Let’s face it: as a busy mum, we don’t often have time to make complicated recipes and rarely make something just for ourselves. Well, this no-churn caipirinha sorbet recipe is so simple, it has almost no steps and produces a delicious, refreshing sorbet. It’s perfect for busy mums to enjoy by the pool or wherever you are when you get a few moments to treat yourself. It really is a great summer recipe.

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The inspiration
After the delicious success of the Aperol and blood orange sorbet, I wanted to see if I could turn another favourite summer cocktail into sorbet.
I originally wanted to try a gin & tonic sorbet, but the recipes involved sounded too sweet and used egg white (!) which was not what I was really looking for. I decided to delay the problem while I looked at freezing tonic water.
So I came up with this refreshing and simple caipirinha sorbet instead.
The recipe requirements
- It had to be simple. I like the fact that the Aperol recipe is basically heat, allow to cool, add the other ingredients and freeze.
- It needed to be quick. It’s a recipe for busy mums. Waiting for something to cool or freeze is ok, but the hands on effort and number of steps had to be minimal.
- It had to have maximum bang for your buck – maximum taste for minimum effort.
- I should not involve excess tools that you are unlikely to have at home, such as sugar thermometers.
- It should be no-churn, so that it can be enjoyed by those without an ice cream maker (though I definitely recommend the ice cream attachment for the Kitchenaid if you are looking to purchase one – works so well and doesn’t take up excess space in your cupboards).
- It needed to be a summery sorbet that all busy mums would want to enjoy by the pool or wherever they could get their 5 minutes peace and quiet.

Our refreshingly simple caipirinha sorbet
The result? Our refreshingly simple caipirinha sorbet.
Actually, I think this recipe was just meant to be.
We were having a party to officially open our new patio. We had visitors from Hamburg and the kitchen was a mess. I did not have any time, but wanted another homemade ice cream or sorbet to add to our collection.
So it had to be quick, simple and use ingredients that I already had. It had to be a no-churn recipe too because the ice cream maker had not yet refrozen properly after being used.
I made some sugar syrup, figuring we could use it for a sorbet or cocktails at the party.
I the end, I raided the cupboards, threw some things together, stuck it in the freezer and crossed my fingers. It really was that easy.
Oh, and I mixed it all directly in the baking dish I was going to freeze it in so there was no need to do any extra washing up.

Tips for the perfect caipirinha sorbet
- If you can, use brown sugar to make the sugar syrup. It tastes more like the original cocktail.
- If you have your ingredients in the fridge (except the limes) before you use them, it will help the sorbet freeze quicker.
- The limes won’t yield as much juice if they are in the fridge. Keep them at room temperature. Also, roll them a little back and forth over a flat surface (pushing slightly with your palm) before cutting the lemon to juice.
- Use a fairly neutral lemonade like Sprite or 7Up and not homemade lemonade.


Caipirinha sorbet
Equipment
- Shallow baking tray or dish
- Grater
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown (demerara) sugar
- 2 cups water
- 4 limes
- 1 cup lime juice
- 1 cup lemonade
- 1/2 cup liquor distilled from sugar cane such as Cachaca or Pitu
Instructions
Make the sugar syrup
- Pour sugar and water into a saucepan on medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.
Make the sorbet
- Finely grate the rind off the limes into a bowl.
- Add the lime juice, sugar syrup, lemonade and Pitu and stir to combine.
- Pour into a baking or roasting pan and carefully place in the freezer to freeze for at least 3 hours.
Notes
Nutrition

Enjoy some refreshingly simple Caipirinha sorbet this summer
But why stop at summer? This simple and refreshing caipirinha sorbet is perfect whenever you feel like a summery cocktail – in sorbet form. And it is so easy that you really can have it whenever you want.

What’s your favourite cocktail that you’d like to see as ice cream or sorbet?
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Check out the other ice creams and sorbets in our Ice ice, Baby series!
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Rooibos ice cream with caramel tea swirl
Cheat’s raspberry Raffaello ice cream
Basil ice cream with caramelised balsamic strawberries
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Oh my goodness, this looks so good! I can’t wait to try it.
I love this recipe, sounds refreshing for hot summer days. Especially here in Texas these days I can use your recipe!