Easy Kool-Aid Sherbet recipe is a delicious frozen treat that is made with only three ingredients! You can make strawberry sherbet, orange sherbet, watermelon sherbet – any flavor you want!
There are many other homemade sherbet recipes out there, but one of the main reasons I love this recipe so much is that it is SO simple – your kids can even help make it! All it takes it three ingredients, some stirring, some freezing, some scooping, and some enjoying! My kids have loved getting to pick out and try all of their favorite flavors – so far, watermelon is our favorite!
I have made this recipe for several different parties – there is a Kool-Aid flavor in pretty much every color so you can make this sherbet to match any theme/decor. You can do red and blue for the 4th of July, pastel colors for Easter, orange for Halloween, or you can just use your child’s favorite color for a birthday party!
Sorbet vs. sherbet – what is the difference?
Are sherbet and sorbet the same thing? Sherbet is generally made with some sort of fruit juice (in this case, Kool-Aid) and some type of dairy as well. This sherbet recipe does have milk in it, but I’m sure that you could use a dairy free type of milk – almond milk or coconut milk would be delicious in this recipe! Then you can have the creaminess of sherbet even if you have a dairy sensitivity.
Sorbets are usually dairy-free – mostly made with fruit and ice. And did anyone else grow up calling sherbet “sherbert”? I honestly thought that’s what it was called for years, and I still have a hard time saying it the correct way!
How do you make your own sherbet ice cream?
I had no idea how easy it was to make sherbet! I know there are more complicated recipes out there and some of them may require an ice-cream maker, but this one doesn’t! No special equipment required! To make this sherbet, whisk the ingredients together and then freeze for a couple of hours until partially frozen. To make the sherbet really smooth and creamy, you then mix with an electric mixer (the blender would probably work too!) and then re-freeze until completely set. Easy!
How long does it take to make sherbet?
You only have to spend about 3-5 minutes actually making the sherbet, but then you do have to allow about 6-8 hours of freezing time before the sherbet is completely frozen. I just make mine a day or two before I need it. If you keep it in the freezer in an airtight container, it will easily stay good for a week or two!
Ingredients in Easy Kool-Aid Sherbet
-1 pkg Kool-Aid mix, any flavor
-1 cup sugar
-3 cups milk (I used 1% because that’s what we usually have, but you could use whole milk, 2% milk, skim, etc.)
How to make sherbet
- In a large bowl, whisk together all three ingredients until sugar and Kool-Aid mix is dissolved. Pour into a shallow dish, cover and then place in the freezer for about 2 hours, or until mostly set.
- Place the partially frozen sherbet back in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Refreeze in the covered, shallow container until set (at least a few hours, I freeze mine overnight). Set the sherbet out about 10-15 minutes prior to serving to make it easier to scoop.
EASY KOOLAID SHERBET
Ingredients
- 1 pkg Kool-Aid mix any flavor
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 cups milk I used 1% because that's what we usually have, but I'm sure any kind would work
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together all three ingredients until sugar and Kool-Aid mix is dissolved. Pour into a shallow dish, cover and then place in the freezer for about 2 hours, or until mostly set.
- Place the partially frozen sherbet back in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Refreeze in the covered, shallow container until set (at least a few hours, I freeze mine overnight). Set the sherbet out about 10-15 minutes prior to serving to make it easier to scoop.
Like frozen desserts? Here are more of our favorites!
- Banana Split Milkshakes
- Frozen Peanut Butter Pie
- Easy Oreo Ice Cream Cake
- Quick Strawberry Ice Cream
- Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
- Strawberry Banana Sorbet recipe
- Strawberry Ice Cream Pie
- Apple Pie Milkshakes
- Skinny OREO Milkshakes
Can you make rainbow sherbet?
I haven’t tried making rainbow sherbet yet, but I think it would be really easy to do with this recipe! Make three or four different flavors and then wait until the flavors are mostly set and then swirl them together – if you swirl them together too early, you might end up with something not quite so pretty!
Kathie says
What size Kool-Aid package should we use? It comes in different weights and I’m not sure which one to use.
Nellie says
I didn’t realize there were different sizes! Just the standard Kool-Aid packet that makes 2 quarts of Kool-Aid – should be .13 oz.
Casey T. says
Can I use water instead milk? Because I’m allergic to milk.
Jessica says
You wouldn’t get nearly the right consistency with water. What about using something other than cow’s milk, like almond, cashew or coconut milk?
Jennifer says
I tried it with oat milk and it worked perfectly. Maybe took a little longer to set but I did look aid and Gatorade with oat milk and couldn’t tell a difference from real sherbet. I also cut back the sugar in my Gatorade flavor since Gatorade already has sugar.
Nina says
Does it come in no sugar (pre-sweetened) and can it be made with something like Splenda?
Nellie says
Not sure you can buy it pre-sweetened, but you definitely could probably mix it with Splenda instead of sugar. Let us know if you experiment!
LB says
Could this be used in a punch recipe that calls for sherbet? I am having trouble finding strawberry sherbet for punch and the guest of honor doesn’t like other flavors of sherbet.
Nellie says
I’m sure that would work just fine!
Ashley says
I totally grew up calling it sherbert lol
Nellie says
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Christy says
Can Splenda be used instead of sugar?
Jessica says
I’ve not tried it with Splenda but it seems like it would work!
Stacy says
If I wanted to use lime juice instead of lemon lime koolaid, how much lime juice do you think I would need? And would I have to add more sugar to counteract the sourness of the lime juice? Thanks.
Nellie says
Not sure how well lime juice would work because I think you would have to add quite a bit to get a strong lime flavor and the extra moisture may affect the consistency. I think I would use a lime extract instead so that you can get that stronger lime flavor without having to add so much liquid. You probably wouldn’t need to add too much extra sugar though.Let us know if you experiment- we’d love to hear how it turns out!
Leslie says
Can you use sweetened condensed milk, and eliminate the sugar in the recipe?
Nellie says
I haven’t tried that with this recipe, but I know you can do with soda to make other kinds of sherbet. It may not be sweet enough to sweeten up the Kool-Aid, but please let us know if you try it!
Jennifer says
Amazing!!! We have tried several flavors and they are a hit!!