Lime Sherbet
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Homemade lime sherbet is refreshing frozen treat on a hot summer day. Because it’s homemade, it’s bursting with fresh lime flavor, free of green food coloring, artificial flavors, or high fructose corn syrup. We make a lot of homemade sherbet, ice cream and sorbet in the summer, but this recipe is on constant repeat because of its simple ingredients and zesty taste. It also makes a great palate cleanser.
What’s the difference between sherbet and sorbet?
Sherbet is a dairy based frozen dessert. The addition of heavy cream or whole milk give sherbet a creamy texture. Sorbet, on the other hand is naturally dairy free, containing just lime juice, sugar and water.
Ingredients for homemade lime sherbet
Use fresh lime juice rather than bottled lime juice. While the Triple sec is optional, a tiny amount of alcohol inhibits the formation of ice crystals and contributes to the sherbets smooth texture. (Recipe from Cook’s Illustrated, 2004) For key lime sherbet, just substitute key lime juice for the regular lime juice.
- fresh limes
- sugar
- salt
- water
- triple sec
- heavy cream
How to make lime sherbet
Always use fresh lime juice and lime zest. While you can make sherbets, sorbets and ice cream recipes without an ice cream maker, the end result is so much smoother and creamier.
- In the bowl of a food processor, pulse lime zest, salt, and sugar several times until well combined.
- Add lime juice slowly, while machine is running and process until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute.
- Strain mixture and add Triple Sec.
- Chill until mixture is very cold. Or place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form.
- Add lime juice to cream while while whipping constantly.
- Add to ice cream machine and follow the manufacturer’s instructions as every ice cram machine’s chill time varies.
- Sherbet will be soft serve ready once done, but definitely improves if it’s allowed to chill in an airtight container in the freezer for 8 hours or overnight.
Variations
For orange sherbet, increase fresh squeezed orange juice to 2 cups and add 3 Tablespoons lemon juice. Follow the directions for the lime sherbet recipe making these substitutions:
For lemon sherbet: Substitute lemon juice for lime juice.
Here are some of my favorite homemade ice cream, sherbet and sorbet recipes
A variety of sweet treats perfect for a warm day!
How to serve lime sherbet
- Lime sherbet is a classic addition to a birthday, bridal or baby shower punch.
- For floats add 2 or 3 scoops of lime sherbet to a tall glass and top with ginger ale, or lemon lime soda.
- Hollow out a lime half and serve a scoop inside the shell.
Here are some of my favorite ice cream making tools!
These are available at my Amazon Store Front.
Lime Sherbet
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon lime zest
- 1 cup sugar (plus 2 Tablespoons) (8 ounces)
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2/3 cup lime juice
- 2 teaspoons Triple Sec
- 1 1/2 cups water (12 ounces)
- 2/3 cups heavy whipping cream (5.3 ounces)
Instructions
- Zest and juice limes. Measure out 2/3 cup of lime juice and 1 Tablespoon lime zest.
- Process lime zest, sugar and salt in food processor and pulse 2-3 times until zest is fully incorporated into sugar.
- With food processor running, slowly add lime juice. Strain and add Triple Sec. Refrigerate until very cold or put lime juice mixture into the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Whip cream in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Slowly add chilled lime juice while whipping constantly.
- Immediately add sherbet mixture to ice cream maker and follow your manufacturer's instructions as freezing time will vary depending on model.
- For best results, chill a least 8 hours or overnight.
Made this for some guests a few weeks ago. It was refreshing on a very hot summer night. However some of us found it to be too tart. I know that is a personal preference though as my husband loved it! Nonetheless, next time I will cut back on the amount of lime juice to 1/2 cup and see how that tastes.
Thanks for your feedback! I know tartness is a personal preference so adding a little more sugar or less lime juice would be perfect for your guests!