This Ninja Creami Strawberry Basil Sorbet recipe is made using only 4 ingredients - fresh (or frozen) strawberries, basil, lemon juice, and sugar. It has a creamy texture, fresh flavor, and beautiful dark red color!
The Ninja Creami appliance lets you make ice-creams, sorbets, and soft serve with unconventional ingredients! With a traditional ice cream maker you add the ice cream base for a frozen canister that churns the ice cream while mixing. This is the Ninja Creami machine that I have!
But with a Ninja Creami, you freeze the entire base and then it chops and blends it up (similar to a blender, but gives a much creamier texture). Other Ninja Creami recipes to try is this Ninja Creami Protein Ice-Cream, Ninja Creami Dole Whip, Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt or Ninja Creami Vanilla Soft Serve.
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⭐Why I Love It:
- Easy Ingredients - You only need 4 simple ingredients including fresh (or frozen) strawberries to make this Ninja Creami Strawberry Basil Sorbet!
- Customizable - You can easily adjust the berry to basil ratio used. For a non-basil version, try this Ninja Creami Strawberry Sorbet recipe. Another sorbet recipe to check out is this Ninja Creami Peach Sorbet, or Ninja Creami Mango Coconut Sorbet!
- Simple to Make - Just press the strawberries right in the pint container, mix in the other ingredients, freeze, and blend in the Ninja Creami! I use the same technique of mashing the fruit in this Ninja Creami Strawberry Frozen Yogurt recipe.
🥘Ingredients
- Fresh Strawberries - You can also use frozen strawberries but they'll need to be thawed first. You have to be able to smush the berries down in the pint container. If you have lots of extra berries, try making a fruit charcuterie board with the leftovers.
- Fresh Basil - You'll want to slice up the basil leaves so they evenly incorporate into the sorbet.
- Lemon Juice (optional) - this is optional but I like the balance adding a little acidity gives to the sweet berries
- White Granulated Sugar or Honey (optional) - You can omit this if you prefer a slightly less sweet sorbet. The amount of sugar I use typically depends on how sweet the berries are.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
📖Variations
- Softer Texture - Add liquid during re-spin. After two spins in the Ninja Creami machine, the sorbet has a soft and creamy texture. If you want it to be even creamier, closer to an ice-cream, you can add a splash of milk during the second spin.
- Mixed Berry Blend - You can also use a blend of berries by swapping out some of the strawberries for raspberries, blackberries, or both! Like in this recipe for Ninja Creami Mixed Berry Sorbet.
🔪Step by Step instructions
Making a strawberry basil sorbet in your Ninja Creami is easy! Just add the berries right to the container, press down, mix in the other ingredients, freeze, and blend!
Photo 1 - Add the chopped strawberries to the pint container and use something heavy to press them down, expelling some of the juice. I like to use a metal ladle or metal measuring cup. Smooshing the strawberries helps compact them into a homogenous mixture.
Photo 2 - Add the chopped basil, lemon juice, and sugar then mix to combine. Make sure the basil is well incorporated. The top should be flat with no big pieces of fruit sticking out.
Photo 3 - Place the pint in the freezer and freeze for 24 hours so it is fully solid. Make sure you place it on a level surface in your freezer. I prefer to freeze with lid off.
Photo 4 - Insert into the outer bowl, add the lid, and lock into position.
Photo 3 - Blend on 'Sorbet'. It will be crumbly. Press re-spin to spin one more time.
Photo 4 - After the second spin, the sorbet should be thick, creamy and ready to enjoy (or add mix-ins)!
🍽Leftovers and Storage
If you can't eat the entire sorbet pint in one sitting, you have two options for storing:
- Save for Re-Blending: Use a spoon to smooth out and level the top in the Ninja Creami pint container and put back in the freezer. Freezing with the level top will let you re-spin it in the Ninja Creami when you want to eat it again. This method will give you that same creamy texture. Note that if you added mix-ins, they'll get chopped up when you re-spin.
- Store and Thaw Slightly Before Enjoying: If you want to free up your Ninja Creami pint container, you can transfer the leftovers to another container and freeze. For this method, you won't be able to re-spin it but I find that letting it thaw on the container for a bit or zapping it in the microwave for just 5-10 seconds softens it and the texture is almost as good as freshly spun.
💭Recipe Tips
- Powdery after the First Spin is Normal - It's normal and expected for the mixture to be crumbly after the first spin. The second spin (especially when you add a little more liquid) is when the magic happens!
- The Machine is Loud - If this is your first time using your Ninja Creami, be aware that it is loud when it is spinning. I find the noise level to be similar to a blender. Might not be the best option during nap time 🙂
- Freeze without the lid - I've found that freezing the pint without the lid helps prevent the large peak from forming in the middle. If yours does have a peak, it's okay. You'll just want to shave off some of it with a metal spoon so the top is more level.
👩🍳Recipe FAQs
The instructions say to freeze your base for 24 hours before blending because it insures that it is frozen completely solid. The exact freeze time will vary based on your freezer - your base likely can be frozen completely solid in less time. The Ninja Creami will not work properly if it isn't completely frozen.
Yes you can refreeze leftover Ninja Creami ice cream or sorbet if you don't finish the whole pint. After freezing again you can either re-spin for the best texture or let it thaw slightly at room temperature (or zapping in the microwave for a few seconds) to soften and enjoy.
I find that most recipes only need two spins to get that smooth and creamy texture. It can help to add a tablespoon or two of liquid in between the first and second spin.
🍨Related Ninja Creami Recipes...
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PrintRecipe
Ninja Creami Strawberry Basil Sorbet
This Ninja Creami Strawberry Basil Sorbet recipe is made using only 4 ingredients - fresh (or frozen) strawberries, basil, lemon juice, and sugar. It has a creamy texture, fresh flavor, and beautiful dark red color!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Ice-Cream, Dessert
- Method: Ninja Creami
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 16oz fresh strawberries, stemmed and chopped. See note for frozen.
- ~½ cup chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar, optional
Instructions
- Press Strawberries in Pint Container - Add the chopped strawberries (and lemon juice/sugar, if using) to the pint container and use something heavy to press them down, expelling some of the juice. I like to use a metal ladle or metal measuring cup. Smashing the berries helps compact them into a homogenous mixture. I recommend adding half of the strawberries, squishing them down, then adding the rest of the berries and doing another press.
- Add Basil and Other Ingredients - Add the chopped basil, lemon juice, and sugar then stir to combine. You want the basil to be evenly distributed top to bottom. The top should be flat with no big pieces of fruit sticking out.
- Freeze - Place the pint in the freezer and freeze for 24 hours so it is fully solid. Make sure you place it on a level surface in your freezer. I prefer to freeze with lid off as I find it helps prevent the 'hump' in the middle..
- First Spin - Insert into the outer bowl, add the lid, and lock into position. Blend on 'Sorbet'.
- Re-Spin - It will likely look crumbly after the first spin, press re-spin to spin one more time. It should be creamy after the second spin.
- Enjoy - At this point you can add mix-ins or eat right away.
Notes
Using Frozen Strawberries - You can use frozen strawberries for this recipe, but they need to be thawed first so you can still chop and smash them down in the pint container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ pint
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 17.6 g
- Sodium: 2.6 mg
- Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 24.4 g
- Fiber: 4.7 g
- Protein: 1.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Katie says
Loved the basil flavor in this!