Lemon,Lime Campari Sorbet Float
Lemon,Lime Campari Sorbet
It has been really hot in NYC, too hot to cook. My thoughts have turned to cold drinks and one of my favorite light on the alcohol summer drinks is Campari and soda. Campari is a liquor made from herbs and fruits and is widely used as an apertif in Europe. I was first introduced to Campari when I lived in Italy and every time I take a sip it takes me back there, sipping the cold, slightly bitter drink in a cafe in Naples, well actually I drank them while traveling the entire coast of Italy. A Campari and soda is usually served with a slice of lime, so I took that lovely combination of flavors and made a sorbet. It’s makes a wonderful float or can be eaten on it’s own. The sorbet, because it contains alcohol takes a little longer to freeze than a regular fruit sorbet so be patient. The first time I made this the scoop of sorbet sunk to the bottom of the glass, to solve this problem I found that by whipping the sorbet at intervals while it’s freezing produces a scoop that floats beautifully in your glass. You can of course skip that step it’s totally optional.
Serves 4
1 1/4 cup Juice from freshly sqeezed lemons and limes you can decide the ratio as long as it equals 1 1/4 cups I used 4 limes 3 lemons
1 cup water
1 1/2 cup super fine sugar
1/2 cup Campari
Very cold seltzer, club soda or sparkling water
- Combine the juice of the lemons and limes, super fine sugar, water and campari mix until the sugar is disolved. Place in the refrigerator to chill, should be very cold. Pour into your ice cream maker and churn away.When the sorbet is thick and the consitency of a slurpee pour into a freezer container. Its best to freeze over night or until it is scoopable. (See step 3 for optional method) Chill your seltzer, club soda or sparkling water make sure its very cold.
- Get a tall glass put two scoops of the sorbet in each glass and fill with the ice cold sparkling water, club soda or seltzer. Garnish with a slice of lemon or lime and a sprig of mint. Enjoy!
- This step is optional: If you want your scoop of sorbet to float you have to whip it. Here is what you do: After taking out of the ice cream machine put in the freezer for 1 1/2 hours take it out and whip it with your electric mixer right in the container you are freezing it in. Beat for one minute it will get slushy thats ok. Put it back in the freezer for another 2 hours then take it out and whip it again for another minute return to the freezer and let it freeze. Because it has alcohol in it it takes longer to freeze to a scoopable consistency. If you don’t care if your sorbet sinks to the bottom of the glass omit this step.
- I purposely made the sorbet very intense so when added to soda water you an really taste the flavors. If you want to make the sorbet less intense simply decrease the lemon/lime and add water equal to what you took from the citrus.
apuginthekitchen 
This looks so refreshing, Suzanne. I didn’t know you lived in Italy, you lucky woman. How long did you live there? Parli l’italiano bene?
Parlo un po di italiano, I unfortunately have lost a lot of my Italian over the years. I think that if I went back I would pick it up again though.
Thank you so much, one of my favorite drinks and it is very refreshing!
I’m heading there in September for a 2-week Italian Language school with some people I’ve been taking Italian with and am hoping my Italian gets better 🙂 Like, a LOT better.
How lucky you are! My Italian is so rusty I think I have lost 80% of what I knew. Sounds wonderful and enjoy a campari and soda or a negroni for me!
What an enticing variation on the theme of campari and soda, my favorite apperitif. When and if the weather ever warms up here down under, I can see me making this drink. Hard to believe it is so hot there in NYC.
Thank you Karen, it is a delicious variation on a Campari and Soda. It has been brutal here in NYC, temps over 90 degrees and very very humid. I am getting ready to make another batch this week. Thank you again!
What a beautifully refreshing treat my friend 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you so much, it’s very refreshing and low in alcohol so it goes down really easy!
That looks so refreshing!
Than you so much, it really is refreshing. I make this all summer long.
I may jump onboard – I need a go-to drink for the dead heat of the summer!
Jump on in, just got a new bottle of campari, lemons and limes and I know what I am making this weekend. Seriously, if you do make it please let me know if you like! Thank you again.
Is it okay to put part of this on my webpage if I submit a reference point to this site?
Hi Deanna; Thank you for asking, of course you can as long this site is referenced. Thank you so much!
I love this float. Suzanne! I discovered Campari and soda on my first trip to Europe many years ago and have loved it ever since. In fact, I need to stock up now that summer is nearing. Please send some of your heat our way! Spring keeps teasing us and I’m ready for it to warm up.
It is wonderful, I sometimes feel likes its one of my favorite finds that I brought back from italy. Has been so warm until today high only in the 60’s and rain!! Maybe you are sunny and warm and you sent cooler weather my way, LOL! Thank you so much.
Wish I could say we are sunny and warm, but sadly still chilly and damp. I’m glad you are cooling down!
It really is nice that it’s cooled off a bit. The pugs are much more comfortable!
I have seen many different sorbets and really want to make them, looks like it’s time to invest in an ice-cream maker! This sounds perfect and the flavors are all things I enjoy.
I am so happy I have my ice cream maker, just one of those small cuisinart models but I churn away all summer long. It’s invaluable. Thank you so much.
This looks fabulous, Suzanne! As do the vegan chocolate cakes and almond joy ice cream! wow!
Thank you so much Emily!! I love that vegan cake it is absolutely amazing.
Delicious! Everything you prepare is wonderful! It is still humid here and this looks so replenishing!
Thank you so much, I want to make one more batch before the end of the summer. It is refreshing and really delicious. i am a big fan of campari.
Lol… the temperature is in the teens (F) as I read this… and it still sounds delicious!
Huge hugs!
It really is delicious, addictively good really but yes temps are so cold here too, I am afraid an icy cold beverage would be a bit much. Hot Toddy, definitely. LOL. Thanks Teagan!