Easy Lime Sherbet Recipe
Zingy, sweet, tart, and refreshing, this homemade recipe for Lime Sherbet is simple to make, and so much tastier than store-bought! You are going to love the creamy citrusy flavor that comes from freshly squeezed lime juice and zest, and a bit of milk.
After the classic Orange Sherbet, Lime Sherbet is a close second when it comes to favorite sherbet recipes! Or make a mix of flavors with Rainbow Sherbet.
If you love the flavor of citrus in frozen desserts, be sure to try our rich Lemon Custard Ice Cream Recipe and easy Lemon Sorbet.
You can use this lime sherbet to make lime sherbet punch!
Try this lime sherbet in sherbet punch next. You can use lime sherbet, raspberry sherbet, or your favorite flavor.
Why You’re Going to Love This Lime Sherbet Recipe
- Fresh Ingredients – The main ingredient in lime sherbet is freshly squeezed lime juice, and this recipe uses whole milk rather than heavy cream to keep things light.
- This recipe is simple to make – All of the ingredients (and there are only 5 of them!) are mixed together in your blender before being chilled and added to the ice cream maker.
- The bright, tart flavor of lime juice is perfectly balanced with sugar and cream to create a fresh, light dessert that everyone is going to love.
Ingredients in Homemade Lime Sherbet
- Lime Juice – You’ll need 1 full cup of freshly squeezed lime juice for this recipe. This is the main ingredient, so please don’t try to take shortcuts! Bottled lime juice doesn’t have the same brightness as fresh juice will.
- Whole Milk – This gives sherbet a creamy texture. I prefer milk in this recipe over heavy cream – it gives the perfect amount of creaminess without going too far into “ice cream” territory.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar balances the acidity in the lime juice, and adds sweetness to the mix.
- Lime Zest – be sure to remove the zest from your limes before juicing them. If you’ve ever tried to zest half a lime, you’ll know why I’m reminding you!
- Green Food Coloring – This is a totally optional way to give your sherbet a vibrant green color.
For the complete list of ingredients and instructions for making homemade lime sherbet, please see the recipe below.
How to Store Homemade Sherbet
Store this homemade lime sherbet in the freezer in an airtight container with a piece of parchment paper or wax paper pressed on top for up to one month.
Why is Homemade Sherbet So Hard to Scoop?
Since we aren’t adding any stabilizers or preservatives to our recipes like conventional ice cream makers do, homemade lime sherbet won’t be soft when completely frozen, and you may find it difficult to serve.
To make things easier, plan to give the sherbet 5 minutes at room temperature before trying to scoop it.
Does Lime Sherbet Have Milk In It?
Yes! Without adding milk, this recipe would be considered lime sorbet. All sherbet recipes include some type of dairy to make them creamy, either milk or heavy cream.
No Churn Lime Sherbet Directions
Chill a shallow container or a loaf pan in the freezer while you mix the sherbet ingredients. There’s no need to pre-chill the base if you’re not using the ice cream maker!
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and freeze for 3-4 hours. Stir the sherbet every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours to help add air. This will help create a creamy, smooth texture.
How to Make Sherbet Pops
Once the lime sherbet has finished churning, you can transfer it to your popsicle molds to turn it into refreshing, single-serve ice pops. Let the sherbet mixture freeze in the molds for at least six hours, or until it’s frozen solid.
Be sure to check out all of our easy homemade popsicle recipes for more ideas for filling your popsicle mold.
Can I Make Lime Sherbet With Bottled Juice?
Technically you can make lime sherbet with bottled lime juice, but I don’t recommend it. The flavor of freshly squeezed lime juice is so much better and well worth the little bit of effort it takes to get it.
More Fruity Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
- Mango Gelato
- Huckleberry Ice Cream
- Peaches and Cream Ice Cream
- Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream
- Watermelon Sorbet
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Lime Sherbet
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 ¼ cups cold whole milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime zest
- ¼ teaspoon green food coloring optional
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and the sugar has dissolved– about 1 minute.
- Freeze the sherbet in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Mine took about 20 minutes on low speed.
- For soft serve sherbet: enjoy immediately.
- For scoopable sherbet: transfer the soft frozen sherbet to a 9×5” loaf pan and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Freeze for an additional 6 hours and then scoop and enjoy.
Notes
- Store any leftover sherbet in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two weeks.
- Use fresh limes for the juice and zest needed for this recipe. Bottled lime juice just doesn't have the same tart, fresh flavor.
- Without food coloring, lime sherbet will be a pale, pastel green color. Add a few drop of bright green to make the color more vibrant.
