Velvety Cardamom Plum Sorbet Recipe

Tangy Cardamom Plum Sorbet Recipe: Summer’s Frosty Delight

Cool summer evenings call for a refreshing dessert that weaves sweet and aromatic cardamom plum sorbet into a delightful treat.

Ripe, juicy plums burst with deep purple hues and natural sweetness.

The exotic touch of cardamom adds a warm, spicy note that dances brilliantly against the fruit’s tartness.

This elegant sorbet serves as a sophisticated palate cleanser with minimal ingredients and simple preparation.

Each spoonful promises a smooth, velvety texture that melts gracefully on your tongue.

No heavy cream or complex techniques stand between you and this stunning dessert.

Let’s find out this luscious sorbet and transport your taste buds to a world of pure, refreshing bliss.

Cardamom Plum Sorbet Ingredient Rundown

For Fruit Base:
  • Plums: Juicy, ripe stone fruit that provides the sorbet's vibrant flavor and natural sweetness, choose plums that are deeply colored and yield slightly when pressed.
  • Lemon Juice: Bright citrus that balances sweetness and prevents browning, select fresh lemons with glossy, firm skin for maximum zesty punch.
For Aromatics and Enhancers:
  • Cardamom Pods: Exotic spice adding warm, complex undertones with subtle floral and citrus notes, look for whole green pods with intact, fragrant seeds.
  • Vanilla Bean: Luxurious flavor booster that introduces rich, creamy depth, pick pods that are plump, dark, and slightly oily for maximum flavor extraction.
For Sweetening and Texture:
  • Sugar: Essential for creating smooth, scoopable sorbet texture and balancing fruit's natural tartness, use fine granulated sugar for quick and even dissolving.
  • Water: Crucial liquid component that transforms ingredients into silky, refreshing frozen dessert, use filtered water for cleanest taste.

Kitchen Tools to Whip Up Cardamom Plum Sorbet

  • Roasting Dish: Essential for baking plums with sugar and spices.
  • Fine Mesh Sieve: Crucial for straining and achieving smooth, silky sorbet texture.
  • Saucepan: Perfect for creating cardamom-infused syrup.
  • Blender: Needed to puree roasted plums and create smooth mixture.
  • Ice Cream Maker: Key tool for churning sorbet to perfect consistency.
  • Freezer-Safe Container: Ideal for storing and freezing final sorbet.
  • Sharp Knife: Useful for halving plums and removing pits.
  • Measuring Cups/Spoons: Help accurately measure ingredients.

How to Make Cardamom Plum Sorbet from Scratch

  • Roasted Plum Magic

Slice plums and spread them in a roasting dish. Sprinkle with delicate sweetness and aromatic spices. Bake until they transform into soft, caramelized treasures bursting with intense flavor.

  • Syrup Symphony

Create a fragrant liquid by simmering water with cardamom pods. Let the spices dance and infuse their exotic essence into the syrup. Strain to capture pure, elegant flavor.

  • Smooth Transformation

Blend roasted plums with their precious cooking juices and strained cardamom syrup. Push through a fine sieve to achieve silky, luxurious texture that promises pure indulgence.

  • Freezing Adventure

Chill the mixture thoroughly, then send it spinning in an ice cream maker. Watch as it gradually transforms into a dreamy, velvety sorbet with rich purple hues.

  • Frozen Anticipation

Transfer the sorbet into a container and let it rest in the freezer. When ready, scoop out this refreshing delicacy and enjoy the burst of summer’s sweet memories.

Tips for Texture and Spice Balance in Sorbet

  • Baking plums intensifies their natural sweetness and deepens their flavor profile, creating a more complex and rich sorbet base.
  • Steeping cardamom pods in syrup releases their aromatic oils, adding a warm, exotic undertone that beautifully complements the tangy plum essence.
  • Straining the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve ensures an ultra-smooth, silky sorbet without any unwanted pulp or seed fragments.
  • Transform this sorbet into an elegant dessert by pairing it with shortbread cookies, toasted almond slivers, or a light drizzle of honey for added sophistication.

