Lemon-Basil Sorbet with Fresh Lemon Zest
A refreshing frozen dessert bursting with bright, tart lemon flavor and fragrant basil for a perfect palate cleanser. This Mediterranean-inspired recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, layers fresh lemon juice, granulated sugar, water into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 90 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (from about 5 lemons) fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 12 fresh basil leaves
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- a pinch salt
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a small saucepan, combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar fully dissolves to form a simple syrup, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Step 2: Add 12 fresh basil leaves to the hot syrup, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes to infuse flavor. Then strain out the basil leaves.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 cup fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp lemon zest, and a pinch of salt into the basil-infused syrup until well combined.
- Step 4: Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a smooth sorbet consistency, about 20-25 minutes.
- Step 5: Transfer the sorbet to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving to firm up.
- Step 6: Serve scoops garnished with additional lemon zest if desired.







