Sorbet (also known to some as sherbet) is a nice low-fat alternative to ice cream. Made mainly of fruit mixed with water and its juices, the flavor is brightened with the addition of a little bit of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice. The icy coolness becomes a refreshing indulgence right after any meal.
I was afraid this sorbet would become too frozen and hard to scoop, but surprisingly it was a perfect texture even without having to wait for it to soften on the counter. Ben loves this sorbet and I can’t wait to try more flavors.
Cherry Sorbet
2 pounds cherries, stems removed and pitted
1 cup water
3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
In a medium heavy saucepan, stir together the cherries, water, sugar and lemon juice. Warm over medium heat until juicy. Cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cherries are very soft and cooked through. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
Purée the cherries and their liquid with the extract in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl with a lid and chill overnight in the refrigerator. Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Source: Adapted from The Perfect Scoop, by David Lebovitz
Quyen - Kitchen Runway says
July 22, 2011 at 12:17 AMHow refreshing! I love cherries and I love the deep hue and that it’s all natural!
Sasha @ The Procrastobaker says
July 22, 2011 at 1:46 AMBeautiful sorbet! One of my favourite summer treats is mango sorbet, and this looks just (if not more!) wonderful 🙂
Michelle Welker says
July 22, 2011 at 4:30 AMThis looks scrumptious! It makes me want to break down and buy an ice cream maker. 🙂
Dani says
July 22, 2011 at 6:22 AMI didn’t think sorbet and sherbet were interchangeable. The ones I have are actually quite different from each other, with sorbet lacking any dairy at all and sherbet including a bit of dairy to make for a creamier, less-icy texture. The two are labeled differently in the store, even.
Either way, your sorbet looks and sounds delicious! I need an ice cream maker desperately.
Nikki says
July 22, 2011 at 1:08 PMDani, they actually aren’t truly interchangeable, but many people use the terms as such without knowing that one is typically made with dairy while the other is not. 🙂
Kari says
July 22, 2011 at 10:47 AMI always enjoy your photos, but I just love this one! It just screams summer (:
Mandy says
July 22, 2011 at 12:45 PMIt’s so beautiful! It looks very refreshing….
Jen @ BeantownBaker.com says
July 22, 2011 at 6:44 PMYUM! I love sorbet and the color of this one is so pretty!
Jessica says
July 23, 2011 at 1:09 AMI love it when I come across a recipe and bookmark it, only to realize a minute later that I already have something similar bookmarked. I take that as a sign that whatever it is needs to be made ASAP! Cherry sorbet will be in my kitchen in the very near future!
Sue Gladd says
July 25, 2011 at 5:41 AMAnother winner, Nikki, and, yes, your photo does “scream summer”!