How Are Sorbet and Sherbet Different?

Sorbet and sherbet are both delicious cold and fruity desserts that come in a variety of flavors. Many people use the terms interchangeably, leading to confusion. They are not the same thing. They are made with some of the same ingredients, but there are key differences. Here is a brief explanation so you will know what to order the next time you visit your local ice cream shop.

How Sorbet Is Made

There are only two main ingredients used to make sorbet: fruit and sugar. It may include other ingredients as well, such as water, flavorings, or acid, but there are no dairy products in sorbet. It is essentially fruit that is mixed with sugar, churned, and then frozen. Sorbet is also a gluten-free dessert.

Sorbet has a light and refreshing taste since it does not contain any dairy products. It is sometimes used to cleanse the palate between courses at a large meal because it is cold, refreshing, and light.

Granita starts out with the same ingredients that are used in sorbet, but it is made differently. Granita is not churned like sorbet. Instead, the base is poured into a pan and put in the freezer. The surface is scraped several times while it is freezing to create coarse ice crystals.

What Makes Sherbet Different

Sherbet has a creamier taste than sorbet. It contains fruit, sugar, and possibly also egg whites, gelatin, milk, cream, or buttermilk. This creates a product that is richer than sorbet but not as heavy and dense as ice cream.

Many people mispronounce the name of the dessert. It is “sherbet,” not “sherbert. “ This is one of the most commonly mispronounced words.

How to Enjoy Sorbet or Sherbet

If you want to eat sherbet or sorbet at home, take it out of the freezer at least five minutes before you want to serve it. Since they have less fat than ice cream, they both need to soften a little to make them easier to scoop.

If you would like to sample some fresh sherbet or sorbet, stop in at your local Praline’s. We make our own delicious frozen desserts with fresh fruit and other ingredients. You can sample one of our fruity sherbets or sorbets or some of our many ice cream flavors. Bring your family in today.