You can make these homemade fruit sorbet recipes without an ice cream maker. They are super easy, vegan, Paleo, and trust me, they will be your new favorite desserts.
Hey Foodies,
Summer’s here and I just can’t stop indulging in tons of ice cream and homemade sorbet. And when I am not indulging in those two God-sent treats, I am constantly thinking about them :), that’s how much I love them.
And if you’re wondering which of the two I like best, I must say this is an incredibly tough call. But I would probably go for fruit sorbet because ice cream is usually made with dairy and sugar and even though I’m crazy for it, it kind of bloats me and it’s not exactly waist-friendly.
If you’re a man you probably don’t care much about this and you can eat all the ice cream you want (I so envy you guys sometimes). But if you’re a woman, especially during summer, we gotta watch our waist, don’t we?
And in this aspect, homemade fruit sorbet fares much better because it’s sugar and dairy free. Well, not 100% sugar-free because the fruits and maple syrup contain sugar but there’s no regular sugar added. Bear in mind that the store-bought ones can contain sugar and dairy in different forms.
More delicious desserts:
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Pancakes With Coffee Extract
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse
That’s why today I’m going to show you how to make 4 easy sorbet recipes at home without an ice cream maker, sugar and dairy free (yes, these healthy sorbet recipes are vegan).
There are many homemade sorbet recipes but I think these 4 are some of the best and most popular and they are definitely my favorites.
Now let me cut the suspense short and tell you which ones I’m talking about. My list starts with a delicious mango sorbet (probably the most popular), then strawberry, peach and lastly, not that popular but great nonetheless, banana and avocado sorbet.
I know, the last one is not the average basic sorbet recipe, it’s more like a personal creation but trust me you’ll love it.
Apart from showing you how to make sorbet without an ice cream maker, I’m also going to tell you a few useful tips and tricks to help you get the best out of these recipes.
I will explain you how to make sorbet in a blender, how to make it without sugar, what to serve with it, and more.
But before going to the tips and tricks, I’d like to make sure everybody is on the same page so I’ll briefly explain what sorbet is, what it’s made of and if all sorbet is vegan. If you already know all this, just skip to the next section, the Tips & Tricks.
What is sorbet and what is it made of?
Sorbet is a dessert made of frozen fruit puree, or frozen sweetened water and flavorings. It is very similar to ice cream, that’s why a lot of people think that they’re the same thing. However, even though it’s frozen and looks rather similar, there are some differences.
Sorbet does not contain fat, dairy or eggs, which makes it kind of a light version of ice cream.
Now, since it doesn’t contain fat, dairy or eggs, you’re probably assuming that all sorbet is vegan, but that’s not exactly true.
Not all sorbet is vegan because some of them may be sweetened with honey. So if you buy it from the store, make sure you read that label thoroughly.
And if you want to make it at home, check out the tips and tricks below to see how to make it vegan.
How to make homemade sorbet without an ice cream maker – Best Tips & Tricks
1. How to make sorbet without sugar
I have to say it, sugar is very important when it comes to homemade fruit sorbet because sugar syrup is not just responsible for the taste but also for the creamy texture.
But fear not, for I have a way. You can make sorbet without sugar by replacing it with raw honey, in which case, it will not be vegan anymore. If you want to keep it vegan use maple syrup as I did in these easy recipes.
As I said before, these sweeteners play an important role in its structure, they’re not just for taste.
If you want to make sorbet without sugar or any other sweetener, you can remove these from the recipe but you would have to serve it right away. Otherwise, if you freeze it, it will not be as creamy and the texture will get too icy.
This also depends on which types of fruits you’re using. If you’re making banana or mango sorbet, these fruits are very creamy so it will most likely keep a good texture.
But if you’re using watermelon or lemon, it won’t come out as rich and creamy, due to their lack of pectin and fiber and their high water content which will make them too icy. Moreover, they will melt very fast after scooping them.
And here’s another useful tip. Add a bit of vodka as this will prevent it from getting too icy and it will make it creamy.
Of course, it should go without saying, don’t serve it to the kids if you put vodka in it.
Now let’s move forward and see how to make sorbet without an ice cream maker
2. How to make sorbet without an ice cream maker
You’ve probably served it hundreds of time in the restaurants and thought that they use complicated machinery to make it. But making homemade sorbet without an ice cream maker just couldn’t be easier.
You can make it with any food processor or blender and there will be absolutely no difference in terms of taste and texture.
But bear in mind that you need to use frozen fruits instead of fresh fruit puree which is normally used when making it in an ice cream maker.
First, you’ll need to freeze fresh fruits, and then process them with a blender or food processor to turn them into a frozen puree. Next, you can serve it as it is, or freeze it for a more consistent texture.
3. What to serve with homemade sorbet
Homemade fruit sorbet is a light dessert that can be served after any meal. Really, just name one food that wouldn’t go well with it.
And how you pair your food with it is all up to your taste, I guess. For instance, I love having a lemon sorbet after fatty meals like creamy chicken and mushrooms. And if you add a bit of vodka, it will be great as a digestive too.
For dessert, you can serve your homemade fruit sorbet with fresh fruits, like raspberries and a tablespoon of jam. Also, it goes great with raspberry brownies or chocolate muffins.
I usually have it with banana and granola, or with a drizzle of melted chocolate, and really, you have got to try this too.