Ways to Serve Cardamom Plum Sorbet

  • Elegant Dessert Pairing: Serve this sophisticated sorbet alongside a delicate lavender shortbread cookie for a refined taste experience that complements the deep cardamom and plum flavors.
  • Rustic Brunch Accent: Scoop the sorbet over warm morning waffles or pancakes to add a surprising burst of fruity freshness that elevates a classic breakfast dish.
  • Wine Lovers' Delight: Pair this sorbet with a crisp white wine like Riesling or a light dessert wine to create a harmonious blend of sweet and tangy notes that dance on the palate.
  • Summer Refreshment Station: Create a DIY sorbet bar by offering the cardamom plum sorbet with optional toppings like toasted almond slivers, fresh mint leaves, or a drizzle of honey for a personalized dessert experience.

Storage Advice for Frozen Sorbet

  • Smart Freezing Strategy: Transfer the sorbet to an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid to prevent ice crystals from forming and protect the delicate flavor profile.
  • Optimal Chill Time: Store the sorbet in the coldest part of your freezer, typically the back, where temperature remains most consistent for up to two weeks without compromising taste quality.
  • Portion Control Hack: Use small individual freezer-safe ramekins or silicone molds to create single-serving portions, making it easier to thaw and enjoy without disturbing the entire batch.
  • Fresh Serving Tip: Remove the sorbet from the freezer 5-7 minutes before serving to soften slightly, allowing the cardamom and plum flavors to bloom and become more pronounced on your palate.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 114 kcal

Servings: 7

Print
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Velvety Cardamom Plum Sorbet Recipe

Velvety Cardamom Plum Sorbet Recipe


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4.6 from 13 reviews

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 7 1x

Description

Refreshing cardamom plum sorbet combines aromatic spices with sweet summer fruit. Middle Eastern influences shine through this elegant, simple dessert that delivers cool, complex flavors you will savor with each delightful spoonful.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (454 g) plums, halved
  • 1¼ cups (250 g) sugar
  • 1½ cups (355 ml) water
  • 5 cardamom pods, crushed
  • 2 tbsps fresh lemon juice
  • 1 vanilla bean pod, split and seeds scraped
  • Fresh plums for serving, pitted and sliced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Plum Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and arrange plum halves cut-side up in a roasting dish, sprinkling with granulated sugar, lemon juice, whole cardamom pods, and a vanilla bean.
  2. Roasting Process: Roast plums for 30 minutes until tender and juicy, then cool completely at room temperature, carefully removing pits while preserving all roasting liquids.
  3. Cardamom Syrup: Craft an aromatic syrup by boiling water and sugar, then steeping cardamom pods for 10 minutes before straining to extract the fragrant liquid.
  4. Plum Purée: Blend roasted plums with cooking juices and cardamom syrup in a high-powered blender until achieving a silky-smooth consistency, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure a flawless texture.
  5. Chilling Stage: Refrigerate the plum mixture for 2 hours, allowing flavors to intermingle and temperature to drop.
  6. Churning Method: Process the chilled mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions until reaching a soft-frozen state.
  7. Freezing Technique: Transfer the churned sorbet to a freezer-safe container, smoothing the surface for even freezing, and allow to solidify completely for at least 6 hours or overnight.
  8. Serving Finale: Let the sorbet soften briefly at room temperature, then garnish with fresh plum slices for an elegant presentation.

Notes

  • Roast Carefully: Choose ripe, sweet plums for maximum flavor depth and caramelization during roasting.
  • Strain Thoroughly: Using a fine-mesh sieve ensures a velvety, smooth texture without unwanted fruit fibers or seeds.
  • Chill Completely: Refrigerate the mixture for at least 2 hours to intensify the cardamom and plum flavor profile.
  • Freeze Patiently: Allow the sorbet to set overnight for the most harmonious texture and concentrated taste experience.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 7
  • Calories: 114
  • Sugar: 36 g
  • Sodium: 1 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Michael Reynolds

Michael Reynolds

Founder, Head Recipe Developer & Cuisine Specialist

Expertise

Recipe Development and Testing​, Modern American and European Cuisines​, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education and Workshops​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and global cuisines.​

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

  • Program: Diploma in Pastry Arts
  • Focus: Specialized education in baking and pastry, emphasizing artisanal bread, confections, and plated desserts.​

Michael Reynolds is the founder and head recipe creator at wd-50.com. With over 15 years of experience in the kitchen, he’s spent time working in top restaurants and now focuses on making great food easy for everyone at home.

Michael studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and later trained in pastry at the Auguste Escoffier School. He knows his way around both savory meals and sweet treats.

At wd-50.com, his goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re trying something new or cooking a favorite dish. He loves using fresh ingredients and simple steps that still bring out big flavors.

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