Naturally sweet, no-added-sugar sorbets are the perfect healthy, easy dessert for summer. Discover delicious recipes, simple prep tips, and feel-good fruity flavours the whole family will love.
Who says you can’t have your sorbet and eat it too? Often Ice cream gets all the glory, but when the heat hits, something lighter often wins the day.
When it comes to summer desserts, it doesn’t get much better than something cold, light, and bursting with natural flavour. Sorbets tick all the right boxes – and when they’re made without added sugar, they become the ultimate feel-good treat.
Rest assured, healthy doesn’t have to be boring, in fact, sugar-free sorbets are a refreshing way to indulge without overloading on sweetness or feeling weighed down. They’re quick to prepare, naturally sweetened, and just as satisfying as any scoop of traditional ice cream.
In this article, we’ll share:
✅ Why going sugar-free with your desserts is a smart, tasty choice
✅ Natural sweeteners that work a treat in sorbets
✅ Why sorbets are a summer win for the whole family — light, refreshing, and fun to make
✅ A selection of easy, naturally sweetened sorbet recipes (including a cheeky boozy one)
✅ What makes sorbets dairy-free and vegan-friendly — and why that matters
So, ready to chill out and dig in?
If you’d like to head straight to our Naturally Sweet Sorbet Recipes, please use the following link, or read along to find out more.
Why Go Sugar-Free?
Swapping out refined sugar for natural sweeteners doesn’t just make your sorbet healthier – it makes it smarter.
No added sugar means:
- Fewer blood sugar spikes, making it kinder on your body and brain.
- Lower calorie content, helping you stay light while still indulging.
- Better for teeth, especially important for little ones.
- Naturally vibrant flavour, letting fresh fruits shine without masking them in sugar.
And unlike traditional desserts that often rely on hidden sugars, sorbets made with natural alternatives feel cleaner and more refreshing, especially in warm weather.
Natural Sweeteners That Work a Treat
Whether you’re shopping or making your own sorbet, look out for these naturally derived sweeteners:
- Stevia – Plant-based, calorie-free, and just a touch goes a long way.
- Erythritol – A sugar alcohol with a cooling effect and zero glycaemic impact.
- Monk Fruit – Subtly sweet, low-calorie, and great in fruity blends.
- Ripe fruits – Think bananas, mangoes, dates, or pineapple—they often do all the sweetening you need naturally.
These sweeteners blend beautifully into sorbets, keeping things smooth, scoopable, and satisfying.
👉🏽 Click here for a selection of natural sweeteners
Why No Honey?
While honey is a natural sweetener and beloved for its rich flavour, it’s not typically included in sugar-free sorbets. That’s because honey contains natural sugars—mainly fructose and glucose—that still impact blood sugar levels and add calories. So, although honey is a better alternative to refined sugar, it doesn’t fit the “sugar-free” label that many sorbet recipes aim for.
Additionally, honey’s liquid consistency can affect the texture and freezing properties of sorbets, sometimes making them less firm or smooth compared to sorbets sweetened with sugar alcohols like erythritol or plant-based options like stevia.
If you’re looking for a naturally sweet sorbet but don’t need to avoid all sugars, honey can be a delicious choice. But for those wanting a true sugar-free treat, it’s best to opt for sweeteners that don’t raise blood sugar or add calories.
Why Sorbets Are a Summer Win (Especially with Kids!)
Let’s be honest – no-bake, no-fuss desserts are a summer dream.
Sorbets are exactly that, they are:
- Quick to prep – Just blend, chill, and freeze.
- Naturally dairy-free and vegan-friendly – Ideal for all dietary needs.
- A hands-on activity for kids – Measuring, tasting, and learning about fruit and natural ingredients.
- Light and hydrating – Exactly what you want when it’s warm out.
There’s something really satisfying about making something so colourful and wholesome with your own hands – and the kids will love seeing simple fruits transform into something scoopable and sweet.
How to Make Sorbets – An Easy and Simple Method
Making sorbet couldn’t be easier — all you need are fresh or frozen fruits, natural sweeteners, and a blender or food processor. Here’s a basic step-by-step method to get you started:
- Prepare your fruit: Peel, pit, or chop as needed. Frozen fruit works perfectly too and helps give the sorbet a smooth texture.
- Blend it up: Add your fruit to a blender or food processor along with your chosen natural sweetener and a splash of water, juice, or coconut water to help blend. Adjust the liquid depending on how thick or soft you want the final sorbet.
- Taste and adjust: Blend until smooth, then taste and add a little more sweetener if needed. You want it naturally sweet but balanced, not overpowering.
- Freeze: Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 4 hours, stirring gently every hour if you want a smoother texture without ice crystals.
- Serve: Scoop, enjoy, and share!
Pro tip: Sorbet recipes are very forgiving — feel free to adjust sweetness and liquid levels to your liking. The best part? You get to create a dessert perfectly suited to your taste!
👉🏽 Don’t have a blender? Check out our detailed review of the Nutribullet range of Blenders. Find a blender that suits your needs – The Nutribullet Blender Range – A Detailed Review
5 Naturally Sweet Sorbet Recipes to Try
Each of these recipes uses natural sweeteners or ripe fruits to bring out the best flavours of summer.
They’re all dairy-free, light, and full of fun.
