Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (2024)

Light and refreshing, this simple lemon sorbet recipe is the perfect balance of tart and sweet. It’s an absolutely wonderful frozen summer dessert!

Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (1)

It only takes three ingredients to make your own lemon sorbet at home.

Serve it in bowls as a simple weekday treat. Or scoop the sorbet into hollowed out lemons and top with basil or mint, for a fancy dinner party.

You may also like this Coconut Ice Cream

Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (3)

A light summer fruit sorbet recipe

The lemon sorbet can be dairy free, egg free, vegan, gluten free, fat free, and keto. Serve it as an easy dessert or a low calorie palate cleanser between courses at dinner.

If you’ve never tried making your own lemon sorbet at home, prepare to be completely shocked at how much better it tastes than store bought versions.

The lemon flavor is more pronounced, the sweetness is more balanced, and there’s no corn syrup or concentrated lemon juice, no guar gum, and no carrageenan!

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Above, watch the step-by-step recipe video

Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (4)

Homemade lemon sorbet ingredients

To make the recipe, you need lemon juice, water, sugar, and lemon zest. That’s it!

You can squeeze fresh lemons, discarding the seeds. Or buy 100% lemon juice in a bottle at the store from brands such as Whole Foods, Wegmans, or Santa Cruz.

The recipe works with white sugar, unrefined coconut sugar, or evaporated cane juice. For sugar free lemon sorbet, try granulated erythritol or xylitol.

Do not omit or cut back on the lemon zest, as this is what will give the sorbet much of its tangy lemon flavor.

Readers also love this Peach Crisp

Prefer a chocolate version? Try this Chocolate Sorbet

How to make lemon sorbet

If using an ice cream maker, prepare the machine ahead of time according to the instruction manual for your specific brand and model.

Heat the water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until the sugar dissolves. Let cool, then refrigerate this simple syrup until cold. To save time, this step can be done the night before or even days ahead.

Add the chilled sugar water, lemon juice, and lemon zest to your ice cream machine, and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions for your machine.

After fifteen minutes, it should look like lemon slush. Feel free to serve it now in glasses. (Hello, frozen lemonade!) For sorbet, transfer to a large container and freeze for about an hour.

Stir the thick and frosty lemon mixture. It is often ready at this time. If yours is still slushy, let it chill in the freezer for another half hour, then stir again.

For authentic presentation, use an ice cream scoop to serve. Garnish with fresh mint leaves or basil if desired.

Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (6)

Sorbet without an ice cream maker

No ice cream machine? No problem!

There are two methods for making sorbet with no ice cream machine. The first one calls for a blender, and the second option needs just a large container and spoon.

Blender option: For no churn sorbet, pour the liquid mixture into two ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Let the lemon ice cubes thaw just enough to be easily processed in a high speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec. Use a tamper to blend until smooth and creamy.

Container option: Chill a large shallow container overnight in the freezer. Pour the liquid lemon mix into the cold container, and freeze for a half hour. Stir very well to break up ice crystals and whisk air into the concoction. Return to the freezer.

Repeat this stirring process each half hour for about three hours in total. The texture should be somewhere between granita and ice cream.

Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (7)

Tips & storage instructions

Some brands and models of ice cream makers need to be frozen for 24 to 48 hours so that the base is frozen solid before use.

Be sure to thoroughly chill the sugar syrup after boiling the sugar and water. If the liquid is still warm, it will never thicken in the ice cream machine. I like refrigerate the lemon juice as well, although this is not as important.

Because alcohol does not freeze solid, I sometimes like to add a tablespoon of vodka to the sorbet before churning. This helps keep the finished sorbet from freezing rock hard. Do not add more than a tablespoon unless you want a slushy texture.

Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (8)

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Lemon Sorbet

Light and refreshing, this simple lemon sorbet recipe is a wonderful frozen summer dessert.

Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (9)

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Print Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Yield 3 1/2 cups

5 from 133 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar (or granulated erythritol)
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • optional 1 tbsp vodka

Instructions

  • Prepare ice cream machine according to the instruction manual for your specific machine. (If you want to make the recipe without an ice cream machine, see above.) Heat water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Let cool, then refrigerate until cold. Add all ingredients (including the sugar water) to the ice cream maker. Churn 15 minutes. It should look slushy. Either serve the frozen lemonade in glasses now, or transfer to a container and freeze for an hour. Stir the now-thicker sorbet. It is usually done at this time, but if yours is still slushy, simply let it chill in the freezer for an additional half hour, then stir again. Repeat until it has a sorbet texture. Serve with an ice cream scoop.

