Hello to one of my favorite summertime desserts! This watermelon sorbet recipe is SO SIMPLE, yet SO GOOD. A healthy spin on traditional sorbet, but without all the added sugar.
There is something about summer that just screams watermelon. Truth is, I was never a huge fan of watermelon growing up. Honestly, I think it was because my mom never bought it because she doesn’t really like it that much.
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But, Micheal on the other hand, is a huge fan of it. Buying it for him has turned me into a pretty big watermelon lover. It has a great nutritional profile as well (find out more here) – made mostly of water so it is low in carbohydrates and packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.
It can’t be beaten on a hot day and this sorbet might be your new favorite way to enjoy it!
Why we love this watermelon lime sorbet
- easy to make – simply cutting a watermelon, freezing, and blending. You will need a little patience, but that is it!
- all you need is a blender – no ice cream maker required!
- so light and refreshing – the perfect amount of sweetness balanced with a little tang from the lime. It screams summer!
- no sweetener is needed – although you can add some if you like depending on your preferences
- family approved – everyone will love it, kids and adults, alike
How to pick a sweet watermelon
Having a sweet watermelon is key for this recipe, along with just eating in general. Here are a few things to look out for when picking one:
- how it looks – look for a watermelon symmetrical and uniform in shape. No gashes, bumps, or bruises.
- webbing – larger webbing (the darker green lines) can indicate it is sweet. Also if it is dark and dull, it is a good indication.
- how heavy it is – with watermelon being such high water content, you want it to feel heavy as it helps indicate its sweetness.
- large yellow spot – turn it over and look for a larger yellow spot. This is where it sat in the field and ripened in the sun. If the spot is white, it hasn’t ripened long enough.
Check out this video for more details!
Ingredients
- frozen watermelon
- lime juice – for a little tang and also helps to give it a smooth texture and consistency
- salt – optional, but brings out the flavors a little more
How to make watermelon sorbet in a blender
- Prep your watermelon. Dice watermelon into 1-inch cubes. Place cubed watermelon in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in the freezer and freeze for 5 hours, or until frozen.
- Blend. Add frozen watermelon chunks, lime juice, and sea salt (if using) in a Vitamix or high-powered blender. If needed, wait a few minutes so it is easier to blend. Blend until watermelon is broken down into shaved ice consistency.
- Enjoy!
Can I use a food processor?
Yes, a food processor will work the same as a blender. You will want to make sure it is a high-powered one so it can puree the watermelon.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Yes, if you have leftovers, you can freeze the extra. Place it in a jar or freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. The mixture will harden like ice, so you will have to defrost it for a little when wanting to eat it. You can also put it back in the blender to help soften it up.
Pro-tip – I like to keep frozen watermelon in the freezer all summer long. Then when I want to make this, just put the amount I want and lime juice in my blender and blend away.
Pump up the protein
If being mindful of your protein intake and want to sneak some in, you can easily add a scoop or two of protein powder. I like collagen since it is unflavored and you can’t detect but you could also use a vanilla flavored one. Make use to use one that blends well as you don’t want to be left with a gritty texture.
Substitutions or additions
This recipe is so simple that you can easily customize it to change it up. Here are some suggestions:
- fruit – substitute your favorite fruit!
- lime juice – lemon juice is a good substitute.
- sweetener – if you want your sorbet a little sweeter, feel free to add some honey or maple syrup.
- protein powder – add a scoop or two of collagen or vanilla protein powder.
- milk – add a splash of cream or coconut milk to make it super creamy and more like a traditional sorbet
More healthy dessert recipes
- tahini milkshake
- homemade gummies with real fruit
- avocado frozen yogurt
- dairy-free peanut butter frosty
Watermelon Sorbet
ingredients
- 6 cups cubed watermelon (about 750 grams)
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- pinch of sea salt (optional)
instructions
- Prep your watermelon. Dice watermelon into 1-inch cubes. Place cubed watermelon in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in the freezer and freeze for 5 hours, or until frozen.
- Blend. Add frozen watermelon chunks, lime juice, and sea salt (if using) in a Vitamix or high-powered blender. If needed, wait a few minutes so it is easier to blend. Blend until watermelon is broken down into shaved ice consistency.
- Enjoy!
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It was delicious but frozen watermelon is difficult to work with. Can this be made with unfrozen watermelon then frozen.
Hey, Maxine! Yes, once frozen the watermelon does get very hard. I would suggest leaving it out for a few minutes to soften up some before blending. You will also need a high-powered blender or food processor. Fresh watermelon (unfrozen) will just turn into juice once blended and will be like an ice cube once frozen. I hope that helps!
The taste was excellent.
We had to add water to get the watermelon to blend but also didn’t wait after taking the frozen watermelon from the freezer.
I want to get a creami and try it then. I think the consistency would be more like a ice cream/sorbet.
I would definitely do this again.
Yes, it definitely would with a creami! So glad you enjoyed it though and thanks for trying it!
Horrible recipe. Wouldn’t blend then added milk and salt and lime juice and it tasted bitter and wet and awful. Do not do this recipe!
Hey Amy, the recipe doesn’t call for milk so I am not sure what that would make it taste like and it would change the consistency. As for not blending, you need to have a high-powered blender or food processor as mentioned in the post. If not, I suggest letting it sit out for 10 minutes to soften up. Hope that helps.
This looks so good! What a great combination of flavors for a refreshing summer treat!
It’s so good! I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
You can freeze the leftovers if you have any. It will be freeze solid though so you will have to defrost for a little and then run it through the blender again for the same consistency.
This looks so good! What a great treat to make in the summer!
Hope you enjoy it!
This was super easy to make and very delicious! The frozen watermelon can be a little difficult to blend, so I definitely recommend a high quality one like a Vitamix and the dampener to get it done. I recommend blending it, then refreshing in a container before scooping it out. A perfect refreshing and healthy summer dessert!!
So glad you liked it Alisha! The high-power blend definitely does help. Thank you for trying it!