Save This Recipe

Just drop your email here and We'll send it right away!

Okay, confession time: I’ve always been a sucker for those big tubs of sherbet you find at the grocery store, especially when the weather heats up. There’s just something about plunging a spoon into a cold, creamy scoop that makes me feel like I’m twelve again—sunburned cheeks, sticky fingers, and not a single care in the world. These days, I love making my own treats at home (maybe a little too much?), and a few summers ago I stumbled onto a ridiculously easy, two-ingredient orange sherbet recipe that absolutely blew my mind. It was late, I was in pajamas, and all I wanted was something sweet and frosty. I raided the pantry, grabbed a can of orange soda and a little sweetened condensed milk, and hoped for the best. What happened next was some kind of kitchen magic. I swear, as soon as those fizzy orange swirls met rich, creamy milk, my ice cream life changed forever. If you’ve got ten minutes and a little space in the freezer, you’ve got dessert tonight. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Now, I whip up a batch of this stuff any time the temp goes over 80 degrees—or, let’s be honest, anytime a craving hits (which is… a lot). No fancy equipment necessary, no eggs, no stove, nothing complicated. It’s just pure, nostalgic comfort in a bowl, and it tastes exactly like those orange Creamsicle bars I used to chase down the ice cream truck for. I’ve made this sherbet for family BBQs (always a hit), girls’ movie nights, and even those nights when I’m in fuzzy slippers with my book and no one around to judge how much I’m eating. It’s a happy little scoop of summer, whenever you need it.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Minimal Ingredients: Just two! I kid you not—you don’t even need to get dressed to make it. (I won’t tell…)
Quick & No-Fuss: It’s honestly just “pour, stir, freeze” and you’re basically a dessert hero with almost no effort at all.
Dreamy Texture and Flavor: Think Creamsicle meets sherbet in the best possible way. Creamy, tangy, a little fizzy. Totally craveable.
Kid-Friendly Fun: My grandkids love helping with this, and honestly, so do grown-ups. It’s like kitchen science (with delicious results!).
Perfect for Parties—or Me Time: Double, triple, whatever the batch for crowds, or keep a secret stash just for yourself. You do you!

Key Ingredients (and Some Friendly Substitutes):

Orange Soda: This is the backbone, friends! Grab a can of Fanta, Sunkist, or whatever orange soda you can get your hands on. I stick with regular soda (not diet)—the sugar helps everything freeze up creamy, not icy. In the mood for something wild? Grape, lemon-lime, or even strawberry soda can work, too. I haven’t met a flavor that doesn’t turn out fun.

Sweetened Condensed Milk: Here’s the not-so-secret magic. This thick, sweet stuff gives your sherbet that luscious, creamy texture—no need for eggs, heavy cream, or an ice cream maker. Regular or low-fat both work well, but don’t swap for evaporated milk (been there, ended up with a sad, icy puddle—never again!).

Extras (Totally Optional): Sometimes I’ll splash in a little vanilla or grate in a tiny bit of orange zest, just for fun. But honestly, with a recipe this simple, less really is more—unless you’re in the mood to experiment!

Complete list of ingredients with quantities and full steps is down in the recipe card if you want to print everything out or save it.

Step-by-Step Directions

Preparation:

First up, clear out some space in your freezer. Your sherbet deserves a little room to stretch out and get comfy while it chills. Grab a liter of orange soda and a 6-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. You’ll also want a big mixing bowl, a whisk or sturdy spoon, and (if you’ve got one) an ice cream maker. No ice cream maker? No biggie—a regular old freezer-safe baking pan works perfectly for us “old-school” types.

Mixing the Magic Together

Pour the orange soda into your bowl, slooooowly. Go too fast and you’ll get a Mount Vesuvius of fizz (ask me how I know). While stirring gently, drizzle in the sweetened condensed milk. You want everything to come together, but don’t go wild with the whisking or you’ll end up with a foamy mess that won’t freeze up right. Go easy—it should look smooth, creamy, and still a little bubbly (like a dreamy orange milkshake!).

