Lemonade sorbet makes the perfect summer treat that’s bursting with vibrant citrus flavors. This easy frozen treat goes together in a flash with only five ingredients and is the perfect way to stay cool all summer long! It’s a delightful blend of tangy sweetness that’s bursting with fresh lemon!
Why I Love Lemon Sorbet
Around this time of year, I get super busy with life which explains why I am giving you a recipe for easy lemon sorbet. I don’t have the time I used to have to make glorious yet time consuming cakes.
I have a way of making desserts to fit my lifestyle. So this easy, quick, light and delicious easy lemon sorbet hit the ticket. I know that in a matter of minutes, I can make the base of this sorbet and have it in the ice cream maker churning away.
I rely on sorbets a lot in my busy seasons. They always deliver, and they are stress free. See for yourself. In fact, time yourself to see how long it actually takes to make the easy lemon sorbet mixture before adding it to your ice cream maker.
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Sorbet
- Great Flavor: The combination of fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and limoncello means each bite simply bursts with lemon flavor!
- So easy to make: All it takes is a quick mix of ingredients, a short chill, and it’s ready for the ice cream maker.
- It’s dairy-free: This lemonade sorbet recipe is the perfect frozen treat for anyone who can’t tolerate dairy or is looking to avoid it.
- Refreshing flavors: It’s perfectly sweet with plenty of tangy lemon flavor and makes a refreshing treat for the summer.
Looking for more lemon and citrus flavors to enjoy this summer? You will also love a cold glass of homemade lemonade or strawberry lemonade to sip on.
Ingredients to Make Lemonade Sorbet
All you need are four simple ingredients to make a bright, citrusy sorbet. Here’s a closer look at what you need to gather up.
- Water: Aids in dissolving the sugar and balancing the sweet, tangy flavors.
- Sweetness: Lemon sorbet combines granulated sugar and corn syrup for plenty of sweetness. The corn syrup also gives the sorbet a creamier, thicker consistency because it inhibits the formation of ice crystals.
- Lemon: You will be using both juice and zest. Definitely use fresh lemons for the best flavor.
- Limoncello: A sweet lemon-flavored Italian liqueur with an intense citrus flavor. It also lowers the freezing point of the sorbet making it slightly easier to scoop.
How to Make Lemonade Sorbet
- Whisk together the water, sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest, and limoncello.
- Refrigerate the mixture for 15-20 minutes to chill slightly.
- Pour the lemon sorbet mixture into an ice cream machine. Freeze your sorbet following the instructions included with your ice cream machine.
- Once the sorbet is done, transfer it to an ice cream container and freeze it until you’re ready to serve.
Tips For Making the Best Lemon Sorbet
- Use Fresh Lemons. While it may seem easier to use bottled lemon juice you won’t get the same fresh, clean flavor. Bottled lemon juice contains ingredients for preservation which change its flavor quite a bit.
- Roll Your Lemons. Before cutting the lemons, roll them firmly on the counter with the palm of your hand. This loosens up the juice and makes it easier to squeeze.
- Use a Microplane. You want a very fine texture for the lemon zest which is best achieved by using a microplane. If you don’t have one, use the smallest grate hole possible and press lightly to zest the lemon. If it looks too thick, chop it finely with a knife before mixing it in.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Other Citrus Flavors: Easily make lime or orange sorbet by switching out the fresh juice for fresh limes or oranges. For orange, use an orange-flavored liqueur such as triple sec, and to make lime sorbet you can use lime extract or syrup in place of the limoncello.
- Alcohol-Free: Since limoncello is a liqueur, the sorbet contains a small amount of alcohol. You can make this alcohol-free by using lemon extract instead. It may alter the texture slightly and it a bit harder in texture.
- Pink Lemonade Sorbet: Add a few drops of red food coloring to tint the sorbet pink!
How to Store Lemon Sorbet
Store lemon sorbet in a sturdy airtight container with minimal headspace in the freezer. Avoid placing the sorbet in the door of your freezer where temperatures fluctuate. Too much thawing and refreezing will cause the sorbet to become icy and grainy.
How long will lemonade sorbet last in the freezer?
Any homemade sorbet is best eaten fresh so be sure to enjoy it within 1-3 days!
Frequently Asked Questions
No, sorbet is made with fruit puree, water, and sugar. Sometimes liqueur or corn syrup are added to give it a creamier consistency.
While they are both made with fruit, sherbet contains dairy while sorbet does not.
Citrus sorbet will generally be a bit icier than other fruit sorbets because it doesn’t contain large amounts of fruit puree. Since it’s predominantly water and juice it needs additional ingredients added to give it a less icy texture. I find using corn syrup and a bit of limoncello contribute to a smoother texture. Both keep ice crystals from forming and the liqueur keeps it from freezing solid so it’s easier to scoop.
More Sorbet and Ice Cream Recipes
- Mango Sorbet
- Peach Pie Ice Cream
- Raspberry Ice Cream
- Corn Ice Cream
- Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream
- Summer Sorbet Floats
*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!
Lemonade Sorbet Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 ¾ cups sugar
- ¼ cup corn syrup
- 2 cups fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons limoncello
Instructions
- Whisk together water, sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest and limoncello.
- Place mixture in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
- Pour lemon sorbet mixture into ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once sorbet is done, add to ice cream container and freeze until time to serve.
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what a wonderful idea, and I already have my homemade limoncello in my freezer, ready to go, love this and thank you!
Lemon sorbet looks delicious! What a fun idea for a frozen summer dessert.
The lemony flavor of this sorbet just screams summer! I like how it has only a few simple ingredients and is easy to make too!
Love this version with limoncello! Cant wait to see how they turn out!
I’m a big lemon fan and lemon sorbet is always a favorite to both enjoy those flavors and cool down. This is a lovely version!
So perfect and refreshing during the hot summer months. Thank you for this!
I was asking my husband last night what frozen treat we should make next, and guess what he said! Exactly lemon sorbet. I think I’m meant to make this!
p.s. By the way, your pinterest button is not working on the side bar. 🙂 Pinned!
That is so funny. A man after my own heart. Lemon sorbet is one of my husband’s faves too because it tastes like frozen lemonade. I will check on the pinterest button. Thank you for letting me know! 😉
Such a perfect looking, light sorbet for summer parties! Great recipe!
Thanks so much Georgia!