🍑 Peach Sorbet: A Taste of Summer in Every Scoop

When the Midwest summer heat rolls in, there’s nothing better than a cold, refreshing treat made with the sweet flavors of the season. This homemade Peach Sorbet is smooth, bright, fruity, and incredibly refreshing—a perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day.

Made with ripe peaches, a simple syrup, and a splash of lemon juice, this sorbet lets the natural flavor of fresh peaches shine. It’s also dairy-free, making it a great dessert for summer gatherings, cookouts, family reunions, and backyard celebrations.

🍑 Peach Sorbet

Yield: 1 gallon
Servings: Approximately 32 servings at 4 oz each
Prep Time: 30 minutes, plus chilling and freezing
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

• 10 pounds ripe fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, and chopped

• 4 cups granulated sugar

• 4 cups water

• ½ cup fresh lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons peach nectar or peach schnapps (optional—omit for an alcohol-free version)

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

1. Prepare the peaches

Wash, peel, pit, and chop the peaches. If your peaches are very ripe and sweet, you may leave a small amount of the skin on for additional color and flavor.

2. Make the simple syrup

In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.

Remove from the heat and allow the syrup to cool.

3. Blend the peach mixture

Working in batches, blend the peaches with the cooled simple syrup until smooth.

Add the lemon juice, peach nectar if using, vanilla extract, and kosher salt. Blend again until fully incorporated.

4. Chill the mixture

Transfer the peach mixture to a food-safe container and refrigerate until completely chilled—preferably 4 hours or overnight.

5. Freeze

Process the chilled mixture in a commercial ice cream or sorbet machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you do not have an ice cream machine, pour the mixture into shallow freezer-safe containers. Freeze and stir every 30–45 minutes until smooth and frozen.

6. Firm up before serving

Transfer the finished sorbet to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 2–4 hours to firm up.

Allow the sorbet to sit at room temperature for approximately 5–10 minutes before scooping.

👨🏾‍🍳 Chef’s Tips

Choose the best peaches

The best sorbet starts with flavorful peaches. Look for peaches that are fragrant, juicy, and slightly soft to the touch.

Balance is key

The lemon juice helps balance the sweetness and keeps the peach flavor bright. If your peaches are extremely sweet, you may reduce the sugar slightly.

Add a Midwest twist

For an extra special summer dessert, serve your peach sorbet with:

• Fresh mint

• A drizzle of peach syrup

• Fresh blueberries

• Crumbled shortbread

• A scoop of vanilla ice cream

• Fresh raspberries

☀️ The Perfect Midwest Summer Treat

There’s something special about enjoying a cold peach dessert on a hot Midwest summer day. Whether you’re sitting on the porch, hosting a backyard barbecue, or cooling down after a day at the lake, this peach sorbet is a simple reminder that summer doesn’t have to be complicated.

Sometimes, all you need is a ripe peach, a little sweetness, and something cold enough to beat the heat.

Stay cool, eat well, and enjoy the taste of summer—one scoop at a time. 🍑