Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (2024)

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Orange sorbet is a refreshing, light dessert that's perfect for any occasion, whether it's a hot summer day or a cozy winter evening.

Sorbet is a frozen dessert made primarily from fruit and sugar, and unlike its cousin gelato, it doesn't contain dairy, making it a fantastic option for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan.

The best types of oranges to use for sorbet are common Valencia or blood oranges, each variety bringing its own unique flavor to the sorbet.

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (1)

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  • Ingredients
  • Kitchen Tools and Equipment
  • Orange Sorbet Recipe: Instructions
  • Storage
  • How to Serve Orange Sorbet
  • Orange Sorbet Variations
  • Recipe Recap

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the room it leaves for creativity. With just a few basic ingredients and simple steps, you can create a dessert that looks and tastes gourmet.

Orange sorbet is versatile - it can be enjoyed on its own, as a palate cleanser between courses, or paired with other desserts for a more elaborate treat.

I'm going to show you how to make the orange sorbet at home, WITH and WITHOUT ice cream maker. Let's take a look at the world of homemade orange sorbet and discover how to make this delicious, citrusy dessert!

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (2)

Ingredients

WITH Ice Cream Maker:

  • Prep Time: 10 Min + about 40 min in ice cream maker
  • Cook Time: 5 Min
  • Servings: 6 people that is about 500 g (1,1 lb) of Sorbet

WITHOUT Ice Cream Maker:

  • Prep Time: 10 Min + cooling in the freezer for about 4 H
  • Cook time: 5 Min
  • Servings: 6 people that is about 500 g (1,1 lb) of Sorbet
  • 150 g (¾ cup) of granulated sugar
  • 250 ml (1 cup) of water
  • the zest of 2 oranges
  • the juice of 5 oranges (about 300 ml or 1 ¼ cup). You can use ordinary Valencia oranges or you can use blood oranges. You will get a more or less intense sorbet, from pale orange to deep red, depending on the color of the fruit.

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (3)

  • ICE CREAM MAKER WITH COMPRESSOR: I recommend the Whynter Automatic Ice Cream Maker and the Lello 4080 Musso Lussino. The latter type is completely made in Italy but have successfully spread throughout the world. It's made for home use but has the same features as the professional machines. This type of machine is very similar to the professional one. It's a little expensive but with this ice cream maker you will have a perfect sorbetto and - above all - in quite a short time.
  • ICE CREAM MAKER WITHOUT COMPRESSOR: Other types of ice cream makers, without a compressor, plan to keep the special container of the machine in the freezer many hours ahead of time to cool the ingredients. You can try Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker which in my opinion is affordable and convenient.
  • THE CONTAINER: Make the orange sorbet WITHOUT ice cream maker: the result will still be good if you follow really well this recipe step by step. In this case you need a stainless steel sorbet container.
  • JUICE EXTRACTOR: A juice extractor machine can be very useful for making excellent sorbets. With this appliance the juice is much more concentrated and tasty.
  • PEELER: A good peeler make it easy making orange sorbet. In fact it's very important to remove only a thin layer of orange peel, without the white part that would make the sorbet bitter.

Orange Sorbet Recipe: Instructions

Now I'll show you how to make orange sorbet WITH and WITHOUT ICE CREAM MAKER. So be sure to follow my step-by-step recipe!

IMPORTANT: First of all, if you are NOT going to use the ice cream maker, remember to put a STAINLESS STEEL container in the freezer a few hours ahead (no plastic this time!). When you pour the sorbet mixture, the container must be FROZEN.

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (4)

Step 1) - Wash and dry 2 oranges. If possible, buy organic oranges. Using a potato peeler, peel the oranges, being careful not to remove the white, bitter part. Set aside.

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (5)

Step 2) - Halve all the oranges and squeeze to collect the juice. For a more concentrated, flavorful, and sediment-free juice, you can use a juice extractor if you have one. You should end up with about 300 ml (1 ¼ cups) of orange juice.

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (6)

Step 3) - Place 250 ml (1 cup) of water, 150 g (¾ cup) of granulated sugar and the orange zest in a saucepan. Cook over a low heat, stirring all the time, for about 5 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (7)

Step 4) - Filter the orange juice through a sieve if necessary. Add the syrup made of water and sugar without the orange peel. Mix very well.

Now we are going to show you how to make the orange sorbet WITH and WITHOUT ice cream maker, so keep reading!

How to Make Orange Sorbet WITH Ice Cream Maker

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (8)

Step 5/A) - At this point, if you have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into the machine and turn it on. Depending on the model, this will take about 40 minutes. After the required time, your creamy orange sorbet is ready!

How to Make Orange Sorbet WITHOUT Ice Cream Maker

Don't worry if you don't have an ice cream maker. I'll show you how to make an amazing sorbet. It takes more time (4 hours instead of about 40 minutes) and more work. But the result is still exceptional! Let's see how to do it!