    View Nutrition Facts

Notes

Also be sure to try this creamy Lemon Mousse.

Have you made this recipe?

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Lemon Sorbet Recipe - Just 3 ingredients, and so refreshing! (2024)

FAQs

What makes a sorbet creamy? ›

Without fat from dairy or eggs, it's the suspension of sugar within the fruit purée that allows the sorbet to churn into something with a creamy mouthfeel. You need 20-30% sugar in your sorbet, which will come from your fruit plus some added sugar.

What thickens sorbet? ›

Tapioca starch (or corn starch): tapioca starch fis our go-to starch to thicken a sorbet mixture, for the velvety texture it creates. If you do not have tapioca starch, you can use corn starch instead, which is not the same, but it still works.

What is the primary sugar used in sorbet? ›

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.

What's the difference between lemon sorbet and lemon sherbet? ›

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).

What is the secret of a good sorbet? ›

Sugar plays a larger roll in the sorbet than just sweetening the fruit juice. It's also crucial for the sorbet's texture. Too little sugar and the sorbet becomes icy, too much and it can be slushy — hit the sugar level just right and the sorbet will taste creamy and melt evenly across your tongue.

Why do you put eggs in sorbet? ›

The quality of the water is important as well — if your water has a bad aftertaste, so will your sorbet — so we recommend using bottled. 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.

Why is my homemade sorbet not freezing? ›

Too much sugar will not only make for a sickeningly sweet dessert, it also reduces the freezing point so that firstly, your sorbet will take ages to freeze, and secondly, it will crystallize as it freezes. Too little sugar and you end up with loads of crunchy ice crystals.

Is sorbet healthier than ice cream? ›

With no eggs or cream present in the recipe, sorbet contains fewer calories and less fat compared to traditional ice cream. This makes it a great choice for those watching their calorie intake or trying to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

What can I use to stabilize my sorbet? ›

Gums work just as well in sorbets. You just need to experiment. I made a recently made a fantastic Raspberry Sorbet using a stabilizer mix of 4 parts Locust Bean Gum, 3 parts Guar Gum and 1 part Iota Carrageenan.

What are three sorbet flavors? ›

These icy treats are perfectly refreshing on a hot day or as an after-dinner dessert. Learn how to make sorbet with our indulgent recipes including lemon, raspberry and pineapple. Sorbet is a great vegan ice cream alternative as it usually doesn't contain dairy.

What is added to sorbet to improve its texture? ›

By adding some other sugar(s) than the ordinary white (sucrose), we can affect the crystallisation in ways that hamper the formation of icy crystals (keeping the sorbet soft) but without making it overly sweet. Glucose- and corn syrups are handy here.

Can you use honey instead of sugar in sorbet? ›

Whip up some tasty 3 ingredient raspberry sorbet that is naturally sweetened with honey. It is a simple and cleaner way to indulge your sweet tooth. If you are looking to make a treat that still allows you to feel good about what you are putting in your body, this homemade raspberry sorbet is perfect!

Why add lemon juice to sorbet? ›

Strawberry Sorbet

a simple syrup. The ingredients and instructions are on the recipe card. Lemon Juice: This mixes with the strawberries and doesn't just add flavor but keeps it fresh.

How healthy is lemon sorbet? ›

Because it contains little other than water, sugar and some form of fruit, sorbet tends to be much lower in calories and fat than ice cream. But, with the exception of vitamin C, it also tend to be low in nutrients (the amount of vitamin C will vary according to the type and quantity of fruit used).

Is sorbet better than sherbert? ›

On the flipside nutritionally, sherbet and sherbert will have more nutrients (even if more saturated fat) than sorbet. "Sherbet generally has some addition of dairy, though less than ice cream, and therefore, it will have more protein and minerals like calcium than sorbet," she says.

What to add to sorbet to make it softer? ›

By adding some other sugar(s) than the ordinary white (sucrose), we can affect the crystallisation in ways that hamper the formation of icy crystals (keeping the sorbet soft) but without making it overly sweet. Glucose- and corn syrups are handy here.

Why is my sorbet not smooth? ›

The general things that can cause icy sorbet: Too much water Compared to other ingredients. Since you probably aren't going to take water out of your fruit, you pretty much have to add sugar or alcohol to compensate for this. This is tricky if you're improvising, and if the water content of the fruit varies.

How is sorbet so smooth? ›

A machine freezes the base quickly and the churning action breaks up ice crystals resulting in a smoother texture. This can also be somewhat accomplished by stirring and mashing the sorbet three or more times while it is freezing – and then stirring and mashing again right before serving.

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