Tefal Dolci sherbet: softer than sorbet, lighter than ice cream

What is a sherbet?

A Tefal Dolci sherbet sits right between two worlds. It starts as a fruit sorbet, with fruit, sugar and water, and then gets a small part of milk, cream or yoghurt. That little bit of dairy makes it softer and creamier than a sorbet, but it stays much lighter than a full ice cream.

In the UK and Ireland "sherbet" can also mean the fizzy sweet powder. Here we mean the frozen dessert, as it's known in the US and Australia.

There's no sherbet button: use SORBET

Look at the buttons and you won't find SHERBET. That's normal. On the Tefal Dolci, and on the Moulinex Dolci, which is the same machine, a sherbet is made on SORBET (about 3 min 14 s).

The SORBET cycle suits a base that's mostly fruit. The small amount of dairy doesn't need the ICE CREAM programme. See all the buttons on the Tefal Dolci programmes page.

Sherbet vs sorbet vs ice cream

• Sorbet: fruit, sugar and water, no milk. Fresh and clean. Read the Tefal Dolci sorbet programme guide.
• Sherbet: a sorbet with a little milk, cream or yoghurt. Softer and rounder.
• Ice cream: based on milk and cream. Rich and full.

Want something even lighter with dairy? Have a look at Tefal Dolci light ice cream.

Keeping your sherbet smooth

The same rules as sorbet apply. Sugar controls how hard the block freezes: too little and it comes out crumbly, too much and it won't freeze properly. If the sherbet looks sandy after the cycle, press RE-SPIN. If it's still dry, add 1 spoonful of juice or water into the centre hole and RE-SPIN again.

And give the bowl the full 24 hours in the freezer. A sherbet base that isn't frozen solid won't shave properly, however good the recipe is. Serve it soon after the cycle, when it's softest and creamiest.

Which fruits work well as a sherbet

Almost any fruit sorbet can become a sherbet. Citrus fruits like lemon get rounder and less sharp with a touch of dairy. Berries such as strawberry become softer and almost creamy. Mango, already naturally smooth, turns into something close to a light ice cream.

Start from a sorbet you already like, for example the lemon sorbet, the strawberry sorbet or the mango sorbet, and add a small part of milk, cream or yoghurt. Then freeze and use SORBET as usual.

A sherbet to try: radler lemon

For a refreshing first sherbet, try our radler lemon sherbet. You'll also find plenty of fruit bases in the free 30 sorbets book: almost any of them can become a sherbet with a touch of dairy.

In the ICED° app every recipe comes with the grams for your machine's bowl, the button to press and a traffic light that warns you before freezing if the base will be too hard. Try 5 recipes free on the Tefal Dolci app page.

Step by step

1. Prepare a fruit base with sugar and water, then add a small part of milk, cream or yoghurt.
2. Pour it into the Tritan bowl, put the lid on and freeze for 24 hours at −18 °C.
3. Fit the frozen bowl in the Tefal Dolci and lock it.
4. Press SORBET (there's no sherbet button).
5. If it's sandy or crumbly, press RE-SPIN.
6. Still dry? Add 1 spoonful of juice or water in the centre hole and RE-SPIN again.

Frequently asked questions