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (9)

Step 5/B) - Pour the blended mixture into the stainless steel container that has been previously frozen. Freeze for approximately 4 hours. You will need to break up the frozen surface of the sorbet every 30 minutes. Use a hand whisk or low-speed electric whisk to stir the sorbet.

This step is necessary to prevent ice crystals from forming in the sorbet and to keep the sorbet creamy. Obviously, this process is a bit more tedious, but it's worth it. You will be sure to have an exquisite and authentic Italian orange sorbet!

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (10)

YOU MUST ALSO TRY:

  • Lemon Sorbet
  • Concord Grape Sorbet
  • Peach Sorbet

Storage

You can keep an orange sorbet in the freezer for up to one month.

How to Serve Orange Sorbet

Serving sorbet is quite straightforward and can be a delightful experience, especially if you're looking to impress your guests or enjoy a refreshing treat yourself. Here are some tips on how to serve orange sorbet:

  • Proper Temperature: Sorbet is best served slightly softened. If it's too hard, you might want to leave it at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. This makes it easier to scoop and enhances the flavors.
  • Scooping: Use a proper ice cream scoop to form nice, round balls of sorbet. Dipping the scoop in warm water between scoops can help prevent sticking and create smoother scoops.
  • Presentation: Serve the sorbet in chilled bowls or glasses. Clear glass bowls or martini glasses can make for an elegant presentation. You can also use hollowed-out fruit shells, like orange halves, for a more creative and natural presentation. Edible flowers can also add a touch of elegance.
  • Portion Size: Since orange sorbet is quite flavorful and refreshing, a small serving is usually sufficient. This is especially true if it's being served as a palate cleanser between courses.
  • Serving as a Dessert or Palate Cleanser: Sorbet can be served as a light dessert or as a palate cleanser between courses in a multi-course meal. The way you present it can differ accordingly.

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (11)

Orange Sorbet Variations

Creating variations of orange sorbet can be a delightful way to explore different flavors and textures. Here are three delicious variations:

Orange Sorbet with Egg Whites

Adding egg whites to orange sorbet creates a smoother, creamier texture. To make this, prepare your basic orange sorbet mixture like per my recipe. Whip until stiff the white of 1 egg and add to the mixture before pouring into the ice cream maker or freezing. This will give the sorbet a lighter, airier texture.

Orange Sorbet with Alcohol

Alcohol can be a great addition to sorbet, both for flavor and for its effect on the texture. Alcohol lowers the freezing point of the mixture, resulting in a softer, more scoopable sorbet. A complementary alcohol for orange sorbet would be a liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau, which have a sweet orange flavor. Mix this into your basic sorbet recipe before freezing. Remember, a little goes a long way – too much alcohol can prevent the sorbet from setting properly.

Spiced Orange Sorbet

For an exotic twist, consider adding spices to your orange sorbet. Ingredients like cinnamon, cardamom, or a pinch of clove can add a warm and intriguing depth to the flavor. Mix these spices into your basic orange sorbet recipe. The key is to balance the spices so they complement, not overpower, the fresh orange taste.

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (12)

Recipe Recap

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (13)

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Orange sorbet Recipe

Orange sorbet is a refreshing, light dessert that's perfect for any occasion, whether it's a hot summer day or a cozy winter evening.

Sorbet is a frozen dessert made primarily from fruit and sugar, and unlike its cousin gelato, it doesn't contain dairy, making it a fantastic option for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan.

The best types of oranges to use for sorbet are common Valencia or blood oranges, each variety bringing its own unique flavor to the sorbet.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Keyword orange sorbet, orange sorbet recipe, orange sorbet with fresh oranges

Prep Time 50 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 168kcal

Ingredients

  • 150 g granulated sugar ¾ cup of
  • 250 ml water 1 cup of
  • 2 oranges the zest
  • 5 oranges the juice is about 300 ml or 1 ¼ cup

Instructions

  • Wash and dry 2 oranges. If possible, buy organic oranges. Using a potato peeler, peel the oranges, being careful not to remove the white, bitter part. Set aside.

  • Halve all the oranges and squeeze to collect the juice. For a more concentrated, flavorful, and sediment-free juice, you can use a juice extractor if you have one. You should end up with about 300 ml (1 ¼ cups) of orange juice.

  • Place 250 ml (1 cup) of water, 150 g (¾ cup) of granulated sugar and the orange zest in a saucepan. Cook over a low heat, stirring all the time, for about 5 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

  • Filter the orange juice through a sieve if necessary. Add the syrup made of water and sugar without the orange peel. Mix very well.

How to Make Orange Sorbet WITH Ice Cream Maker

  • Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and turn it on. Depending on the model, this will take about 40 minutes. After the required time, your creamy orange sorbet is ready!

