This chocolate sorbet is dairy free, very dark and very grown-up.
It’s based on a recipe from Smitten Kitchen, which was in turn adapted from a David Lebovitz recipe.
- 560ml (2¼ cups) water, divided into two portions (see below)
- 220g (1 cup) white sugar
- 75g (¾ cup) Dutch-processed cocoa powder (I used Callebaut)
- small pinch of salt
- 170g (6oz) semisweet chocolate (I used Callebaut 811 54%)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (I used homemade)
Note: resist the urge to use darker chocolate – our first batch was made with Callebaut 70% and it was too dark even for us! These quantities make approximately one litre of sorbet.
1. In a large stew pot over a medium heat, whisk together 375ml (1½ cups) of water, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Continue whisking until the mixture boils. Still whisking, allow to boil for about a minute.
2. Add the chocolate and vanilla extract to the mixture and stir until smooth. Stir in the remaining 185ml (¾ cup) of water. Pour the mixture into a blender and blitz for a slow count of 15. Don’t be tempted to skip this step – I think it helps to ensure a smooth sorbet. Resist drinking the mixture at this point (but do taste it – I thought it would make a lovely dairy-free hot chocolate!).
3. Pour the mixture into a metal mixing bowl, cover, and refrigerate until cold (we left ours overnight). The mixture will set semi-solid as it cools – give it a good whisking to loosen it up, then pour it into an icecream maker to churn. Allow to set in the freezer for several hours before serving.
The sorbet freezes solidly, which is not a bad thing, as it makes it difficult to consume the whole tub in one sitting! As you can see from the photo below though, we did make a fair dent on it while it was still semi-frozen…
Definitely the perfect fix for a serious chocolate craving!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I will have to compare notes, Celia – I made a chocolate sorbet, will see how my recipe compared to the one you used, it might be very similar. we loved it, and you are right, it needs to be toned down on the cocoa content.
Sorbet season is coming to an end, unfortunately, but chocolate sorbet is welcome by Phil anytime! ;-)
Sally, I love it dark, but it was too dark even for me! It’s good though, as you only need a little to get a chocolate fix! :)
Ob boy! Now this is seriously my kinda sorbet! Scrumity!
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, it’s really good, despite the absence of milk and cream!
Celia, you have no end of chocolate recipes. If I didn’t know better, I would think you like your chocolate:)
Just a little obsessed, Glenda.. ;-)
I just read a post on ice cream and NOW CHOCOLATE Sorbet – YUMMERS! Happy Friday Indeed:)
Renee, this was fun to make – no egg custard to curdle, and it came together really quickly! I’m going to make some more today.. :)
Hi Celia! Being a serious chocolate lover, can you believe that I’ve never tried chocolate sorbet? I always opt for chocolate ice cream. Your recipe looks dark and decadent. I’ll have to give it a shot!
Emilie, it’s new to me too! I’ve tried just about every other sort of sorbet, but it was only when I saw this at a local gelato store that I even realised it was possible!
This is something I wanna make on the weekend :)
Hope you like it as much as we do, Tes!
Oh my goodness, this does sounds fantastic and I love putting my ice cream maker to work! I shall go back and look at that recipe again.. c
Thanks Celi! It’s just heading into warm weather here for us, so it’s icecream time!
That looks delicious! I’ve never seen a dairy-free version before. Will have to try it!
Manuela, neither had I! I’m surprised how smooth it is – honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d think there was some dairy in there!
I’ve never had chocolate sorbet. It looks so delicious. It even looks creamy. I’d love to try this, Celia. xx
Charlie, it actually tastes creamy too! I have no idea how that works.. :)
Interesting! David Lebovitz has some great ice cream and sorbet recipes.
He’s a genius with chocolate and icecream, so when you put the two together.. ;-)
I love that recipe. Yours looks perfect :-)
Thanks Abby! It’s a new one to me!
Yum, this looks awefully tempting. My head has lately only been focused on apples and pumpkins, but I always have trouble resisting chocolate anything. Did you pair it with anything else in particular when consuming?
