SIMPLE PLUM SHERBET

SIMPLE PLUM SHERBET - Not to be mistaken with sorbet, sherbet is a creamy frozen fruit dessert that you should be sure to enjoy this summer! This simple plum version is sweet, slightly tart, perfectly creamy and can be made without an ice cream maker!

Every summer I strive to create recipes inspired by our favorite seasonal produce. Plums are one of those fruits that we tend to eat mostly fresh just as they come off the tree. This year, we have had such a bountiful harvest of plums from our tree that I absolutely had to create something unique with these summer jewels. Because plums ripen at the height of summer, I wanted to turn our plums into something refreshing which led me to create this simple plum sherbet.

summer plums

WHAT IS SHERBET exactly?

Sherbet (commonly mispronounced as “sherbert”) is lighter than ice cream and creamier than sorbet. If you ask me, sherbet is most definitely the superior summer frozen treat. I also think that sherbet is very under-appreciated in the food world. Why exactly, I am not sure. But hopefully in sharing my simple plum sherbet recipe with all of you sherbet will experience a much-deserved revival ;)

summer plums

HOW TO MAKE PLUM SHERBET:

Sweet with a touch of tartness, plums have the ideal flavor balance to be used in sherbet. Plums get simply cooked down with some sugar and a splash of water and then blended until super smooth. To this plum pureé, you simply add a touch of vanilla extract and a cup of sour cream. Yes, you read that right, sour cream! The gentle tartness of sour cream makes for a truly incredible sherbet. Creme fraîche also works beautifully or you could even make a dairy-free version by using vegan sour cream (*see recipe below for how to make a simple vegan sour cream).

PLUM SHERBET
Not to be mistaken with sorbet, sherbet is a creamy frozen fruit dessert that you should be sure to enjoy this summer! This simple plum version is sweet, slightly tart, perfectly creamy and can be made without an ice cream maker!

When I took my first taste of this simple plum sherbet it immediately reminded me of the rainbow sherbert I used to eat as a child. Specifically the pink layer in the rainbow! It also helps that this plum sherbet is a gorgeous shade of pink which is absolutely beautiful to behold <3 

Easy, fresh, and absolutely delicious – this simple plum sherbet truly deserves to be a part of your summer! And the greatest thing about this recipe is that you can use it as a guide to making any summer fruit sherbet that your heart desires!

SIMPLE PLUM SHERBET
Not to be mistaken with sorbet, sherbet is a creamy frozen fruit dessert that you should be sure to enjoy this summer! This simple plum version is sweet, slightly tart, perfectly creamy and can be made without an ice cream maker!

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SIMPLE PLUM SHERBET


  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 mounded cups of plums, pitted and quartered (or substitute with another stone fruit like peaches, nectarines, or apricots – berries are also a great choice for sherbet)
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/8 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sour cream or crème fraîche (or substitute with non-dairy sour cream for vegan option)

Instructions

  1. Add plums to a medium saucepan along with sugar and water. Cook over medium low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring often, until the plums have broken down and become jammy.
  2. Allow plum mixture to cool down before adding to a blender. Blend on high until the mixture is nice and smooth. Add in the salt, vanilla extract and sour cream and blend to combine.
  3. Pour sherbet mix into a shallow freezer safe container and freeze for a minimum of 4 hours or until the sherbet is completely set.
  4. To serve, let sherbet soften at room temperature 10 minutes, scoop and enjoy!

Notes

*SIMPLE VEGAN SOUR CREAM
1 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours
½ cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice, or more if needed
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Heaping ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Drain and rinse the soaked cashews until the water runs clear.
In a blender, combine the cashews, water, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt.
Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup

MORE SUMMER RECIPE INSPIRATION:

{ 27 comments… add one }
  • Michelle Maneotis August 9, 2020, 9:12 am

    Ooooh Bella!!! This is one of the most gorgeous and stunning recipes I’ve seen so far. I can’t wait to try it. I love your beautiful plums and now with a fresh supply, I’m ready to make your Sherbet. You always have been and always will be my favorite blogger. Your way with words is tender and sweet and your photos are always mesmerizing. ♥️

    • bella | ful-filled August 9, 2020, 10:12 am

      Thank you SO much Michelle! That truly means so much to me…I put all of my heart into the recipes and photos that I create, so to have you acknowledge my work in this regard warms my heart! I can’t wait for you to try this sherbet!

  • Krista August 9, 2020, 8:06 pm

    Made this today and it is delicious!!!! A great recipe to include the kids in on as the prep was super easy. Will definitely be making a double batch next time.

