Blueberry Sorbet

Smooth and ultra blueberry-y, homemade blueberry sorbet, perfect for a hot summer day.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Updated February 10, 2021
Elise Bauer
Blueberry Sorbet
Elise Bauer

Hope springs eternal. At least when it comes to my garden.

I planted a small blueberry bush earlier this spring, only to watch it slowly lose leaves down to a few bare stems. Visions of blueberry glory, dashed!

We've moved the plant to a new location, a bit more shaded, and planted a new blueberry bush near it, so (and this where the eternal hope comes in) maybe we'll have some lovely blueberries next year.

In the meantime, blueberries are plentiful in the market, thank goodness. Usually I buy them by the double-basketful. And then eat them.

This time though, inspired by a lovely blueberry sorbet I had in Austin, Texas, I thought I would try my hand at making some sorbet.

So good! And really easy to make. The small additions of a little lemon zest (a bitter), lemon juice (an acid), and just a pinch of salt, brighten the intense blueberry flavor of this sorbet. Perfect for a hot summer day.

Blueberry Sorbet
Elise Bauer
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Blueberry Sorbet

Total Time 0 mins
Yield 1 quart

If you want your sorbet to last a while in the freezer, and not get too rock hard, you might want to add a tablespoon or two of corn syrup to the mix. Or you can add 2 tablespoons of kirsch or a berry or orange liqueur.

Ingredients

  • 5 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, rinsed, stems removed and discarded
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • Pinch salt
  • Fresh blueberries and sprigs of mint for garnish

Method

  1. Place the blueberries, sugar, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt in a large bowl. Stir to coat blueberries with the sugar. Mash with a potato masher.

  2. Put the mashed blueberries into a blender and blend for a couple of minutes until smooth.

  3. Place a sieve over a large bowl and working in batches, press the mixture through the sieve, using a rubber spatula. This will catch the tougher and larger pieces of lemon and blueberry peel.

  4. Chill the mixture for at least an hour in the fridge. Then process following the directions of your ice cream maker.

    Eat immediately (the sorbet will still be a little soft) or freeze at least a few hours to help firm up before eating. Eat soon after making though, as the sorbet will get progressively harder the longer it stays in the freezer.

    Serve with a few fresh blueberries and a sprig of mint.

Links:

How to make ice cream without a machine - tips from David Lebovitz