This Cherry Chocolate Sorbet is rich and full of chocolate flavor with bits of sweet cherry. It makes a delightful decadent dessert!
Sorbets vs Ice Cream
Have you noticed that I don't make a lot of ice creams on this site? It's mainly because I'm pretty lazy and I don't feel like doing the whole egg yolk tempered custard thing. That's right - my technical term for making ice cream - "egg yolk tempered custard thing." And, I wonder why no one has contacted me to write a cookbook.
My favorite way to get a quick frozen treat is a sorbet. Sorbets are usually crazy easy to make and crazy easy to change up. Last week, I shared Lemon Rosemary Sorbet. It was light and refreshing. A perfect palette cleanser - that is if I made the kind of meals that had a palette cleanser course.
Today I'm back with the opposite of that sorbet. This sorbet is rich and thick and decadent. Heavy on the chocolate, with dark sweet cherries. The stuff dreams are made of. If you're dreams are of chocolate, and mine are.
Ingredients to Make Cherry Chocolate Sorbet
Let's talk about what you need to make this decadent chocolate dessert!
Cocoa Powder - You want a good dark cocoa powder, I usually use a Raw Organic Cocoa Powder.
Water.
Sugar - white sugar is fine, but I usually use Organic Cane Sugar that is less processed.
Cherries - fresh, pitted. Frozen will work also.
Cherry Brandy - optional, but I like the flavor that it adds and that it keeps the sorbet from freezing too solid.
How to Make Chocolate Sorbet with Cherries
We begin by making a sort of chocolate simple syrup. In a small sauce pan, bring two cups of water to a boil. Whisk in the cocoa powder a little at a time until it's incorporated. Then whisk in the sugar and stir until it's dissolved and stir in the cherry brandy if you are using it.
Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl and chill in the refrigerator until nicely cold. I was in a hurry, so I put mine in the freezer for about an hour.
Remove from the fridge or freezer and process in your ice cream maker per instructions. I usually process mine for 30 minutes, checking at about 20 to see how it looks. I use a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker that I've had for years and I love it.
When the sorbet is finished processing, fold in the cherries. Spoon into a lidded container and stir in the freezer.
Amazing Chocolate Sorbet!
This is so good, people! I mean seriously good! The cocoa powder gives it this rich almost fudge-like flavor. The texture is perfect, dense and rich. The cherries are sweet and pair so beautifully with the chocolate.
You can definitely pick up a bit of the cherry brandy flavor, making this a fantastic dessert for grown ups! If you want to omit the cherry brandy you can, it just might freeze a little harder. In that case, take it out of the freezer about 5-10 minutes before you want to serve it.
Even More Delicious Frozen Desserts!
Strawberry Buttermilk Gelato - tastes like a strawberry cheesecake!
Blueberry Frozen Yogurt - a healthy dessert that tastes delicious!
Triple Raspberry Sundaes - a quick elegant dessert to put together in minutes!
Watermelon, Lime and Tequila Granita - another frozen adult treat!
And for even more frozen treats, follow my Ice Cream, Sorbets and Frozen Desserts Board on Pinterest.
Cherry Chocolate Sorbet
Ingredients
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup dark cherries pitted and diced
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp cherry brandy optional
Instructions
- Heat 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Whisk in the cocoa powder and when it is incorporated, whisk in the sugar and stir until it's dissolved.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the brandy.
- Pour into a bowl and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
- Process in ice cream maker per instructions.
- When finished, fold in cherries. Scoop into a lidded container and store in the freezer.
Jeanne says
Can you make this recipe without an ice cream maker?
Pam Greer says
Yes, but you pour it into a loaf pan and then you have to stir it every couple of hours to keep the ice crystals from forming. If you look up how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker, you'll see some tips.
Jenni LeBaron says
This cherry chocolate sorbet sounds so decadent and delicious! I love that it comes together with only4 simple ingredients. This is really the best way to give summer a proper sendoff before fall hits!
Dana says
Cherries and chocolate are one of my most favorite berry/chocolate combos. (Strawberries and chocolate seems so so overrated once you've had cherries or raspberries with chocolate!) I can imagine the cherry brandy adds extra oomph, too. I definitely wouldn't skip out on that. I haven't made ice cream once this summer (shame on me!) but that's about to change.
Pam Greer says
It's not too late to make some ice cream!
Sean@Diversivore says
Chocolate goes so well with so many things, but cherries have to be up there near the top of the list. I always go for chocolate ice creams rather than sorbets - in fact I can't say that I've ever thought of making a chocolate sorbet. But this is incredible! Rich and decadent but bright and refreshing. And I think that the cherry brandy is a great idea too.
Oh, and one little thing I thought I'd mention (and I hope you'll forgive me for potentially opening Pandora's ice-box) - you can totally make tempered custards for ice cream by using a high-speed blender like a Vitamix. No stovetop, no effort. It's dangerously easy. Lol.
Pam Greer says
Oh my, I'll have to look into that!
Sarah says
I want to take a bite of the photo LOL! I've never tried a chocolate sorbet before, but I love this idea so much. I need to go find some cherry brandy!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy says
LOVE the classic flavour combination in this refreshing dessert. Great for my next bbq party. I love black forest cake, and this would taste similar. Might even drizzle on some liquor for a fun adult treat.
Pam Greer says
A drizzle of liquor is always welcome!
Chris Blackwood says
I could dive right into that! One of my favorite combinations too. I've never added cherry brandy, but it sounds totally delicious.
Have a great day!
Tina says
Cherry and chocolate go so well together. Great recipe and perfect for this scorching summer heat.
Pam Greer says
Yes they do! It's a favorite combination of mine!
cheflolaskitchen says
Such a perfect dessert! Can't wait to try!
Pam Greer says
You'll have to let me know what you think!
Heidy L. McCallum says
This looks perfect for the weather we are having in Florida! I totally love chocolate and cherries, this is going to taste like heaven tomorrow. I'm so excited to make this tonight.
Pam Greer says
It's so good, perfect for Florida weather!
Krissy Allori says
This sounds perfect for these hot Summer nights!
Pam Greer says
It is!
Beth Pierce says
What a great way to cool down after a long and hot summer afternoon! Sounds so rich and delicious!
Pam Greer says
Thank you! It is!