Mulled Wine Lavender Sorbet

Like many, I decide to make my own ice cream because I want to enjoy frozen dessert that has less sugar. The trouble is, in order to make sorbet like a sorbet, you need a syrup, which means a lot of sugar.

I came up with the following low sugar sorbet recipe using corn starch. I was initially rejecting the idea of adding corn starch to sorbet thinking it will make it "floury" but it doesn't at all. In fact, it makes it keeps better, much easier to scoop and has a similar texture to the "supermarket variety".

Makes 2 small servings
2 1/3 cup water
50ml port or red wine
4 tbsp sugar#
1 small scroll cinnamon
4 cloves
1 tsp lemon rind
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp lavender
1 tbsp corn starch

Place all ingredients in a saucepan except lavender, corn starch and 1/3 cup water.

Heat to boiling, then boil for a few more minutes, then turn off heat, add lavender. Stir then cover and let it sit for 5 minutes.

Mix corn starch and the remaining water in a small bowl until well mixed.

Stir the corn starch mixture in the wine mixture, stir constantly. The liquid should thickened to a gravy consistency. If it is a little bit thin, turn on the heat again for 10-20 seconds. Make sure to stir constantly and not to overheat or lumps may form.

The mixture is thick enough if it can coat the back of a spoon.

Strain and pour the mixture into a shallow dish, cover and freeze for 2 hours.

Finish off by churning in ice cream maker accordingly to machine's instructions.

Put back to the freezer for at least 30 minutes, then ready to serve. (It can be served the same day, but tastes better the next day)

#Adjust to the sweetness a little more than your preference. The sorbet mixture will taste less sweet once frozen.