Homemade Orange Sherbet
A bowl of this Homemade Orange Sherbet is creamy and refreshing – it’s the perfect sweet treat for a warm summer day!
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As the temperature climbs outside and we spend more evenings enjoying the late day sun, we tend to crave lighter desserts. A good citrus or berry dessert on a hot summer day is quite refreshing. Oh, who am I kidding? If you offer me a big slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, I’ll devour it…no matter the time of the year!
A couple of years ago, I made a batch of homemade Strawberry Sherbet. It was delicious, and we enjoyed bowls of that sherbet while sitting on the back porch. I decided to channel that sherbet vibe recently…but with an orange twist this time. This Homemade Orange Sherbet is incredibly easy to make, and it’s quite refreshing on a summer day!
Sherbet vs. Sorbet
While both sherbet and sorbet are refreshing frozen desserts, they are very different. Sorbets are typically made with only juice, water and sugar. We make a batch of this Passion Fruit Sorbet every summer. Sorbets are also dairy-free.
Similar to sorbet, sherbet is typically made with fruit juice and sugar. The difference is that sherbet also includes a bit of milk or cream, or in this case buttermilk. The addition of dairy means sherbets have a smoother, creamier texture than sorbets. Both are delicious. They’re just different.
Homemade Orange Sherbet
One of my favorite store-bought frozen treats is rainbow sherbet. The classic combination of raspberry, orange and lime sherbets is a delicious way to enjoy a summer evening! At some point, I want to tackle making homemade rainbow sherbet, but for now I decided to stick with a simpler approach. This Homemade Orange Sherbet is quite easy to make, and the flavor is fantastic.
It’s hard to beat a creamy, citrusy dessert on a warm day. A bowl of this Homemade Orange Sherbet will cool you right off! And since orange juice is the main ingredient, this dessert is easy approachable for both kids and adults. (I also added a bit of orange zest to boost the orange flavor in this recipe.)
If possible, I recommend using fresh-squeezed orange juice rather than store-bought orange juice for this recipe. Since the juice is the primary source of the orange flavor, go with the freshly squeezed version. (Store-bought will work perfectly well, though.)
This Homemade Orange Sherbet includes a bit of real vanilla extract, and the flavor comes through. In fact, my wife said we should call this Creamsicle Sorbet. The combination of orange and vanilla reminded her of the taste of the classic frozen treat. In fact, I think a scoop of vanilla ice cream paired with a scoop of this orange sherbet would be pretty fantastic!
Do I Need an Ice Cream Maker?
We have a Cuisinart ice cream maker that we absolutely love. If you have an ice cream maker, then pull it out to make this recipe. But I get it. An ice cream maker is a unitasker that takes up valuable cabinet space.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can still make this sherbet! Just pour the chilled mixture into a shallow bowl and freeze for 3-4 hours, stirring it every 30 minutes. It’s a bit more time-intensive, but it will still work well. (Tip: For a sherbet with extra creaminess, blend the frozen sherbet and then refreeze again for 1-2 hours.)
If you’re looking for a lighter dessert for warm summer days, then this Homemade Orange Sherbet is an excellent choice. I hope you enjoy this treat as much as we do around our house – Cheers!
Did you make this Homemade Orange Sherbet recipe? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Homemade Orange Sherbet
Ingredients
- 1½ cups fresh orange juice
- 1 Tbsp orange zest plus more for garnishing
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup buttermilk see note
- ¾ cup half-and-half can use heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Using a medium bowl, add orange juice, orange zest and sugar; whisk until well combined.
- Add buttermilk, half-and-half and vanilla extract; stir until well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate mixture overnight.
- The next day, pour mixture into an ice cream maker. Churn according to manufacturer’s directions.
- For a soft serve sherbet, serve immediately. For a sherbet with a firmer consistency, place mixture in freezer for another 2-3 hours. (Note: If sherbet is too hard to scoop, let container thaw in the refrigerator for ~20 minutes before scooping.)
- Before serving, garnish with additional orange zest if desired.
Notes
Looking for more frozen dessert recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
I need to try this soon for me BTW cant wait to make your recipes soon for me
Thanks, Ramya – I hope you enjoy this sweet treat!!
Yet another reason to break out the ice cream maker! Sounds delicious, David. Although I’m an old hand at gelato and sorbet, I don’t think I’ve ever actually tried my hand at sherbet. This might just be the place to start. Sounds super easy.
I definitely say it’s time to break out the ice cream maker, Frank – and once you master sherbet, you can get creative with different flavors!
sounding delicious David. Probs not the best weather here for it but really any time of year … I do like an iced treat with less dairy than regular ice cream so this sounds great!
sherry
Haha – you’re right, Sherry! This one might be best to wait until it’s hot again there. 🙂
This looks so refreshing, David! I love orange desserts, and this sherbet sounds perfect for summer.
This dessert is definitely refreshing – perfect for summer! Thanks, Ben!
This Homemade Orange Sherbet looks like the absolute perfect refreshing dessert for summer! I love that you incorporated buttermilk and half-and-half instead of just heavy cream…it sounds like it gives it such a wonderful, smooth texture. This totally sends creamsicle vibes with that splash of real vanilla! I’ll definitely be pulling out the ice cream maker for this one.
The buttermilk gives the sherbet it’s tangy flavor without adding too much cream. This recipe is definitely perfect for hot summer days!!
Your orange sherbet recipe is such a fantastic upgrade over the grocery store variety. I love the flavors of the real buttermilk and orange zest. These flavors come through spectacularly to create such a flavorsome treat!
While I do love a good container of grocery store sherbet, homemade is always better!! Thanks, Heidi!
I have always preferred sherbet to ice cream, and orange creamsicle – yes please!
I prefer all the frozen treats…especially when it’s super hot outside! Thanks, Jeff!
I absolutely love your sorbet! I have been meaning to invest in a small ice cream maker for a while now… You might have convinced me. Enjoy the rest of your day, Cheers, ~Nessa
You should absolutely invest in that ice cream maker, Nessa – Amazon Prime Day is coming up soon, and I bet you can get a good price on one!
This orange sherbet looks like pure childhood joy, the kind of frosty, citrusy treat that makes you grin before you even take a bite.
Haha – you nailed the description there, Raymund! This sherbet is indeed perfect for summer days!