This Lemon Rosemary Sorbet is such a delicious and refreshing dessert! Tart and sweet at the same time with a hint of rosemary! Be sure and print off multiple copies of the recipe because everyone will want one!
Easy Refreshing Sorbet
What do you like for dessert? In the winter I like comforting desserts like Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Tarts, Easy Chocolate and Coffee and Dessert Shots, and Roasted Pears with Wine and Honey.
Though I am one of those people who will gladly eat frozen desserts year round. I’ve actually sat on my couch wrapped in a blanket while I ate ice cream.
One frozen dessert that I enjoy year round is this lemon rosemary sorbet. It is so light and refreshing. Since my rosemary survives through the winter here, I can have this any time I want.
It’s great on a hot summer day, after a heavy meal, after a light meal …. I think you get where I’m going with this, it’s good anytime!
Ingredients in Lemon Rosemary Sorbet
Sugar – I used regular white sugar for this instead of my usual raw sugar because I wanted the color to be more lemon like.
Water – filtered water if you can.
Rosemary – fresh if possible, though a tablespoon of dried will also work.
Lemon Juice – fresh squeezed, this is definitely not the time for bottled lemon juice. Use a citrus reamer, a handheld citrus press, or this professional citrus press (which is the one I have – I know it’s expensive, but we’ve had it since 2013 and still love it!)
Vodka – optional, but helps keep the sorbet from freezing hard.
How to Make this Lemon Sorbet Recipe
This recipe is so easy! I didn’t take any process shots, but I can walk you through the steps.
You begin by making a simple syrup. A simple syrup is just water and sugar heated up and stirred until the sugar dissolves. In this case you are using equal parts sugar and water and adding some finely chopped fresh rosemary or a tablespoon of dried rosemary.
Once the sugar has dissolved remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice and vodka (if using.) Let cool to room temperature or about 2 hours.
Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove the rosemary leaves. I like to strain it right into a batter bowl, so that I can easily pour it into my ice cream maker.
Refrigerate until well chilled and then process in your favorite ice cream maker per instructions.
Elegant Frozen Dessert
This is such an elegant dessert! It would be perfect for after a dinner party. It’s easy enough though that you can have it whenever you want!
I originally found this recipe in a 1996 issue of Fine Cooking! Great recipes are timeless aren’t they?
More Sorbet Recipes:
Apparently I am very bad about updating my sorbet recipes. Two of these don’t even have recipe cards! I will updating them ASAP!
Chocolate Coconut Sorbet – chocolate and coconut is a favorite combination.
Lavender Sorbet – another elegant sorbet perfect for after a dinner party.
Mango Sorbet – a fresh and fruity sorbet!
For even more frozen desserts be sure and follow my Ice Creams, Sorbets and Frozen Treats Board on Pinterest!
But one skill I do possess, is being able to chose recipes. I can’t make them up, but boy can I chose them. Like this Lemon-Rosemary Sorbet from Fine Cooking August/September 1996. This was so good. It was kind of like those frozen lemonades you buy when you’re walking around at a carnival, except better, way better. The rosemary flavor was subtle and gave just the right twist to the frozen lemon sorbet.
Lemon Rosemary Sorbet
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup rosemary finely chopped
- 1 1/3 cups lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 2 tablespoons vodka optional
Instructions
- Over medium high heat stir the water, sugar and rosemary until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice and the vodka. Cool to room temperature (about 2 hours.)
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
- Process in your ice cream maker per instructions.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2009 and has been updated for 2019.
April J Harris says
July 29, 2019 at 8:13 amWhat a beautiful presentation! Your Lemon Rosemary Sorbet looks beautiful, Pam, and delicious too. Pinning.
Suzy says
July 28, 2019 at 6:03 pmI love how this has few and simple ingredients! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Pam Greer says
July 28, 2019 at 7:02 pmYou’ll have to let me know what you think!
Sara Welch says
July 28, 2019 at 4:02 pmWhat a refreshing treat for in between meals! Perfect for cleansing the palette!
Pam Greer says
July 28, 2019 at 7:02 pmIt is the perfect palette cleanser!
