Sorbet or Sherbet ? What is the difference ? They sound the same.Are they one and the same thing ? In this post, I will explain in detail , so you never get confused with the terms, like I did before.
Difference between Sorbet and Sherbet
Sorbet is a frozen dessert made from sugar-sweetened water with flavoring – typically fruit juice, fruit purée, wine, liqueur or honey.
Generally sorbets do not contain dairy ingredients, while sherbets do.
Sherbet is a frozen dessert made with fruit juice which is then added to milk, cream, egg white, or gelatin.
The Backstory
We have been experiencing an extreme heat wave for the past three days, this summer. It is amazing, how you suddenly start looking at the all the frozen treats with magnifying glasses when the heat gets you. You want nothing but the best and a healthy one at that.
Growing up in India, our childhood summer holidays were filled with fun & outdoors, at our grandparents home. The only time we stepped indoors was when we were thirsty or hungry and probably late in the evening when it got darker & it was time for bath, dinner & bed. Yes, in that order always. I remember drinking ‘Sherbet‘ all the time, which was basically lemonade with a few ice cubes in it, or made of really chilled water.
When I first moved here to the US, and was visiting friends, I was offered sorbet. I was pleasantly surprised that it was served in a bowl & did not look like the ‘sherbet’ I had tasted in childhood.Initially, I thought I probably heard it wrong and had gotten the names mixed, only to soon learn that they were totally different frozen treats.
The lemonade, I had as a child which to me until then was THE ‘sherbet’ was not ‘sherbet’ either. What then was ‘sherbet‘ ? Where did this ‘sorbet‘ come from ? Never heard that one before ! So I ventured into learning about their difference and how they came to be.
If you are like me confused about the two terms or have interchanged it in the past, look no further. In this post, I will explain to you clearly what each one means, perhaps you can try making one of each, this summer like I did. They are delightful frozen summer treats , no doubt.
What is Sorbet?
- A frozen treat containing just fruit and sugar/honey.
- Dairy free.
- Can be made at home easily in an ice cream churner or blender.
- Is not creamy.
- Can be scooped like ice cream.
- The fruit flavor in it makes it very refreshing, hence often used as a palate cleanser during multi course meals.
Try out my recipe for Honeydew Sorbet, this summer.
What is Sherbet?
- A frozen treat halfway between sorbet and ice cream.
- It contains dairy, fruit and sugar/honey.
- May also contain gelatin, egg whites.
- The addition of milk/dairy makes it creamier than sorbet.
- Always fruit based.
Check out my recipe for Watermelon Mint Sherbet, sure to cool you down this summer.
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List of homemade frozen treats for summer
You might also check out the following posts, if you are interested in knowing about the different frozen summer treats
The Bottom Line
Now that you know the difference between Sorbet and Sherbet, I hope you will try some of my recipes this summer.
If you do, please share your feedback or any other tips or recipes you have in making these delicious frozen summer treats, in the comments section below.