Strawberry red wine sorbet is an easy yet elegant dessert. Learn how to make this fruity sorbet with the perfect boozy kick of your favorite red wine with just five minutes of prep and no fancy tools! Originally published January 2020. Last updated July 2022.
You should know that I scoured every last corner of the internet in researching this recipe. And while you might find the effort I put into recipe development endearing, I must admit that part of my fervor came from laziness. I wanted red wine sorbet one day and could not find a method online that matched the minimal effort I was willing to put forth to make it. I don't have an ice cream maker, nor do I want to buy one because no-churn ice cream recipes have spoiled me. All this to say, I probably spent more time researching than actually making red wine sorbet. It's just that easy. Let's get into it!
Try these frozen fruit and wine recipes, too.
What is sorbet, anyway?
Sorbet is a frozen dessert made with fruit, sugar, and water. Alcohol is sometimes added to soften the texture, which makes it easier to scoop. In this four ingredient sorbet recipe, we're using Black Girl Magic red wine, strawberries, lemon, and sugar to create a simple treat that makes for an easy Valentine's Day dessert idea and is also an elegant dessert to serve at parties. What makes sorbet creamy is the kind of fruit used and pectin-rich strawberry performs beautifully. Another great option is pear and I love that in my honey riesling sorbet! A key difference here is that this is a no cook sorbet recipe. In fact, we're working with frozen strawberries.
What You'll Need for this Recipe
You probably have all the ingredients to make this boozy sorbet on hand. There are only four. And you have a bit of creative license to make some swaps, as needed. We'll get into that more below. Here are the four core components.
- Dry Red Wine
- Frozen strawberries
- Lemon juice
- Sugar
The red wine strawberry sorbet ingredient list is short and sweet and you don't need any fancy tools, either. I've already mentioned that this is a no-churn sorbet recipe, which means no ice cream maker. Grab your food processor or blender. I also use a silicone kitchen spatula, as well as an airtight food storage container that's freezer safe. And, of course, an ice cream scoop comes in handy, too.
How to Make Wine Sorbet without Ice Cream Maker
In developing this Black Girl Magic wine recipe, I wanted to create something you can whip up in a pinch. Just toss your ingredients into the food processor and pulse away. Once you've got a smooth mixture, pour that into a freezer-safe container and stick it in your freezer for at least two hours. Four hours is even better. The result will be smooth, ice cold fruit and wine sorbet.
What substitutions can I make?
Making sorbet at home means you can experiment and create something that perfectly suits your taste and needs. I like to try different sweeteners like honey, coconut sugar (as pictured), and granulated sugar. Super ripe and juicy fruit won't need as much so be sure to taste as you go. Sorbet with frozen strawberries can also be made with other berries in the mix. Blueberries are great, as are raspberries and blackberries but keep in mind that the latter two might have too many seeds, depending on your personal preference. Another easy substitution is lime or orange juice in place of lemon.
Tips for Making Red Wine Sorbet
- I recommend a dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec or a red blend like McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic red. If you decide to use a sweeter wine, you'll probably want to reduce the amount of sugar you add or cut it out all together.
- Add the wine to your food processor a bit at a time in order to prevent splatter. Take it from me. You do not want splashes of your favorite cab all over your counters and cabinets!
- Can you make sorbet with frozen fruit? Absolutely. In fact, it's what I recommend here. You can freeze your own strawberries or buy them already frozen from the grocery store. To freeze strawberries at home, remove the hulls (green, leafy tops), spread them out on a sheet pan (no touching), and freeze for at least an hour. This keeps the strawberries from sticking together in a big block.
- How to store homemade sorbet? This basic sorbet recipe has no preservatives so proper storage is even more important. Keep it frozen in an airtight container with a lid and it should stay good for up to a month.
This is certainly a romantic recipe to try for date night at home and I recommend serving it as the final act to your meal. Start off with a couple's cheese board for the appetizer and creamy salmon pasta as your entree!
I hope you'll try one of my favorite boozy dessert ideas soon. Sharing is caring so be sure to pin this strawberry wine sorbet recipe and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Strawberry Wine Sorbet Recipe
No-Churn Red Wine Sorbet
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1 pint strawberries hulled and frozen
- ¼ cup sugar to taste
- juice of one lemon
- ⅔ cup dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, or Malbec
Instructions
- Add strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, and about ½ the red wine to a blender or food processor.
- Pulse until the mixture starts to look uniform (about six seconds) then add remaining wine and pulse until smooth.
- Pour and spread mixture into a small loaf pan (or any small or shallow, freezer-safe container) and freeze for at least two hours.
- Scoop and serve when ready to enjoy. Store any unused sorbet in the freezer.
Notes
- I recommend a dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec or a red blend like McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic red. If you decide to use a sweeter wine, you'll probably want to reduce the amount of sugar you add or cut it out all together.
- Add the wine to your food processor a bit at a time in order to prevent splatter. Take it from me. You do not want splashes of your favorite cab all over your counters and cabinets!
- Can you make sorbet with frozen fruit? Absolutely. In fact, it's what I recommend here. You can freeze your own strawberries or buy them already frozen from the grocery store. To freeze strawberries at home, remove the hulls (green, leafy tops), spread them out on a sheet pan (no touching), and freeze for at least an hour. This keeps the strawberries from sticking together in a big block.
- How to store homemade sorbet? This basic sorbet recipe has no preservatives so proper storage is even more important. Keep it frozen in an airtight container with a lid and it should stay good for up to a month.
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