Strawberry Cointreau Sorbet

Strawberry Cointreau Sorbet – With frozen strawberries and a splash of chilled liqueur, you can quickly whip up a boozy strawberry sorbet, perfect for last-minute entertaining! If you have a blender, you can enjoy this sorbet in seconds! This quick and easy frozen dessert does not require fussy ice cream machines (or oodles of time).

Note: This post was originally published on November 11, 2012. The recipe has been updated from the archives.
I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen!

The doorbell rings, and you exchange glances. “Are we expecting anyone?” you ask one another with a panicked widening of eyes. Do we pretend we’re not home? You seriously consider hiding for a split second.

But no, you open the door.

I know you’ve been in that situation. We all have! And during the holiday season especially, you’re bound to have unexpected guests. I expect my brother and sister to be with their significant others this Thanksgiving, but I laugh at the last times they were at my house – both entirely surprises.

There was when my brother, the daredevil, and his buddy decided to cycle down the coast from Seattle to Southern California. Little did I expect him to crash at my place, quite literally. A spill on a windy decline ended that escapade prematurely, and I found myself nursing an almost mummified, bandaged brother. Oh, brothers!

And I can’t forget the most recent surprise – my sister’s post-wedding visit – which brought so much joy after an emotional week.

What to do when you must entertain spur of the moment? I always keep certain basics on hand: frozen fruit, cheeses, nuts, wine, and liquor. You can always scrape together something delicious! With the frozen fruit and a splash of chilled liqueur, you can quickly whip up a boozy sorbet that will surely please your visitors, like this Strawberry Cointreau Sorbet.

How to Make Strawberry Cointreau Sorbet

Alright, let’s whip up some delicious strawberry sorbet! Grab your blender and follow these easy steps:

1. Toss all the ingredients into your blender, just like they’re listed. Do follow the order, starting with the liquids and ending with the frozen fruit; this will make things easier for your blender.
2. Crank up the blender to high gear and let it work its magic. If those berries are putting up a fight, don’t be shy about giving them a little push down with a tamper.
3. Keep blending until those berries transform into a velvety, frosty sorbet. You’re looking for that perfect sorbet texture.
4. Now, you have a choice. If you can’t wait any longer (I totally get it), spoon out that soft-serve sorbet immediately and dig in. It’s delicious!
5. But if you’re feeling patient and want that classic scoopable sorbet, transfer the mixture into a freezer-safe dish. Pop it into the freezer for a couple of hours.
6. After about two hours, grab a fork and give the sorbet a good stir. Smooth out the top with a spatula, cover it up, and back into the freezer it goes.
7. Let it chill there for at least 2 hours, and if you can resist, overnight is even better. You want that sorbet to be nice and firm before you start scooping.

There you have it, a boozy strawberry sorbet that’s perfect to enjoy right away or save for a treat any other day!

Using Liqueur in Sorbet

A note on using liqueur (in this case, Cointreau) in sorbets: adding a tablespoon or two to a sorbet is done for several reasons.

First, it adds a lovely flavor to the sorbet, enhancing the flavor and sweetness of the fruit. I opt for Cointreau in this recipe, which gives it a hint of orange and citrus!

Secondly, the alcohol in a liqueur can lower the mixture’s freezing point, resulting in a smoother, less icy texture in the sorbet. It helps prevent the sorbet from becoming too hard when frozen, making it creamier and easier to scoop!

I am more generous than usual in this recipe, using up to 1/2 cup of Cointreau. However, be careful not to use too much, as this may prevent the sorbet from freezing correctly.

If you prefer not to use liqueur in this sorbet recipe, omit it. However, I recommend enjoying the sorbet immediately in soft-serve form or giving the sorbet extra time to soften before scooping.

More Recipes for Last-Minute Entertaining

How to Make a Charcuterie Board
Olive Cheese Straws
Spiced Nuts: Sweet and Spicy Roasted Nuts

Note: This post was originally published on November 11, 2012. The recipe has been updated from the archives.
I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen!

Strawberry Cointreau Sorbet

With frozen strawberries and a splash of chilled liqueur, you can quickly whip up a boozy strawberry sorbet, perfect for last-minute entertaining! If you have a blender, you can enjoy this sorbet in seconds! This quick and easy frozen dessert does not require fussy ice cream machines (or oodles of time).

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5 from 1 vote

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Chill Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 2 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 115kcal

Author Liren Baker

Ingredients

• ▢ 1/2 cup water
• ▢ 1/2 cup Cointreau
• ▢ 1/4 cup agave nectar or granulated sugar to taste, depending on your strawberries
• ▢ 1 lime, juiced
• ▢ 3 cups frozen strawberries

COOK MODEPrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Place ingredients in a blender in the order listed. Blend on high speed, tamping down if necessary, until the berries are transformed into a thick, frosty sorbet. Serve immediately or store in a sealed container in the freezer.
• The sorbet may be served immediately in soft-serve consistency. If you prefer to scoop the sorbet, transfer the mixture to a freezer-safe dish and chill in the freezer for two hours. Stir the sorbet with a fork, smooth the top with a spatula, cover, and continue freezing for at least 2 hours (ideally overnight) or until the sorbet is firm and ready to scoop.

Video

Notes

The alcohol in a liqueur can lower the mixture’s freezing point, resulting in a smoother, less icy texture in the sorbet. It helps prevent the sorbet from becoming too hard when frozen, making it creamier and easier to scoop!

If you prefer not to use liqueur in this sorbet recipe, omit it, but I recommend enjoying the sorbet immediately in soft-serve form or giving the sorbet extra time to soften before scooping.

Nutrition

Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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