Learn how to make cantaloupe sorbet without an ice cream maker for a healthy dessert that will soothe your craving for a summer treat. Just 4 ingredients needed + no refined sugar!
One of the best things about summer is all of the fresh cantaloupe and melons available everywhere. So sweet. So perfect.
Just waiting to be made into...sorbet!
And it really couldn't be any easier to make this cantaloupe sorbet.
I just LOVE using my food processor to do the trick.
Plus, making this easy cantaloupe sorbet without an ice cream machine makes it really easy to use as few ingredients as possible. Love me some easy, clean recipes (like THIS banana ice cream).
How to Make Cantaloupe Sorbet Without Sugar
Interested in making cantaloupe sorbet without sugar? All you have to do is freeze the fresh cantaloupe chunks until they're solid and then pulse them in the processor.
So flipping easy, right? Told ya.
I like to add raw honey and water to loosen up the cantaloupe a bit, but you could use plain ol' water if you want to remove all additional sweeteners besides the cantaloupe.
What I like about the honey is that it adds a nice depth of flavor to the cantaloupe and the two pair very nicely together. Add in a fresh lemon and you've got yourself a vibrant, sweet, cool, and refreshing summer sorbet recipe I know you're gonna love.
Is Cantaloupe Sorbet Paleo?
Is your Paleo diet keeping you from eating your favorite ice cream? It’s often a challenge finding ice cream and sorbet recipes that don’t call for milk, eggs, or cream.
The great thing about this cantaloupe sorbet is that it’s free from refined sugar, dairy, and made with 100% natural ingredients, which makes it totally gluten-free AND Paleo friendly.
Plus, who doesn’t love the flavor of cantaloupe? Naturally sweet, refreshing, and oh, so yummy!
How To Pick Ripe Cantaloupe At The Store
Okay, so now let's discuss the cantaloupe, shall we?
Do you know how to pick out the perfect cantaloupe at the grocery store? If not, here are some tips you can use to make sure you start off your tasty cantaloupe sorbet with the sweetest cantaloupe possible. Believe me, it makes a huge difference.
1. Check the color: Lighter skin is better so look for a beige color and avoid cantaloupes that look overly green. A little green is okay, but it should be mostly beige.
2. Pick it up: Pick up the cantaloupe. Does it feel heavy for its size, especially in comparison to its cantaloupe buddies? If so, take it!
3. Smell it: Take note of how the cantaloupe smells. If it smells like nothing, it'll probably taste like, well, nothing. You'll want to find one that smells sweet and fruity. But, if it smells too sweet, almost too potent, it could be overly ripe, so make sure it's not overwhelming.
4. Check the blossom end: Find the blossom end of the cantaloupe (that small circle where it looks like a stem came from) and gently press with your thumbs. This should have some give, but not too much or too little. A little give and you're good to go.
Cantaloupe Sorbet
Now you're all set to go and make yourself some delicious, cool, summer cantaloupe sorbet. Enjoy these final days of summer in style 🙂
Cantaloupe Sorbet
Equipment
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups fresh cantaloupe 1 medium cantaloupe, cubed
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon raw honey
- 2 tablespoon water plus more as needed
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place the cubed cantaloupe onto the baking sheet, leaving space in between the cubes to allow for even freezing and not touching so they don’t create a giant glob of frozen cantaloupe.
- Place the tray into the freezer and freeze the cantaloupe overnight, or until completely frozen - at least 4-6 hours.
- Place the frozen cantaloupe into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the cantaloupe becomes crumbly.
- Add the lemon juice, honey, and water at this time and then pulse again. You may need to add more water until the mixture becomes more fluid, but not slushy.
- You're looking for a soft sorbet texture at this point.
- Taste and add any additional honey as needed at this time if it needs to be a little sweeter.
- If the mixture becomes too slushy and does not resemble sorbet, you can return to the freezer for 30 min. to an hour to allow it to re-solidify.
- Serve immediately, or store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Video
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links for products I highly recommend and use frequently in my own kitchen.
Cathy N
Can I use regular or brown sugar instead of honey?
Kathleen R
Can I use frozen cantaloupe? I just got 4 large ones in Ohio and plan to freeze the fruit when we get home to NC in 2-3 days. I would live to be able to make this when I need a taste of summer. We also got 1/2 bushel of peaches. Can I use this recipe with those too?
Jane
One question. The consistency of the sorbet was perfect right out of the food processor. When I froze it, however, it formed a block of ice. What is the best way to return it to more of a sorbet texture? Room temperature for a short time? Quick microwave? Refrigerator? Do I have to put it back in the food processor? Hoping to not have to take out that machine which company is here. Thanks!
E
You would have to put it back in the food processor. To prevent it from freezing into a block, give the sorbet a good stir and scape the sides of the pan every 30-60 minutes it's in the freezer.
Debbie Smith
Add a little (1-2 Tbsp) tequila or vodka … the alcohol will keep it from freezing into a block of ice. (1800 Coconut Tequila is my favorite.)
Jane
Just made this, so easy, sooooo delicious! I found other recipes which use sugar, but much prefer a touch of honey. Perfect!
Ellen
Hi Lacey:
Can I do this with other fruits?
Traunza
Delicious and refreshing! Agree that the honey adds depth of flavor.
Lacey Baier
YAY, so glad you agree!!!!
Jody Moore
Looking forward to making this today! Thanks for an easy and tasteful looking recipe.
Rebecca
Awesome. I run an organic farm and I have a freezer full of frozen honey rock melon.(it was a great growing season). Thank you for an easy, good recipe to use up all my leftover harvest. What an awesome way to enjoy it straight thru the winter!
Lacey Baier
OMG can I come over, too?? Sounds amazing!
sara wilborn
can you use honey dew instead of cantaloupe
Lacey Baier
Yes, you sure can! 🙂
EM
WONDERFUL! I used this recipe to salvage a cantaloupe that, despite smelling good and fruity and having the right "squeeze", came out tasting less than stellar. I did add a 1/4 cup of confectioner's sugar to make up for the lack of sweetness from the melon. Delish and a perfect treat after mowing the lawn all morning!
Lacey Baier
Yay! So glad it turned out for ya!
MRW
Yes, I know cantaloupe varies in size, but, does anyone know approximately how many cantaloupe it takes to make 4.5 cups ?
Thanks, MRW.
Lacey Baier
Just one, typically 🙂
MRW
Thank you.
Lacey Baier
You're so welcome!
Vicki
This looks awesome! I'll be picking up my cantaloupe today. I used to make a cantaloupe shake using frozen melon and ice cubes years ago for breakfast and this will make a wonderful (no guilt) treat.
Thanks Lacey, I love all of your tips and ideas! Husband asks for your lemon blueberry pancakes every time I ask him what he wants for breakfast on the weekend!
Have a wonderful weekend...
Lacey Baier
Thanks so much for those kind words, Vicki! I'm so glad you're excited to try the sorbet and that your husband enjoys the pancakes so much! 🙂
Taylor @ The Girls on Bloor
I had my first sorbet of the summer last week...love the idea of using cantaloupe. Maybe when I make one I'll add honeydew 🙂
Lacey Baier
That's a great idea! I've also seen people make them separately and then you have green and orange scoops 🙂
Kathleen @ Yummy Crumble
I love how easy this is! and the color is gorgeous. I'm totally trying this before summer ends 🙂
Lacey Baier
Yay! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do, Kathleen! 🙂
Saab
The lazy way to do this is to just buy the bags of frozen fruit I like the mixed berries bag which usually is frozen strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and raspberries. I add a little sugar and water or milk and blend away. It’s amazing.