While daydreaming about watermelon sorbet recently, I threw a few things in the blender hoping for an easier, quicker method, and the results were shockingly good. So good we went back for seconds…and thirds.
This near-instant sorbet is made with simple frozen fruit, like strawberry, watermelon, and banana, and dairy-free milk or coconut water. The texture is creamy, slightly icy, and refreshing, and the taste? It’s somehow reminiscent of cotton candy. Let us show you how it’s done!
First, freeze the fruit (or buy already frozen, if available).
How to Freeze Watermelon
While it’s easy to find frozen strawberries at the store, it’s unlikely you’ll find frozen watermelon. Luckily, it’s super simple to do at home.
Start by cutting a watermelon into cubes or scooping into balls (make sure it’s juicy and ripe for best flavor).
Then add the cubes or balls in a single layer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 4 to 6 hours or until firm. Once frozen, transfer the watermelon cubes to a sealed container or use immediately.
How to Make Watermelon Sorbet
Once the fruit is frozen, there are just 5 minutes, 4 ingredients, and a blender between you and watermelon sorbet.
Simply add frozen watermelon, strawberries, and banana to a high-speed blender (or food processor) along with a little bit of almond milk, coconut milk, or coconut water. There’s no ice cream maker required here!
Then blend it up, using the tamper to help if the mixture gets stuck or has trouble blending. More liquid can also be added to help it along, but it’s important to avoid adding too much or the sorbet can get too liquidy.
If it’s still having trouble blending, you can try letting the fruit thaw slightly in the blender before resuming.
We hope you LOVE this strawberry watermelon sorbet! It’s:
Fruity
Creamy
Naturally sweet
Berry-infused
Delicious
& Tastes like cotton candy!
It makes the perfect refreshing summer snack or healthier dessert! Enjoy right away, or freeze for more of an ice cream effect. Swoon!
More Ice Cream & Sorbet Recipes
- Raspberry Coconut Mango Sorbet
- Easy Banana Ice Cream (Tips + 10 Flavors!)
- Vanilla Bean Coconut Ice Cream
- Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Strawberry Watermelon Sorbet (5 Minutes)
Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed frozen watermelon (ripe // seeds removed)
- 1 cup sliced frozen strawberries (ripe, organic when possible)
- 1 cup sliced frozen bananas (ripe and spotty)
- 1/4-1/2 cup almond milk, coconut milk, or coconut water (each provides a unique flavor and texture)
Instructions
- If you haven’t already frozen your fruit, ensure it’s nice and ripe and juicy (the sweeter, the better) then slice and freeze on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze overnight or for at least 4-6 hours or until firm like ice. (Note: Prep time does not include this step.)
- To a high-speed blender (or food processor) add frozen watermelon, frozen strawberries, and frozen banana. Top with the lesser amount of dairy-free milk of choice or coconut water.
- Blend on low, then on high, using the tamper to blend the ingredients together if using a high-speed blender. If using a food processor, blend in 30-second increments, then remove lid and scrape down sides as needed.
- If it has trouble blending, add more dairy-free milk or coconut water a little at a time. Be sure not to add too much or the sorbet can get too liquidy. Alternatively, you can try letting the fruit thaw slightly in the blender before resuming. Taste and adjust flavor as needed. Add more fruit of choice if you want more of its flavor to come through (we go heavy on watermelon and it doesn’t disappoint).
- Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy immediately (recommended!), plain or topped with sliced fruit of choice. Or, transfer to a parchment-lined loaf pan, cover with more parchment paper, and freeze until firm, then scoop and serve in a bowl or on a cone.
- Leftovers will keep in the freezer up to 2 weeks. If not freezing in a loaf pan, this sorbet freezes well in popsicles or ice cube molds (blend again later with more dairy-free milk or coconut water to achieve sorbet consistency).
Video
Notes
*Prep time does not include slicing and freezing fruit.
Jen says
This is just….a fruit smoothie. That’s it. A good fruit smoothie, but this is not sorbet. Not nearly sweet enough, and changes texture when stored in the freezer. Wish I would have known that before by comparing it to other recipes first because I made this ahead of time for a party. I would have picked an actual sorbet recipe instead of just a simple fruit smoothie that someone called a sorbet to get more clicks or something.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jen, sorry for any confusion and that it wasn’t what you were hoping for! It sounds like you were looking for a more classic sorbet recipe. This is our fruit-sweetened, wholesome take! It should be thicker than a smoothie and it is best when freshly made. We’ll take a look and see if we can improve clarity on that!
Carissa Renard says
This recipe was really good but unless you have a vitamix you really need to do this in batches; my Blendtec got stuck multiple times and I had to use a cocktail muddled to push the frozen fruit chunks in more. I ended up taking some out and adding more liquid to it and it eventually got all blended up.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry it gave you trouble, Carissa! A blender that has a tamper definitely is helpful with this one. Glad you were able to get it to work and enjoyed the flavor!