Alison says
July 28, 2019 at 4:00 pmLemon sorbet with a kick! Sounds like the perfect ending to a picnic or BBQ.
Pam Greer says
July 28, 2019 at 7:02 pmIt is!
David says
July 28, 2019 at 3:47 pmSo refreshing! I could go for this right now. Interesting to add vodka to it!
Pam Greer says
July 28, 2019 at 7:03 pmIt just keeps it from freezing too hard!
Sapana says
July 28, 2019 at 3:11 pmWhat a refreshing and divine treat – I’m in love with this sorbet. I love the addition of rosemary, it adds even more depth to the flavor. Thanks for sharing such a simple and delicious recipe!
Pam Greer says
July 28, 2019 at 7:03 pmSo glad you liked it!
Nicole says
July 28, 2019 at 2:17 pmDelicious flavours and perfect for this heat! And I love how you styled it!
Pam Greer says
July 28, 2019 at 2:35 pmIt is perfect for this heat!
Anonymous says
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Mochachocolata Rita says
August 11, 2009 at 1:13 amhi pam! i’ve tried to look for the green tea sorbet recipe…but fell in love with this one ^_^
i think i know what i did wrong now ^_^ too much water!
i’m so gonna try this, thanks for sharing the recipe
Graziana says
June 18, 2009 at 8:10 amUsing rosemary on a lemon sorbet looks like a great idea! Thank you for sharing this with WHB!
Rachel Cotterill says
June 16, 2009 at 7:22 amThyme makes a prettier garnish… rosemary would be a bit bulky for putting on such a cute sorbet dish. I’m just impressed that you garnish things for yourself! 🙂
noble pig says
June 16, 2009 at 5:11 amThat’s hilarious. Jail time for you!
Twilight says
June 15, 2009 at 9:52 pmDANG THAT LOOKS SOOO GOOD and refreshing i would love to make it and then eat it
Pam says
June 15, 2009 at 3:21 pmKathy – it really is refreshing.
Joanne – I know, rosemary is one of my favorites too.
Tins – Yes, do check and see, and make this if you can.
Girli – thank you!
Grace says
June 15, 2009 at 7:11 pmfirst of all, vanilla vodka? mmm…
secondly, and more importantly, what a treat! refreshing, refreshing, refreshing, and ROSEMARY. yum. 🙂
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
June 15, 2009 at 6:46 pmOh wow! This sorbet sounds so good – lemon and rosemary are one of those super classic combinations, but I never would have thought to make sorbet!
girlichef says
June 15, 2009 at 2:09 pmdrool :P””
Pam says
June 15, 2009 at 5:26 pmWow – I would never have thought to put rosemary in a sorbet. It looks and sounds delicious.
Joanne says
June 15, 2009 at 1:09 pmIt’s funny, I was thinking just yesterday about how rosemary is one of my favorite herbs. And how versatile it is. This sounds great! And there are worse crimes than wrongful garnishing…overcooking a really good steak or a good piece of fish are some examples.
Marjie says
June 15, 2009 at 4:14 pmGarnishing crimes: At Thanksgiving, I have been known to be creative and make a cornucopia out of bread dough. Now, in order to do this, I have to decide to do it along about September, so I can save used foil to hold the thing up while it bakes. The last time I did it, 2 years ago, my 3rd son, ever the jokester, took two of the parsley sprigs I had arranged around the cornucopia and bread, and stuck them into the top of the bread, so it looked like deer antlers. *sigh* What we must endure from our children. Thankfully, there is no garnishing prison, or you might just find me there. After I try your sorbet.
the ungourmet says
June 15, 2009 at 4:01 pmThat okay, I do that stuff all the time!
This sorbet looks really terrific. I’ve never tried this flavor combo but I can tell that I would love it!
Tins and Treasures says
June 15, 2009 at 2:04 pmHmmm…this does look refreshing. We are trying to grow some herbs too. I must check to see if there is rosemary out there. Happy Monday ~Natalie
Kathy says
June 15, 2009 at 12:18 pmThis sounds so refreshing. I can’t wait to try it.