That was it for today, my dear foodies. By now, I’m sure you know how to make sorbet without an ice cream maker so let’s jump right in, and make these 4 easy sorbet recipes.
Oh, and don’t forget. If you like this easy sorbet recipe video and want to see more like it, please Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
Homemade Mango Sorbet Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 mangos - peeled and diced (approx. 3 1/2 cups)
- 2-3 Tbsp water or vodka
- 1 Tbsp lime or lemon juice
- 1/4 cup (60ml) maple syrup
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and make some space for it in the freezer.
- Arrange the prepped fruits in a single layer on the baking sheet. Freeze for 3-5 hours, or until completely frozen. Overnight is best.
- In a food processor, add the frozen fruits together with the rest of the ingredients, and blend until its texture turns similar to that of a soft ice cream. You may need to stop at some point and press down with a spatula to make them blend better.
- Serve right away or freeze in airtight containers.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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Easy Strawberry Sorbet Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups strawberries - halved
- 2-3 Tbsp water or vodka
- 1 Tbsp lime or lemon juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup - or honey
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and make some space in the freezer for it.
- Arrange the prepped fruits in a single layer on the baking sheet. Freeze for 3-5 hours, or until completely frozen. Overnight is best.
- In a food processor, add the frozen fruits together with the rest of the ingredients, and blend until its texture turns similar to that of a soft ice cream. You may need to stop at some point and press down with a spatula to make them blend better.
- Serve right away or freeze in airtight containers.Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*This post may contain affiliate links
Easy Peach Sorbet Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 medium peaches - sliced (approx. 3 1/2 cups)
- 2-3 Tbsp water or vodka
- 1 Tbsp lime or lemon juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup - or honey
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and make some space in the freezer for it.
- Arrange the prepped fruits in a single layer on the baking sheet. Freeze for 3-5 hours, or until completely frozen. Overnight is best.
- In a food processor, add the frozen fruits together with the rest of the ingredients, and blend until its texture turns similar to that of a soft ice cream. You may need to stop at some point and press down with a spatula to make them blend better.
- Serve right away or freeze in airtight containers.Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*This post may contain affiliate links
Homemade Banana And Avocado Sorbet Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados - peeled, pitted and diced
- 2 large ripe bananas - peeled and sliced
- 2-3 Tbsp water or vodka
- 1 Tbsp lime or lemon juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup - or honey
- 1 tsp Spirulina powder
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and make some space in the freezer for it.
- Arrange the prepped fruits in a single layer on the baking sheet. Freeze for 3-5 hours, or until completely frozen. Overnight is best.
- In a food processor, add the frozen fruits together with the rest of the ingredients, and blend until its texture turns similar to that of a soft ice cream. You may need to stop at some point and press down with a spatula to make them blend better.
- Serve right away or freeze in airtight containers.Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*This post may contain affiliate links
I’m sure the recipe is great but I was immediately turned off by the comments about it women watching our waists…That’s not a good reason to eat something or not eat something and breeds food guilt. More awareness about body comments would be appreciated.
Can these recipes be put and stored in pint containers like ice cream? Will they freeze and hold up stored that way?
Thank you!
Lisa
Hey Lisa,
Sure, you can store them like ice cream. But I wouldn’t advice storing it in the freezer more than 2-3 weeks. These sorbets are made with 100% natural ingredients and what will happen if you store it that long, ice flakes will buildup on the surface and it won’t be as creamy. The more you keep it in the freezer the more ice flakes will form.
Cheers
I have heard people add a couple of tablespoons of peach jam/preserves to increase pectin content, should not adulterate taste much (or at all if you’re using honey or maple syrup).
I also get good results with letting it melt a fair bit and then whacking it with a malletand refreezing a bit. Primitive, I know….
As for not using alcohol if serving to children, I really don’t think that .15 or .25 tbsp of vodka per scoop is going to turn them into midget boozers and destroy their college careers…. (I assume you never give them nighttime cough medecine, that would send them straight to rehab). No sarcasm intended, just emphasizing that we’re talking about very small quantities.
:)) Indeed, .15 or .25 tbsp of vodka doesn’t harm them in any way. But my recipes call for 2-3 tbsp which is not that much either but definitely not very small. Also, people tend to adjust the recipes quite often so it’s best to mention this just in case.
For example in Spain, they have their lemon sorbet with quite a bit of vodka and even though I love it, that would definitely turn them into ‘midget boozers’ :))
Hi,it sounds yummy.some recipes recall for castor sugar only and no maple syrup.What is best and what is the difference in the use.Thank you
Hi Mimi,
They usually call for a sugar-based syrup for sorbets made with fruits such as lemons, limes or oranges. These fruits have barely any pulp to form a thick, consistent sorbet and they need a thick syrup to help form that creamy, not too icy structure.
The fruits that I used are more consistent, have enough pulp (and natural sweetness) to form a creamy sorbet without using a sugar syrup.
Hope this helps.
Have a wonderful day!
Is there an alternative to lime/lemon juice? I’m allergic to citrus fruits ? Thank you
Hi Jules,
You don’t have to use lime/lemon juice, I just used it to enhance the flavor. So it’s ok to make the sorbet without it.
Cheers
Thanks for this useful informative blog to sharing step by step.
I’m going to try your sorbet recipe. Do you have a lemon recipe?
Hi Andres,
Sorry, I don’t have one yet but will certainly make one in the future.
Have a great Sunday