Sherbet (/ˈʃɜːrbət/), often referred to as sherbert (/ˈʃɜːrbərt/), is a frozen dessert made from water, sugar, a dairy product such as cream or milk, and a flavoring – typically fruit juice or purée, wine, liqueur, and occasionally non-fruit flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, or peppermint.
Making Sherbet
Sherbet can be made with fruit juice, puréed fruit or both. The amount of dairy product in sherbet is low compared with other frozen desserts. Whereas ice cream will contain at least 10 percent butterfat (often as high as 20 percent), and gelato between 4 and 8 percent butterfat, sherbet contains only 1 to 2 percent butterfat.
Common sherbet flavors include orange, raspberry, lemon, and lime. Theres also a variation called rainbow sherbet, which is made by combining layers of raspberry, lime, and orange sherbet.
If you were making orange sherbet, youd use orange juice, combining the juice, sugar, and milk in an ice-cream maker and processing until done. Orange zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract would also make a simple citrus sherbet.
For other flavors, you can use a fruit purée rather than juice. For example, to make raspberry sherbet, puree frozen raspberries and strain the puree through a sieve or cheesecloth to remove the seeds. Then combine the purée, milk, sugar, and lemon juice, and process in your ice cream maker. You could use whole milk or 2 percent milk. For a creamier sherbet, you could add a splash of cream.
Making Sherbet in a Blender
If you dont have an ice cream maker, you can still make sherbet. A high powered blender, like the Vitamix, can be used instead. Make sure your blender is fully-equipped to make sherbets and sorbets—if you arent sure, just check the manual.
A simple summer recipe for peach sherbet can quickly be made in the blender. Start with about a pound of frozen sliced peaches (soften them at room temperature for 20 minutes or so), a cup of milk, about 1/4 cup of honey, and about 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract. Purée the ingredients in the Vitamix for 30–60 seconds and serve immediately.
Honey is used in this recipe because its liquid and will incorporate smoothly into the sherbet, but you can use granulated sugar instead—about 6 tablespoons of sugar is the equivalent of 1/4 cup of honey.
What the Heck is Sherbet??
FAQ
Is sherbet better for you than ice cream?
What is sherbet made out of?
What’s the difference between a sorbet and a sherbet?
What was the original flavor of sherbet?