If you're looking for some frozen fruity fun, try making some homemade sherbet. These recipes are easy to make and with so many options, there's bound to be a flavor calling your name right now.
Lemon Cream Sherbet Recipe
Whipping cream tames some tartness from the lemons in this recipe. It yields 1 to 2 servings.
Ingredients
- Juice of 2 to 3 large lemons
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, heavy cream, milk, and sugar.
- Stir ingredients until the sugar is dissolved.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill for several hours.
- Pour the chilled mixture into a small stainless steel pan and cover with plastic wrap.
- Place in the freezer for about 4 hours.
- Be sure to stir the mixture every half hour to break up any ice crystals that may form.
- Once sherbet is solid, transfer to a plastic container and freeze until ready to serve.
- Garnish with mint and a lemon slice if desired.
Watermelon Sherbet Recipe
Watermelon sherbet just might be the perfect summer treat. This recipe requires the use of an ice cream machine and yields up to 8 servings.
Ingredients
- 6 cups cut-up and seeded watermelon
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 and 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 and 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- Red food coloring, optional
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, purée the watermelon until smooth. You will want a total of 4 cups of puréed watermelon.
- In a large bowl, add the watermelon purée, whipping cream, buttermilk, sugar, and a few drops of the red food coloring.
- Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- In an ice cream freezer, add all ingredients and freeze according to the machine's directions.
- Garnish with fresh mint and a slice of watermelon.
Banana Sherbet Recipe
Banana lends itself so well to dessert recipes and sherbet is no exception. This recipe yields 1 to 2 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup mashed banana
- Banana extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, stir together 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar.
- Bring to a boil and simmer until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool completely.
- Stir in the mashed bananas and 1 to 2 drops of the extract.
- Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe dish.
- Freeze for 3 hours or until edges are set and firm to the touch.
- Remove from freezer.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Using an electric mixer, beat on medium until smooth.
- Return to the freezer for at least 2 hours or until set.
Strawberry Milk Sherbet Recipe
This creamy strawberry sherbet is to die for. The recipe requires the use of an ice cream machine and yields approximately 4 servings.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped strawberries
- 1/3 cup agave nectar
- 1 and 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons of either raspberry-flavored liqueur or extract
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Clean and hull berries and chop into small pieces.
- Combine the strawberries and agave nectar in a blender and process until smooth.
- Add buttermilk to the blended mixture and process until well blended.
- Add the raspberry liqueur and pulse on low to mix and then blend in the lemon juice.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and chill for 1 hour.
- Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream machine and freeze according to the machine's instructions.
Grape Sherbet Recipe
Contributed by Linda Johnson Larsen
B.S. Food Science & Nutrition, Cookbook Author
If you love grape juice, this is a great recipe to try. It requires use of an ice cream machine and yields about 4 to 8 servings depending on size.
Ingredients
- 3 cups grape juice
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 cup coconut milk or light cream
Instructions
- Combine the grape juice, lemon juice, and sugar in a medium bowl.
- Stir with a wire whisk until the sugar is dissolved.
- Stir in the coconut milk.
- Prepare an ice cream maker. Some require freezing the insert before use; others use rock salt and water to freeze the sherbet mixture.
- Add the grape juice mixture to the ice cream maker and put on the cover. Turn on the machine and freeze the mixture until firm, or according to the appliance instructions.
- Remove the sherbet from the ice cream maker when it's done and pack into a freezer container. Freeze for 2 to 4 hours and then serve.
Fresh Raspberry Sherbet Recipe
Fresh raspberries are plentiful in summer, so make good use of them in this recipe which requires use of an ice cream maker. It yields approximately 4 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh raspberries
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash raspberries and place them in a food processor or blender.
- Add sugar, milk and lemon juice to a blender and process until smooth.
- Strain the mixture over a bowl to remove any seeds.
- Transfer the strained mixture to an ice cream machine container.
- Process sherbet according to your machine's instructions.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze until you are ready to serve.
- Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Storing Your Sherbet
Sherbet must be kept in the freezer in an airtight container. It keeps well for up to 2 weeks or until it begins forming ice crystals on top. At that point, it's best to discard it and make a fresh batch.
A Really Cool Dessert
Sherbet is a wonderful dessert you can serve whenever you want something lighter than pumpkin pie or chocolate cake. It's refreshing and so flavorful you'll find yourself wanting to experiment with other fruits and berries not already mentioned in the recipes here. Feel free to create your own flavor combinations to share with family and friends.
