Summer Sorbet Trio

With summer in full effect and the abundance of juicy fruits at the market, this is the perfect time to start whipping up some icy treats. One of my favorite cool down treats are sorbets, and they couldn’t be easier to make. All you need is your favorite chopped fruit with about equal parts water and some sweetener. You will need an ice cream maker for these recipes, though. You can get a small, good one for around $25-$30.

I follow a low glycemic diet, so the following three recipes are perfect if you're trying to avoid excess sugar. I used xylitol, a sweetener made from wood sugar, for a couple of these, but you could also use stevia, agave or whatever floats your boat. The peach sorbet is ideal with honey or agave, but use what works best for you.

Prep time is only 10 minutes and you’ll need another 15-20 minutes for the ice cream maker. Enjoy!

Strawberry Basil Sorbet

1 cup water
1 cup chopped strawberries
1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
1 tablespoon lime juice
Sweeten to taste
Blend ingredients until smooth and transfer to an ice cream maker. Process according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Ginger Spiced Peach Sorbet

1 cup water
1 cup chopped peaches
3 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
¼ teaspoon fresh grated ginger
Blend ingredients until smooth and transfer to an ice cream maker. Process according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Cucumber-Rosewater Sorbet

1 cup water
¾ cup peeled and chopped cucumbers
3 tablespoons xylitol or sweetener of choice
1 tablespoon mint
1/4 teaspoon rosewater (optional)
Blend ingredients until smooth and transfer to an ice cream maker. Process according to manufacturer’s instructions.