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Make a 4 ingredient refreshing sorbet palate cleanser with hints of orange and lemon.
Limoncello and orange sorbet is a delicious frozen dessert. Sorbet can be eaten as a dessert or used as a palate cleanser in between courses. This recipe is allergy friendly (gluten free, dairy free, and vegan), which makes it a great option to feed a crowd. Frozen limoncello dessert is refreshing and light - perfect for a hot summer day!
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Whether you're looking for a light, sweet frozen dessert for the summer, or you need a palate cleanser idea for in between dinner party courses, this is the recipe for you! Frozen limoncello sorbet is easy to make (with only 4 ingredients), and can be made ahead-of time and kept in the freezer.
This recipe is part of our all things ice cream series. This series of content will help you master how to make ice cream and frozen treats at home. You'll learn about the best home ice cream machines, how to make egg-less ice cream, and so much more! Follow along to find all the related content in this series.
And, don't forget to check out this post with 10 delicious sorbet recipes for an ice cream maker if you love sorbet as much as I do!
What You'll Learn in This Recipe
With every recipe on Homebody Eats, I hope to teach you a new skill that you can use learn and re-use with other recipes. This limoncello sorbet will teach you:
- What sorbet is (and why it's not technically considered ice cream)
- How to use sorbet as a palate cleanser for fancy dinner parties
- Why an ice cream maker is helpful for making sorbet recipes
What Is Sorbet
Sorbet is a mixture of sugar, water, and either fruit, wine, or liqueur. These ingredients are combined together, then frozen in an ice cream maker.
Sorbet is a fascinating dish because it can be sweet from fruit or liqueur, or it can be savory from herbs or vegetables. Typically, the sweet sorbets are served for dessert, while the savory sorbets are used as palate refreshers in between courses.
Technically, sorbet isn't classified as ice cream. It's just considered a frozen dessert. Why? Because according to the USDA, products labeled as 'ice cream' are required to contain at least 10% milkfat and 20% milk solids. As you just learned, there's no milk present in sorbet.
How To Serve Sorbet As A Palate Cleanser
If you've ever been to an upscale restaurant that serves multiple courses, chances are you've had sorbet as one of those courses. Sorbet is a great recipe to use as a palate cleanser.
Palate cleansers are used to neutralize the food residue from the tongue so you can more accurately taste a new flavor. Typically, you'll see this used in between heavy or greasy courses (like meat dishes).
While some experts argue that sorbet eaten as a palate cleanser shouldn't contain sugar, I think the light and refreshing citrus flavor still makes this recipe a great option as a palette cleanser.
To serve the frozen limoncello sorbet at a dinner party, chill some martini glasses in the freezer, and place one scoop in each glass. Serve with a small spoon utensil.
Tools & Equipment
The main tool you'll need for this recipe is an ice cream maker. You have lots of different options for home ice cream machines. These are my top three favorite ice cream makers. Make sure to check out the full review of each of these to decide which one will work best for you!
The reason you'll need an ice cream maker for this recipe is because the machine helps produce small ice crystals, making this a super smooth and creamy sorbet. Check out this TikTok to learn more about ice crystals and how they affect ice cream and frozen treats.
Most affordable/space efficient
Best quality/creamiest ice cream
Best attachment/largest capacity
In addition, make sure to have a whisk and bowl for mixing.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
First, make sure that you have refrigerated the sorbet mixture for at least 3 hours prior to churning it in the ice cream maker. If you've done that and it still isn't freezing, place the liquid sorbet mixture in the fridge and allow to sit overnight.
The mixture needs to be fairly cold (around 40-42°F) before you place it in the ice cream machine.
Also, depending on the make and model of your ice cream machine, you may need to churn the sorbet for longer than 30 minutes.
There are sorbet recipes out there that don't require an ice cream maker. However, I've found that the best sorbet texture is created when using an ice cream maker. So for this recipe, you'll need to have an ice cream maker.
It's best to serve sorbet in a chilled glass or chilled serving bowl. It helps keep the sorbet from melting.
This sorbet recipe will last 1-2 weeks in the freezer. However, be warned. The longer the sorbet sits, the less prominent the limoncello flavor becomes.
Orange Limoncello Sorbet
Ingredients
- 1 large lemon juiced and zested
- 1 orange zested
- ½ cup orange juice freshly juiced
- ¾ cup limoncello
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- To a large bowl combine lemon and orange zest, lemon juice, orange juice, limoncello, granulated sugar, and pinch of salt along with 3 cups of water. Whisk together until sugar is fully dissolved.
- Cover mixture and set aside in the refrigerator for 3 hours, or up to overnight. The temperature should reach 40-42°F during this time.
- Churn sorbet mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer instructions, about 25-30 minutes.
- Transfer mixture to an airtight container and allow to set in the freezer for an additional 3-4 hours. Serve in a chilled bowl or glass.
Notes
Other Recipes to Try
Don't forget to try out other recipes in our ice cream series:
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