Homemade Fruit Sorbet

If you are looking for easy, tasty, and healthy snack options, consider homemade sorbet. Because this frozen treat is made by you, it can be adjusted to include little to no added sugars. It can be a great substitute for traditional ice cream, offering a treat with less sugar and other ingredients. The main ingredient of sorbet is always fruit. It does not typically contain any dairy products. Because of this, the texture is typically slightly less creamy, but it is also much lighter and equally refreshing for a hot summer day.

Tips for Creating  Homemade Fruit Sorbet

• Frozen fresh and canned fruits, such as peaches and pineapple, are great options that are both affordable and nutritious.
• If possible, try choosing local fruit options. Local fruits may be fresher and may be less expensive when in season.
• Don’t be afraid to mix and match different fruit options. There are no rules for creating flavor combinations. This is a great way to get kids involved in the decision-making process.
• Experiment with different textures. Some people may prefer sorbet to be super creamy and smooth, requiring longer blending time, while others may prefer more texture with smaller chunks of fruit mixed in.

Tips for Cooking with Children

Cooking with children can be a very helpful tool to get them to try new foods. By giving kids the power in the kitchen to choose different fruits by flavor, color, or shape, it gets them excited about the possibilities. It also peaks their interest in trying the final product. Here are some tips for getting your kids involved and enjoying sorbet.

Fun Activities to Involve Children

• Pick out the ingredients at
  • Farmer’s market
  • Pick your own local farm
  • Grocery store
  • Local food pantry
• Allow them to make the recipe with adult supervision
  • Chance to touch, smell and taste ingredients
  • Opportunity to be creative and experiment with flavor combinations
  • Learn new life skills
    • Hand washing
    • Kitchen utensils
    • Cleaning
• Discuss foods you are using
  • Nutrients
  • Color
  • Texture
  • Flavor

Recipes for Homemade Fruit Sorbets

Ingredients: Here are 4 options to get started. You can always mix and match to create your own! All fruit is versatile and you can substitute fresh, frozen or canned in any recipe or creation.

Peach Sorbet:

• 2 (15oz) cans sliced peaches in 100% fruit juice

Pineapple Sorbet:

• 1 (20oz) can crushed pineapple in 100% fruit juice

Pineapple Banana Sorbet:

• 1 (20oz) can crushed pineapple in 100% fruit juice
• 1 banana

Fresh Strawberry, Peach, or Mango Sorbet:

• 2 cups rinsed and diced fresh fruit
• 1/2 cup 100% fruit juice (apple, orange, or white grape juice)

Instructions:

1. Collect all ingredients.
2. Wash hands and food contact surfaces with soap and water. Rinse and dry cans of fruit and or fresh fruit, if using.
3. Open and pour cans of fruit (include all the juices) into a freezer bag and freeze for at least 3 hours. Remove when fully frozen. If using fresh fruit, dice and mix fruit with fruit juice before freezing in a freezer bag.
4. Run frozen bags of fruit briefly under hot water or let sit on counter for 30 minutes to loosen contents. Remove fruit from bags and use a sharp knife to cut into small pieces.
5. If using a banana, rinse, peel and cut into slices.
6. Place frozen, chopped fruit (and banana if using) into blender. Blend until creamy.
7. Serve immediately.