Tangerine Cranberry Sherbet

OK, it’s time for some color and spark! And along with that, a good measure of tartness along with the sweet.

Sometimes I get an ingredient in my head and I just have to do something with it. This is one of those times when I really couldn't resist the goodness of tangerines. Winter is the best time for gorgeous citrus fruit and tangerines in particular are delicious and juicy and plentiful right now. This bright sherbet brings the best of the season forward in a tantalizing mix of cool and tangy refreshment.

To my amazing family, wonderful friends, incredible blog buddies and all my fabulous readers, thank you so much for such a grand year full of inspiration and prosperity. It's been a great pleasure discovering all your beautiful blogs. Here's to another very exciting year full of optimism, hope, love and lots and lots of delicious little morsels. Happy New Year!

Bench notes:
- If you don’t have access to tangerines, substitute fresh orange juice.
- Sorbets and sherbets take a bit longer to churn in your ice cream machine. I churned this for about 20 minutes. It will still be soft and slushy but will firm up in your freezer.
- To preserve the bright color contrast, it’s best to layer the sherbet with the cranberry mixture. If you try to fold it in, the sherbet will turn a bright pink.
- Although you may be tempted, lowering the sugar in either component will result in an icy sherbet and icy cranberries. The lemon juice helps to balance the sweetness.
- I’ve also tried brown sugar in the cranberry compote for a more distinct flavor.



Tangerine Cranberry Sherbet

3/4 C sugar
zest of 1 large orange
2 C tangerine juice
1 T lemon juice
pinch salt
1 1/4 C whole milk
1/2 t vanilla

Cranberry Compote

1/4 C + 2 T sugar
1/4 C + 2 T water
1 t orange zest
2 t lemon juice
1 C fresh cranberries

To make the sherbet, combine the sugar and orange zest in a food processor and pulse until the sugar is aromatic and moist. Add the tangerine juice, lemon juice and salt and process until sugar is dissolved. Pour into a clean container. Whisk in the milk and vanilla. Cover and place in the refrigerator until thoroughly chilled.

Place all the ingredients for the Cranberry Compote in a saucepan and stir over medium low heat for about 10 minutes until the cranberries have softened and the mixture is thickened. Pour into a clean container, cover and place in the refrigerator to chill. The compote will thicken more as it cools.

Freeze the sherbet according to your machine’s instructions. It will be soft and slushy but will firm up in the freezer.

Pour about a third of the sherbet into a clean container. Dot the surface with the cranberry mixture. Pour another third of the sherbet on top. Add another layer of cranberries and then finish with the last of the sherbet. Press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface, cover and place in your freezer until firm.