    • bella | ful-filled August 9, 2020, 8:24 pm

      Oh yay! I am so happy that you made my recipe and enjoyed it and that your kiddos got to be a part of it! Thank you so much for sharing with me!

  • Makos August 10, 2020, 1:14 am

    I can’t wait to try this recipe (maybe using apricots instead, as you suggest). Also, love the photos! <3

    • bella | ful-filled August 10, 2020, 8:28 am

      Oh yay! Thank you Mako! Apricots would make the loveliest sherbet!

  • Nina August 11, 2020, 2:37 am

    Never heard of sherbet before, but it sounds overly delicious! :-)

    Just to be sure: no need to mix the sherbet every 30 minutes to crack up larger ice crystals? Just thinking of sorbet, where this is something to do when you don’t have an ice-cream maker on hand. Or does the addition of sour cream somehow inhibit the forming of larger ice crystals?

    • bella | ful-filled August 11, 2020, 2:54 pm

      Hi Nina! No mixing needed! Between cooking down the fruit, the sugar content and the fat from the cream, all you need to do is simply let it freeze and then thaw a bit at room temperature before serving!

    • bella | ful-filled August 11, 2020, 5:47 pm

      Yes, you read that right! No mixing necessary for a deliciously creamy sherbet! Between cooking down the fruit with its skin (which has natural pectin) to the sugar content & fat in the sour cream, you won’t have issues with large ice crystals forming!

      • Nina August 12, 2020, 11:59 pm

        How great is that?! <3 Can't wait to get my hands on it. Thank you so much, Bella!

  • Chad August 11, 2020, 3:10 pm

    Nice plums!! Can’t wait to try this! Thank you!

    • bella | ful-filled August 11, 2020, 5:48 pm

      Thank you! We have had such an incredible plum harvest this year! I can’t wait for you to try this sherbet!

  • Malado August 14, 2020, 7:17 pm

    I went to the farmer’s market and scored some delicious plums for this sherbet recipe. It was so worth it!! The color, taste, and texture are out of this world! Thank you so much Bella for such an easy, healthy, and delicious recipe! I can’t wait to share it with all my friends.

    • bella | ful-filled August 14, 2020, 10:44 pm

      Amazing! I am SO happy that you fell in love with my plum sherbet! It really is such an easy but out of this world delicious treat! SO grateful you will share it with your friends too! And thank you for commenting, it means so much!

  • niko September 3, 2020, 9:46 am

    1st off STUNNING photos like ALWAYS Bella!!!

    • bella | ful-filled September 3, 2020, 7:55 pm

      thank you so very much!

  • niko September 3, 2020, 9:48 am

    2nd off, the ONLY reason we even tried this specific recipe is because of the INSANELY BEAUTIFUL plums in the photos and the hero shots, because as a family we have NEVER like sherbert to be completely honest!!

    • bella | ful-filled September 3, 2020, 7:54 pm

      aw shucks, thank you so much!

  • niko September 3, 2020, 9:50 am

    3rd off, not only did we LOVE this recipe, BUT, this sherberty of yours has literally become our healthy ice cream replacement, the beauty of the natural fruit flavors and sweetness combined with the silky creaminess is just A-M-A-Z-I-N-G-!!!!!!!!!

    • bella | ful-filled September 3, 2020, 7:54 pm

      that literally makes my day! YAY!

  • niko September 3, 2020, 9:51 am

    Oh, I almost forgot to thank you SO MUCH for this amazing healthy treat Bella, XILIA EUXARISTO, kai kiala XILIA EUXARISTO!!!!

    • bella | ful-filled September 3, 2020, 7:54 pm

      You are SO very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to comment! Your support means so much!

  • Carolyn Jensen September 6, 2020, 3:27 pm

    I grew up eating plenty of orange sherbet, one of my favorite childhood memories. I can’t wait to make this, what a refreshing seasonal treat!

    • bella | ful-filled September 6, 2020, 6:49 pm

      I too adored sherbet as a child! I know you are going to love this recipe!

  • Jane January 14, 2022, 6:28 pm

    We had a surplus of Rosa plums just before Christmas (live in Australia) and I found this recipe. I couldn’t believe how amazingly delicious it is!!! Then a friend gave us some apricots – wow again. I tried with passionfriut, using half as much fruit; it was nice but more icy. Just now cooking up some nectarines to make a new batch. So super easy and tasty. Wonderful to discover a creamy dessert that doesn’t require making a custard base 🥰. I do have an ice cream maker that I use for this but from reading the comments that wouldn’t be necessary.
    Thanks heaps for the recipe.
    Any suggestions for the passionfruit?

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