Sorbet vs. Sherbet vs. Ice Cream: What’s the Difference?

Sorbet vs. Sherbet vs. Ice Cream: What’s the Difference?

Here at Baskin-Robbins®, we like to celebrate the sweet signs of summer with a refreshing scoop of our favorites. With classic flavors like Rainbow Sherbet and Rocky Road you may be wondering, “what’s the difference between sorbet, sherbet and ice cream?” We’ve got your back with the inside scoop on the differences between these classic frozen treats.

To start with the basics, two common components between these frozen desserts are water and sugar. These simple building blocks are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. You can also view this TikTok for more for insight into the differences between these unique sweet treats!

Sorbet:

One of the first frozen treats ever developed were ices (or sorbets), which essentially are a mixture of smooth ice, sugar, flavoring and other refreshing ingredients like fruit purees. A sorbet does not contain any dairy products and is more acidic, which results in tart flavors. Another difference between sorbet and ice cream is it is a sweet alternative for those with non-dairy* dietary needs or lifestyle preferences. Celebrate this spring with a palette cleansing scoop of our Daiquiri Ice and be on the lookout for a new sorbet flavor coming to Baskin-Robbins this May.

DI

Ice Cream:

At the other end of the spectrum is ice cream, which includes dairy ingredients, sweeteners, flavors and has at least 10% milk fat. Ice cream is also less dense and has a creamy texture and appearance. Visit our Flavor News page to stay up to date on all our new Flavors of the Month and fan-favorites like Tax Crunch® and Matcha Latte.

 

MatchaLatte_Scoop_Natural

Sherbet:

Sherbet (pronounced SHER-bet) falls in between sorbet and ice cream and includes dairy ingredients (in small amounts, about 1-2%), but it is distinctly different from ice cream in flavor and texture. Sherbet typically uses citric acid, which can make for more of a tart taste. A guest favorite that you may be familiar with is our Rainbow Sherbet, which has delicious fruit flavors of raspberry, pineapple and orange blended into a perfectly refreshing bite. You can also try our Wild ‘n Reckless Sherbet, which features green apple, blue raspberry and fruit punch flavors.

Rainbow Sherbet_2

As you can see, these sweet treats are all a little different, but the one thing they have in common is their availability at your local Baskin-Robbins. You can enjoy our frozen desserts right at home with “no contact” delivery via DoorDash, Uber Eats or Postmates, or you can place an order at order.baskinrobbins.com or through the Baskin-Robbins mobile app for pickup via drive-thru, carry-out or curbside where available.

Do you love our sorbet, ice cream and sherbet flavors? Let us know your favorite on Instagram, TikTokTwitter and Facebook.

To stay up to date on all things Baskin-Robbins, sign up for our email news alerts at news.baskinrobbins.com/alerts.

*Non-dairy means that the item is made without dairy-containing ingredients. Although the following items do not contain ingredients with dairy, there is always a chance for cross-contact with dairy from other products in the restaurant. Given the likelihood of cross-contact in our restaurants, this is not suitable for people with a milk allergy.

Recommended