups puréed fruit to 1 cup sugar. If you don't have an ice-cream maker, place the sorbet mixture in a sealed container in the very coldest part of your freezer (usually at the bottom and back).

Churn the sorbet.

Continue churning until the sorbet is the consistency of a thick smoothie.

Corn syrup also stops sugar crystals from forming, thereby keeping your sorbet's consistency thick. It's long been used to provide a cohesive texture in hard candy and jelly, and it's more viscous than granulated sugar — meaning it can add thickness and creaminess to whatever food it's in.