Ice Cream Maker Method

If you’re breaking out the ice cream maker (props to you, kitchen gadget queen!), go ahead and pour in your luscious soda-milk mixture. Hit start and let it churn for 20–30 minutes, until it thickens up to a soft-serve consistency. If you’re after classic, scoopable sherbet, transfer it all to a freezer-safe container and let it hang out in the freezer for another 2–4 hours. The extra wait is so worth it—you’ll have perfect, creamy scoops that rival anything from the store.

Manual Freezing (No Ice Cream Maker, No Problem!)

Pour your lovely creamy mixture into a freezer-safe pan—something shallow works better (it chills faster) but truly, use what you have. Slide it into your freezer and set a timer for one hour. Take it out and give it a good stir with a fork or spoon—this breaks up any icy bits and makes your sherbet that much smoother. (Don’t skip these stirs! It makes all the difference between “eh” and “ooooh!”) Do the stirring dance every hour for 2–3 hours, then let it freeze untouched for 6–8 hours, or even overnight. You’ll end up with a batch of dreamy, creamy orange sherbet just begging for a scoop.

Serving Tips:

Once your sherbet is nice and frozen, it might be a little hard to scoop right away (happens to the best of us!). Just let it hang out on the counter for a few minutes to soften up, then grab your biggest ice cream scoop and go to town. Serve it in bowls, cones, or even in fancy little glasses if you’re feeling swanky (trust me, the grown-ups will love it just as much as the kids). Every spoonful tastes like sunshine and childhood summers—pure bliss with zero fuss.

Tips for the Best Orange Sherbet

Stir Gently: When you mix in the sweetened condensed milk, resist the urge to whisk like a maniac. A gentle hand = smooth, creamy sherbet. Foam is not your friend here!
Chill Your Soda: If you can remember, pop your soda in the fridge ahead of time. The colder, the better—it’ll freeze up that much faster.
Those Freezer Stirs Matter: In the first few hours of freezing, those hourly stirs are what give you that dreamy texture (don’t talk yourself out of them!).
Store It Right: Once you’ve made your masterpiece, keep extra sherbet in an airtight container to keep away funky freezer smells and icy bits. It’ll last for a good week or two—though honestly, it’ll be long gone before then in my house.

Fun Variations to Try

Now, you know I can never just leave a recipe alone—it’s in my DNA! If you’re in the mood to shake things up (or please a room full of picky snackers), here are a few of my favorite twists:

Switch Up the Soda: Try grape, lemon-lime, or strawberry soda for a colorful spin. Or, swirl together two different flavors in the same pan—kids go nuts for this!
Extra Citrus Kick: Grate in some fresh orange or lemon zest before freezing to bump up the zingy flavor. It’s that little “what IS that?” pop.
Sherbet Floats: Scoop your homemade sherbet into a glass and top with more orange soda. Easiest, happiest summer float ever.
Layered Sherbet: Make batches with different sodas, then layer them in your container for a rainbow sherbet effect. Prettier AND tastier.
Vanilla Dream: Add a splash of vanilla extract to channel those old-fashioned Creamsicle vibes. Sometimes the classic flavor is all you need!

How to Store Leftover Sherbet

If by some miracle you have leftovers, stash them in a good airtight container and pop them in the freezer. (A tightly-sealed lid keeps out those weird freezer odors and sneaky little bits of ice.) If your sherbet freezes super firm, just leave it out at room temp for a few minutes before scooping—it’ll soften up beautifully, promise. Sometimes I even freeze single servings in little containers, so I can grab a scoop whenever the craving hits (future me always thanks past me for this move).

Conclusion:

This two-ingredient orange sherbet is basically summer in a bowl. It’s fast, fun, and so incredibly comforting—zero stress, all the bright, creamy goodness you could ever want. It’s the easiest treat I know…and everyone who tastes it falls in love. If you try it out, please let me know how it goes in the comments! Or shout if you have questions, or want to share your own soda flavor experiments (I am always on the lookout for new combos!). And if you snap a picture of your sherbet? Tag me or share—I’ll cheer you on from my kitchen. Happy scooping, friends.