This is one of the simplest sorbet recipes I know, and it has been one of our favorites for decades. It never fails to delight dinner guests.
While the title says the cacao – or cocoa – is key, the other main ingredient is crucial, as well. Freshly squeezed, perfectly ripe citrus juice – mostly orange, with some lemon.
When a recipe has but a few ingredients, they all have to be top quality. I used oranges and lemons from a friend’s garden – so sweet and juicy!
My cocoa is from Italy – Perugina, to be exact. I always bring back several boxes when Mark and I travel to Italy. It never disappoints. Other favorite brands I like to use include Pernigotti (also Italian), Cacao Barry Extra Brute (French), and Valhrona (also French).
Roll on Summer!
~ David
Intense Chocolate-Orange Sorbet
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup high-quality cocoa powder
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
1 1/4 cups freshly squeezed orange juice, strained
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, strained
Combine sugar and cocoa in a heavy saucepan, then slowly stir in the water to make a paste. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is thoroughly hot but not boiling. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. Combine orange and lemon juices in non-reactive bowl and stir in the cooled chocolate syrup. Cover and refrigerate overnight, then freeze according to ice-cream maker’s instructions.
Makes about 1 quart.
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Inger @ Art of Natural Living
June 15, 2019 at 7:48 pmYou can tell the richness of the cocoa just from the color! And as usual, I am envious of your citrus sources 🙂
Cocoa and Lavender
June 16, 2019 at 4:44 pmThere are so many good cocoas available, and I am always shocked when someone “makes due” with Hershey!
Gerlinde de Broekert
June 16, 2019 at 1:34 amI have some lemons and some oranges, this sounds fantastic.
Cocoa and Lavender
June 16, 2019 at 4:46 pmYou will love it!
2pots2cook
June 16, 2019 at 7:51 amFor me, cocoa and citruses combination is the best ever to make any kind of dessert, David. This amazing creation proves you are so right : simple but high quality ingredients make the best treats ever ! Enjoy your summer 🙂
Cocoa and Lavender
June 16, 2019 at 4:46 pmThe quality of ingredients is so important, isn’t it Davorka?
Unknown
June 16, 2019 at 12:05 pmintriguing.. I love the chocolate sorbets from Pierre Herme and Lebovitz, but they both have melted chocolate too…
will try this – stefano
Cocoa and Lavender
June 16, 2019 at 4:47 pmI will need to check out the Hermé recipes… sounds intriguing! Thanks, Stefano.
Provence WineZine
June 16, 2019 at 3:58 pmThis looks like magic!
Cocoa and Lavender
June 16, 2019 at 4:48 pmNo magic. No one even lurking behind a curtain, Susan!
Sherry's Pickings
June 17, 2019 at 1:25 amyum i love jaffa flavour. chocolate and orange together is the bomb. i love beautiful dark cocoa too; i try to buy Lindt or a Dutch cocoa of some kind. delicious….
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:18 pmI had never heard of Jaffa flavor as such – thanks for expanding my culinary vocabulary, Sherry!
Valentina
June 17, 2019 at 4:11 amI can't wait to try this, David. Brilliant. I can almost taste why it's such a crowd pleaser. And soon I will. 😉 Cheers. ~Valentina
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:18 pmI hope you and your family (crowd!) enjoy it, Valentina!
Andrea_TheKitchenLioness
June 17, 2019 at 6:28 amDear David, this is one of the most wonderful dessert recipes that I have come across lately! Love it. A total must try! And I couldn't agree with you more on the ingredients – the lesser there are listed in the recipe, the better the quality should be!
Ganz liebe Grüße,
Andrea
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:20 pmSo true – with really two main ingredients (discounting the sugar), you had better have good cocoa and perfectly ripe oranges!
Kelly | Foodtasia
June 18, 2019 at 12:41 pmDavid, this sorbet is stunning! The flavor must be so intense without milk or cream as a buffer. Orange and chocolate together are just divine. This will definitely put my Valrhona cocoa to good use!
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:21 pmKelly – this is the perfect use of your Valhrona!
Ron
June 19, 2019 at 5:23 amA combination of flavors I've enjoyed in a chocolate bar, but never thought of or tasted in a sorbet. Grand idea and brilliant photography!
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:21 pmThanks, Ron – it was a fun post to shoot!
Kitchen Riffs
June 19, 2019 at 3:36 pmThis looks terrific! Really love the chocolate/orange combo, and cool desserts are so welcome at this time of the year. Neat recipe — thanks.
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:22 pmYou being my favorite mixologist, what would you drink with this, Ron?
Peg Peterson
June 19, 2019 at 9:54 pmDavid, where can I get good cocoa powder if I haven't brought any back from Italy? The only ones I've seen locally besides Hershey are Ghirardelli and Guittard, which I generally use in my brownies. I did see Valrhona once at Cost Plus Market but not since. Is there a good store in town? I would love to try this recipe.
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:23 pmPeg, I have to say that there is not much good available in the stores here. I get mine online – Valhrona, Barry, Pernigotti (if I can source it now), and such. Barry is excellent and the price is also great!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
June 20, 2019 at 2:36 pmDavid, that is perfect! Chocolate and orange is a classic pairing that I love. And, yes, the simpler the recipe, the fewer the ingredients, the greater the need for the best quality ingredients you can get. I have some chocolate-loving friends who are going to enjoy this very soon!
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:27 pmI hope your chocolate-loving friends enjoy this, Jean!
Colette (Coco)
June 20, 2019 at 7:24 pmWhat a brilliant concoction, D.
I must try this. xo
Cocoa and Lavender
June 21, 2019 at 2:27 pmThanks, Colette! Your family will love it! xo
R's Rue
June 21, 2019 at 7:53 pmI need to make this. Yum.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
Cocoa and Lavender
June 22, 2019 at 5:08 pmThanks, R! You won’t regret it!
he needs food
June 23, 2019 at 10:58 pmI love this combination so much. Chocolate and orange is a match made in heaven. It appears I need to send you a packet of Jaffas sometime, a chocolate we Aussies and Kiwis grew up to love!
Cocoa & Lavender
July 7, 2019 at 12:22 amI would love to try them, John – I will start looking here to see if they can be found.
Christina | Christina's Cucina
July 7, 2019 at 1:53 pmOh my! This looks stupendous! You and I are exactly on the same page when it comes to cocoa! I just brought more Perugina cacao home even though I still had some! Can't go wrong. And I love all those other cocoas, too! Makes such a difference in the outcome of whatever I'm making!
Cocoa & Lavender
July 7, 2019 at 9:12 pmI can't wait to go back to Italy to get more Perugina! But, there are so many good ones out there till I can, Christina!
Emma @ Bake Then Eat
July 29, 2019 at 2:02 amWhat an amazing dessert, I shall definitely be picking up some of that cocoa powder when I head back to Italy.
Cocoa & Lavender
July 29, 2019 at 2:20 pmIt is the best, Emma! You will love it!