- Peach & Raspberry Swirl
Ripe peaches and juicy raspberries come together in a beautifully vibrant blend. Sweetened with a splash of maple syrup or just the fruit itself. - Lemon & Basil Zing
Fresh lemon juice with just enough Monk Fruit sweetener to balance the sharpness, paired with aromatic basil for a grown-up twist. - Coconut Mango Crush
Ultra-creamy thanks to coconut milk, this tropical number is naturally sweet from the mango and a pinch of Stevia. Dairy-free and dreamy. - Strawberry Date Delight
Just strawberries and a couple of soaked dates – this one’s incredibly simple but so satisfying, especially for younger taste buds. - Watermelon Mojito Sorbet (Boozy!)
Fresh watermelon, lime juice, mint, and a splash of white rum. Leave the rum out for a family-friendly version, or keep it in for a sunset scoop with friends.
Are Sorbets Dairy-Free and Vegan?
Mostly, yes! Sorbets are typically made without dairy, eggs, or animal products, making them naturally vegan and great for anyone avoiding dairy. That said, always check the labels if you’re buying from a shop – some recipes sneak in honey or creamier elements.
When making them at home, you’ve got full control, so you can keep it light, fruity, and 100% plant-based with ease.
Sorbet’s Secret – From Scoop to Lollipop
One of the best things about sorbets is how adaptable they are.
Not only are they fantastic on their own as a refreshing dessert, but the same mixture can be transformed into delicious sorbet lollipops — perfect for cooling down on a sunny day or adding a fun twist for the kids (and grown-ups!) to enjoy.
How to Make Sorbet Lollipops:
What you need:
- Your favourite sorbet mixture (naturally sweetened, of course)
- Silicone lollipop moulds or small paper cups
- Lollipop sticks or wooden skewers
- A freezer
Step-by-step:
- Prepare your sorbet mix as you normally would — blend fruit, natural sweetener, and any extras like herbs or spices.
- Pour the mixture carefully into your lollipop moulds or paper cups, filling them almost to the top.
- Insert the sticks into the centre of each mould or cup. If using cups, you may need to hold the stick upright for a minute or two until the mixture begins to freeze and stabilise.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours, or until completely solid.
- To remove the lollipops, run the moulds briefly under warm water or peel off the paper cups gently.
- Enjoy your naturally sweet, refreshing sorbet lollipops!
These lollipops are a brilliant way to enjoy the benefits of sorbet in a portable, playful form. They’re dairy-free, sugar-free, and easily customised to suit every taste — plus, they’re a fun project for kids to get involved with in the kitchen.
So next time you whip up a batch of sorbet, remember: you can scoop it or pop it on a stick!
👉🏽 Click here for a selection of Ice Lolly moulds and accessories
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The Final Scoop
Naturally sweet sorbets are a brilliant way to enjoy a treat without compromising your health or flavour. They’re easy to make, endlessly adaptable, and the perfect family-friendly dessert to keep you cool all summer long.
So, which one will you try first? Let us know in the comments or tag us on Instagram with your creations—we’d love to see what you whip up!
👉🏽 Want more inspiration? Head to our Sorbets Recipe Menu for even more ideas and flavour combos.
We hope that you have enjoyed our article – Naturally Sweet Sorbets For Summer – Healthy, Easy Dessert Ideas – and that we have inspired you to give our sugar-free sorbet recipes a try. If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below and we will be happy to get back to you.
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As someone who absolutely adores ice cream but is always watching my sugar intake, this post was a delightful find! The idea of crafting naturally sweet sorbets without added sugars is both exciting and reassuring. It’s wonderful to know that indulgence doesn’t have to come with guilt.
I’m curious, though—have you experimented with incorporating herbs like mint or basil into these sorbets? I imagine they could add a refreshing twist. Also, for those of us who might not have access to an ice cream maker, do you have any tips for achieving that perfect sorbet texture using just a blender and freezer?
Thank you for sharing these healthy and delicious ideas. I can’t wait to try them out and perhaps even get my little one involved in the process!
Hi Alyssa,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. So glad our post resonated with you!
It’s always a joy finding ways to indulge a sweet tooth without compromising on health, and naturally sweetened sorbets really do strike that perfect balance.
Yes! Herbs like mint and basil are wonderful in sorbets, our article highlighted a Lemon and Basil Sorbet which is a wonderful flavour pairing, and of course, there re so many more herb combo’s you could try.
Herbs add such a refreshing lift, especially when paired with fruits like strawberry, lemon, or mango. We’ve also dabbled with rosemary and thyme in berry blends for a more aromatic, grown-up twist (you might enjoy this one: Lavender & Honey Ice Cream for inspiration!).
And absolutely — no ice cream maker, no problem, as our article explained, it’s very easy to make Sorbet using only a blender.
The trick is to freeze your fruit chunks first, then blend until smooth, adding a splash of water or juice if needed. After blending, transfer to a shallow container and freeze again, stirring every 30–60 minutes for the first few hours to break up ice crystals. That helps achieve a creamier texture closer to traditional sorbet.
Also, involving little ones is such a fun idea — blending fruit and sneaking in healthy ingredients is half the adventure!
Our article – Fun, Easy And Healthy Frozen Dessert Recipe Ideas For Kids – provides ideas for making healthier desserts with the kids, which might also give you some inspiration.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comment, and we’d love to hear what flavours you end up trying!
All the best,
Cherie