Rosemary Lynn Selden says
I have one of those stick blenders, can i still make this?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Rosemary, we aren’t sure if it will be powerful enough and think a high-speed blender like a Vitamix might be essential for this one. Let us know if you try it!
Mo says
Cant eat banana. What can I use instead?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
You can add more strawberries + watermelon. It won’t be quite as creamy, but still very tasty!
Sally says
We LOVE this recipe! Anytime we buy a large watermelon, I freeze some and make this recipe. It’s so refreshing and a great way to celebrate summer fruit. Thank you for this creative combination!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Sally! Thank you for sharing! xo
Christina says
I made this in a food processor and it is simply incredible. This simple and perfect recipe is seriously replacing all popsicles and ice cream in the freezer from now on.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ooo amazing! Thanks for the lovely review, Christina! We’re so glad you enjoyed!
Adri says
I just made this and added some lime juice and boy is it delicious! What is the best way to keep this sorbet in tact for a few hours for when someone gets home from work :-)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, an important question! We’d suggest putting leftover sorbet in an airtight container and storing in the freezer, but removing it at least 10 minutes before serving. It won’t be quite the same texture, but hopefully still delicious! Thanks for the kind review, Adri!
Emily says
I just made this following all the instructions to pre-freeze the chunks of fruit then blend… it is tasty but difficult to scoop out of the loaf pan because it seemed to freeze into an icy block. Any recommendations for how to get more of a soft consistency? Or just let it melt a bit? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Emily, this one is best when fresh! But if saving for later, we’d suggest letting it melt a bit and/or using a warm ice cream scoop.
Jenna says
This was not very good.
It just tasted like eating frozen fruit from the bag.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jenna, we’re sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy it. Is it possible your frozen fruit had freezer burn or the fruits didn’t mix well? We only ask because so many others have enjoyed it!
sharon R Costelac says
Hello! My son is sensitive to bananas. What would you suggest to use?avocado?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sharon, you could use more strawberries, it just won’t be as creamy.
Aubrey says
I put in maybe 1/4 sliced avocado because I wanted more creaminess and it is AWESOME!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woah, awesome! Thanks for sharing, Aubrey!
Yosef Stanton says
So summery and yummy
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Agreed! Thanks for sharing, Yosef!
Patrice says
Can I make this and then freeze it? E.g., what will happen if I haven’t frozen the watermelon, bananas or strawberries? I just don’t have room in my freezer to freeze it all first!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Patrice, we wouldn’t recommend that as it will turn icy and be difficult to scoop. We’d suggest buying pre-frozen strawberries and seeing if you have room to freeze just the watermelon?
Sophia says
Hello!
How much does this make? What is the size of a serving?
Thank you!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sophia, it makes approximately two 2-cup servings. Hope that helps!
meredith says
This was soooo yummy! Looks like strawberry ice cream, and tastes light and sweet. I did add a little stevia, and I had to use evaporated milk (1/4 cup?). Totally different consistency as far as nice cream goes. Loved it!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Right?! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Meredith! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Kelly says
Hi! This recipe sounds amazing. My husband and I have had to go dairy free, so we’ve been trying sorbet a lot lately. However, my husband doesn’t like bananas. Do you think it would impact it to simply remove it? Would there be something ideal to substitute?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
This doesn’t taste much like bananas! I’d say give it a try, or sub frozen coconut or almond milk ice cubes for the banana!
Kelly Bennett-Unger says
What would you suggest as a substitute if i am allergic to bananas?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kelly, the banana adds creaminess, so maybe sub frozen coconut or almond milk ice cubes. Let us know if you try it!
Bella says
So good! Made this today and let my twin boys try it and they loved it! One of them can’t have dairy, so this is a great option for us. I used plain canned coconut milk (organic) and I used all frozen strawberrys and watermelon. I had to add some stevia because I didn’t have the sweetest watermelon, but other than that delicious! Thank you!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Bella! Love your substitutions!
Kandee says
SO DELICIOUS!! Thank you for this recipe, what a treat!
And perfect timing, I had a huge watermelon (30lbs!!!) from the farmers market that I was trying to get creative with.
I followed the instructions exactly except for the strawberries, I used half fresh and half frozen. I think this helped me blend it a bit easier.
I used plain canned coconut milk (organic coconut meat and water), just a little over 1/4 cup. So freaking good. Can’t wait to make this again, and (maybe) next time with another milk or different ratio on the fruits. Will be a new staple in my house!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
So great! Thanks for sharing, Kandee!
Allison says
Oh this looks GOOD! I make Nice Cream with bananas often, but the addition of strawbs and watermelon looks great! I’ll be trying this weekend – I’m always looking for ways to cut out ice cream in the evenings and this is a great alternative!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Let us know how it goes!
Donna Tranter says
This was the recipe I didn’t know I needed, but I did.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
haha right? Glad you enjoyed it, Donna!