Description
This refreshing Southern Family Style Watermelon Sorbet captures summer’s essence in every spoonful. With its vibrant color and perfectly balanced sweetness, this silky-smooth frozen treat requires just a handful of ingredients and no dairy. It’s the ideal cool-down dessert for hot summer days and a showstopper at any gathering!
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups seedless watermelon, cubed and chilled
- ½ cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup (optional, for extra silkiness)
- Pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
- Add chilled watermelon cubes, sugar, lime juice, corn syrup (if using), and salt to a high-powered blender.
- Pulse on high until completely smooth with no chunks remaining, about 30-60 seconds.
- Taste the mixture and adjust sweetness if needed by adding more sugar and pulsing again.
- Pour the purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl to remove any pulp or fibrous bits.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the liquid, and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours.
- Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s directions, about 20-25 minutes or until soft-serve consistency.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container, smooth the top, and press parchment paper directly onto the surface.
- Freeze for at least 2 hours until firm.
- Allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving for the perfect scoopable texture.
Notes
- For the most vibrant color and flavor, use a fully ripe watermelon with deep red flesh.
- No ice cream maker? Pour the strained mixture into a shallow metal pan and freeze for 30 minutes, then stir vigorously with a fork every 30 minutes for 2-3 hours until slushy.
- For a boozy version, add 1 tablespoon of vodka before churning to keep the texture softer and prevent ice crystals.
- To prevent freezer burn, always place parchment paper directly on the sorbet’s surface before covering.
- Slightly overripe watermelon works wonderfully in this recipe as it contains more natural sugars.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Freezing
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 112
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 42mg
- Fat: 0.2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Protein: 0.8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: watermelon sorbet, southern dessert, dairy-free frozen dessert, summer dessert, fruit sorbet, no-churn option, homemade sorbet, vegan dessert, refreshing treat, watermelon recipe