How to Make Orange Sorbet WITHOUT Ice Cream Maker

  • Pour the blended mixture into the stainless steel container that has been previously frozen. Freeze for approximately 4 hours. You will need to break up the frozen surface of the sorbet every 30 minutes. Use a hand whisk or low-speed electric whisk to stir the sorbet.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 344IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @recipesfromitaly or tag #recipesfromitaly!

Homemade Orange Sorbet Recipe with Fresh Oranges (2024)

FAQs

What is orange sorbet made of? ›

Method. Put the orange juice, star anise and sugar into a pan. Bring to the boil, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved, then remove the star anise. Cool, then pour into an ice-cream machine and churn until smooth and frozen.

What's the difference between sorbet and sherbet? ›

The major difference between the two is that sherbet is made with dairy and sorbet isn't. Sherbet has more of a creamy texture that you'd expect from ice cream thanks to ingredients like milk, heavy cream, or buttermilk in the mix. Sorbet, on the other hand, is simply sugar and fruit.

Why put egg white in sorbet? ›

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 do you add alcohol to sorbet? ›

1 to 2 tablespoons liqueur (this is for flavor, but it also prevents the sorbet from freezing solid. Alcohol won't freeze, so it is great insurance that you will have a soft sorbet. BUT, if you add too much sorbet won't freeze at all and you will basically have a margarita or daiquiri!)

What makes sorbet so 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's the difference between orange sorbet and orange sherbet? ›

Sherbet and sorbet are both fruity frozen treats whose names are often incorrectly used interchangeably. The main difference? Sherbet contains dairy while sorbet has no dairy.

Is sorbet healthier then ice cream? ›

Sorbet has less calories than ice cream and other frozen desserts, and no fat. It's fruit content also makes it rich in vitamin C. Any downsides? That fruit content also means it contains a fair bit of sugar, and if we're comparing it with ice cream and gelato, it has less calcium, vitamin A and iron.

Is sorbet more healthy 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.

Which is healthier sorbet or sherbet? ›

"If you follow a vegan diet or have a food allergy, sorbet will be a better choice," she adds. Plus, in terms of nutrition, sorbet will also be the healthiest option becasue it doesn't contain the milk, cream, or butterfat, which increases saturated fat content.

What is the secret to good sorbet? ›

If you don't know the exact sugar content of your fruit, the best thing you can do is play it safe. A sugar concentration between 20% to 30% will generally produce a scoopable, creamy sorbet. * Add less and your sorbet is too icy to scoop; add more and it may never freeze.

Why is my homemade sorbet icy? ›

Too little sugar and you end up with loads of crunchy ice crystals. Some experts swear by a ratio of 4 cups puréed fruit to 1 cup sugar. If you don't have an ice-cream maker, place the sorbet mixture in a sealed container in the very coldest part of your freezer (usually at the bottom and back).

What happens if you use too much sugar in the sorbet? ›

Here is the thing, sorbet if it has too much sugar, will be too sweet and won't freeze correctly, too little sugar and the sorbet will be icy and hard. On average we are looking for 2 parts fruit juice or puree to one part sugar, and there is a fun way to test the amount, see below.

What can I use to stabilize my sorbet? ›

  • Procrema 100 Cold/Hot Natur allows us to stabilize ice creams naturally with an easy formulation.
  • Prosorbet 100 Cold Natur allows us to stabilize sorbets naturally with an easy formulation.
  • Guar gum allows us to stabilize ice creams whithout the need of heating up.
  • Carob gum allows us to stabilize ice creams with heat.
May 1, 2021

How do you thicken homemade sorbet? ›

In this recipe, we use tapioca starch to thicken the sorbet mixture, which gives a velvety texture to the sorbet, but you can use corn starch if this is what you have. Thickening the sorbet mixture with a starch gives it body, which makes the sorbet expand during churning and become fluffy.

How do you keep homemade sorbet from freezing solid? ›

Alcohol doesn't freeze, so it helps prevent sorbet from freezing solid. A little bit goes a long way. 1 to 3 Tablespoons per quart of sorbet is a good rule of thumb. If too much alcohol is added the sorbet will stay mushy.

Is sorbet healthy than ice cream? ›

Sorbet has less calories than ice cream and other frozen desserts, and no fat. It's fruit content also makes it rich in vitamin C. Any downsides? That fruit content also means it contains a fair bit of sugar, and if we're comparing it with ice cream and gelato, it has less calcium, vitamin A and iron.

Is sorbet actually ice cream? ›

The difference between ice cream and sorbet is also based on whether or not dairy is used. Technically speaking, ice cream always contains cream and/or milk as its main ingredients, while sorbet traditionally never includes dairy or eggs, instead being primarily made from fruit juice or fruit purée.

Is fruit 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.

Is orange sherbet healthier than ice cream? ›

If you're watching your waistline, sherbet may be a better dessert choice than ice cream because it usually contains fewer calories. While a 1/2-cup serving of vanilla ice cream contains 137 calories on average, the same portion of orange sherbet contains just 107 calories.

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