The difference between sorbet and sherbet is that sherbets contain milk or another fat, making it similar to ice cream. Generally thought of as being fruit based, sorbets can be made with any ingredient.
Sorbets are technically ices (as in Italian ice) and are also referred to as granitas. They were actually the first iced dessert, probably having been invented by the Asians and then introduced to the Middle East and Italy. They are generally granular in texture where sherbet is creamy as a result of the added fat.
To sum up, the two icy treats are very similar in their base ingredients. Sorbets are made with puréed fruits, sugar, and water and sherbets are made with those three same ingredients; while sherbets are made with the same ingredients, they also can contain milk, gelatin, or egg whites. In fact, most brands of sherbet sold in supermarkets contain from 1 percent to 2 percent milk fat or cream.
From a nutrition standpoint sorbets contain 15%-20% more calories than sherberts do. Sorbets contain more sugar, but are a great option for those needing to curb diary intake. Because of the added dairy, sherberts offer about 3 grams of protein, whereas sorbets may have 1 gram of protein depending on the fruit variety. Either choice is superior over full fat ice cream. Compared to ice cream, they are both lower in sugar, fat, saturated fat and guilt.
