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Rainbow Sherbet Surprise

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on July 25, 2011

Yield

Serves 8

Rainbow Sherbet Surprise

Ingredients

1 pint raspberry sherbet 1 pint orange sherbet 1 pint lemon sherbet 1 pint lime sherbet

Before You Begin

Other flavors of colorful sherbet or sorbet can be substituted.

Instructions

  1. First layer: Line 2-quart bowl with plastic wrap so that wrap overhangs sides of bowl by at least 1 inch. Let raspberry sherbet stand on counter to soften for 5 minutes. Spoon sherbet into bowl, pressing it along bottom and sides of bowl so it forms smooth layer. Place bowl in freezer for 30 minutes to firm up sherbet.
  2. Second layer: Let orange sherbet stand on counter to soften for 5 minutes. Use small spatula to smooth it over raspberry sherbet in even layer. Place bowl in freezer for 30 minutes to firm up orange sherbet.
  3. Third layer: Repeat process with lemon sherbet.
  4. Last layer: Let lime sherbet stand on counter to soften for 5 minutes. Spoon lime sherbet into bowl so that it comes to top. Smooth top and cover with plastic. Freeze for at least 6 hours, or until ready to serve, up to 1 week.
  5. Unmold and serve: Remove bowl from freezer and remove plastic from top. Gently tug at overhanging plastic lining to loosen sherbet. (If necessary, briefly dip bowl into hot water.) Place serving platter over bowl, invert bowl, and shake to release sherbet. Peel away plastic. Cut into wedges and serve.
Rainbow Sherbet Surprise

Rainbow Sherbet Surprise

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 pint raspberry sherbet
1 pint orange sherbet
1 pint lemon sherbet
1 pint lime sherbet

Ingredients

1 pint raspberry sherbet
1 pint orange sherbet
1 pint lemon sherbet
1 pint lime sherbet

Ingredients

1 pint raspberry sherbet
1 pint orange sherbet
1 pint lemon sherbet
1 pint lime sherbet

Why This Recipe Works

Our Rainbow Sherbet Surprise recipe produces a colorful, multi-flavored sherbet cake like those prepared by ice cream parlors. Lining a freezer-safe round glass bowl with plastic wrap made easy work of removing the sherbet once it had set. Allowing the sherbet to sit at room temperature for a few minutes gave it time to soften, which made it much easier to scoop and spread smoothly. And to keep the layers clean looking, we froze each layer before applying the next layer.

Before You Begin

Other flavors of colorful sherbet or sorbet can be substituted.

Instructions

  1. First layer: Line 2-quart bowl with plastic wrap so that wrap overhangs sides of bowl by at least 1 inch. Let raspberry sherbet stand on counter to soften for 5 minutes. Spoon sherbet into bowl, pressing it along bottom and sides of bowl so it forms smooth layer. Place bowl in freezer for 30 minutes to firm up sherbet.
  2. Second layer: Let orange sherbet stand on counter to soften for 5 minutes. Use small spatula to smooth it over raspberry sherbet in even layer. Place bowl in freezer for 30 minutes to firm up orange sherbet.
  3. Third layer: Repeat process with lemon sherbet.
  4. Last layer: Let lime sherbet stand on counter to soften for 5 minutes. Spoon lime sherbet into bowl so that it comes to top. Smooth top and cover with plastic. Freeze for at least 6 hours, or until ready to serve, up to 1 week.
  5. Unmold and serve: Remove bowl from freezer and remove plastic from top. Gently tug at overhanging plastic lining to loosen sherbet. (If necessary, briefly dip bowl into hot water.) Place serving platter over bowl, invert bowl, and shake to release sherbet. Peel away plastic. Cut into wedges and serve.

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