Mel, we haven’t yet, but it’s a new thing in our kitchen, so we might still find something to do with it. Actually, last night we talked about having a three way chocolate plate – chocolate cake, double choc cookies and chocolate sorbet. We refrained though.. ;-)
Oooh, thank you! I have seen similar recipes to this in a couple of my ice-cream books and have wanted to make it for ever such a long time. When this blessed exam is out of the way I shall be eating out of the freezer (for a very long time – it’s chocka-block!) to make space for this. My idea of heaven. Hmmm, that’s just given me another idea – something else to think about for a chocolate inspired pud…
So dangerous to read at breakfast time Celia, it starts the cravings early! Looks just gorgeous sweetie :)
I’m posting about honey sorbet next week, it must be this bit of warm weather, we’re expecting 20* today but down to minus 2 tonight.
Perfect timing – I was just looking for something to make for dessert tonight!
Now, I don’t suppose you have a great recipe for making your own vanilla paste do you, Celia??
Sorbet is a magical thing Celia and your results are so good xx
http://www.mykitchenstories.com.au
Looks scrumptlicious! I’m not a huge fan of milky things, nor of sweet chocolate, or icecream… I’m no fun am I?… so this is very appetising from my point of view. I’ll file making it in my one-day list :)
Oh yum! I’m glad it is nearly hot enough here to try this :)
This is definitely going into my recipe file, Celia. There’s nothing like a good, rich chocolate dessert. Judging by that picture, this is certainly one of them! Thank you for sharing.
Oh my goodness, Celia, thanks to your previous pointers I have all the ingredients in the house except white sugar. Raw sugar would be fine wouldn’t it?
That photo is some serious food porn.
Rose, I think so, but I haven’t tried it! Hope it works! :)
That looks like it’s VERY chocolatey and delicious!
Maureen, it’s very dark – even I can only eat a scoop at a time! :)
This looks seriously good Celia!
Thanks Jane! x
Too chilly for me! But my teens would love this one.
Sally, it does make my teeth ache from the cold. Maybe I need to see a dentist.. :)
I think I love you – sorbet, dairy free, chocolate, ooops no sorry that just means I love your recipe :)
Go on, I know you love me too. ;-)
:)
It is still breakfast time but I want to dig into that second bowl of chocolate sorbet, having it for breakfast is not a bad idea.
Norma, I actually wondered if I could make it into hot chocolate for breakfast.. :)
I’ve made Dacid Lebovitz’s version a few times and we all LOVE it. I do use 70% – the monsters eat a little less than usual as it is so dark so there is more left for me!
Woohoo Anna, with the 70%, it’s seriously dark! I’m impressed! :)
Unfortunately I can now down 99% without a problem – it just makes me sneeze more easily. Bro sneezes with dark chocolate too.
Celia, this looks so creamy it’s hard to believe it’s a sorbet. Chocolate sorbet has been on my list of things to make for a long time, so I’m glad to have your tip about not using too dark a chocolate before I go ahead.
Choc, it’s really surprising – if I didn’t know better, I’d think it had milk in it. It might also be less dark with natural cocoa rather than dutch-processed, but I haven’t tried it.
OMG Celia this looks decadent and so very rich….
Norma, it really is very rich! The boys haven’t noticed that I’ve been scooping out a bowl each day and it’s nearly gone.. ;-)
Hehe well that’s all very well and good but now I have a serious chocolate craving! ;)
Lorraine, I wonder if you’d find it too dark? Might be a nice thing to try with the Amedei, actually.. ;-)
“resist drinking it at this point…”? I think I would find it very hard! Chocolate sorbet smoothie anyone?
Brydie, you know me, it was VERY hard to not drink it when it was all lovely and warm.. ;-)
Today, I made your stunning & very rich chocolate sorbet! My hubby & I nearly devoured it all! :) Yummmmm! xxx
Ooh Sophie, I’m so glad you liked it! xx
Oh yum Celia I can practically taste it just looking at it!