Sorbet

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 3 1/4 hr (includes chilling)

The cactus pears (also known as prickly pears or cactus fruits) grown in the United States usually have mottled green-and-red skin and beautiful magenta-colored flesh. (The Mexican varieties tend to be smaller, and skin and flesh can be red or green.)

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

This recipe was created to accompany Flourless Chocolate Cake.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional sitting time.

Taking a cue from the classic drink, this dessert has a rich and creamy coffee flavor. It looks pretty spooned into glass coffee cups or mugs and topped with a few coffee beans (real or chocolate).

The tart-sweet flavor of this sorbet is particularly refreshing after a rich dinner.

(Sorbetto al Melone)

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 8 1/4 hr (includes chilling and freezing)

Refreshing and absolutely delicious. Mix up this treat in the morning, and it will be frozen in time to help beat the heat by the early afternoon.

This dessert is a refreshing way to conclude a spicy southwestern meal. For a festive note, dip the rims of frozen Margarita glasses into water and then into a bowl of sugar. Attach a lime slice to the lip of the glass and fill with sorbet.

A pretty, pale pink sorbet enhanced with a splash of Champagne.

Ninety-nine percent of cava—Spanish sparkling wine—is made in Catalonia. So it's natural that the bubbly beverage has found its way into many elegant Catalan desserts. Here it is combined with the luscious flavors and bright colors of strawberries and oranges in a refreshing sorbet.

This smooth sorbet can be made without an ice cream machine.

Many dessert menus include a colorful sorbet plate-light and refreshing after a rich meal. Offer elegant cookies alongside. For the pink grapefruit sorbet recipe, we prefer Essencia, a dessert wine with the unique flavor of orange muscat grapes. It's made by Quady Vineyards in central California. If you cannot find it, use a Sauternes or a late-harvest Riesling.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Store-bought sorbet with a special sauce combines with <epi: recipeLink="101753">Lemon Butter Cookies</epi:recipeLink> for a refreshing, sweet and tart treat.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.