We had beautiful weather this past weekend. Mother’s Day was in the high 70s and I spent time sitting poolside at my cousin’s house. The kids braved the cold pool temps and were splashing and playing as if it were summer—my absolute favorite time of year. And summer is only a couple of weeks away! So with summer on the brain, I thought it would be fun to create a summer-inspired Fruit and Sorbet Dessert Bar. This light and refreshing dessert is a perfect addition to any summer BBQ. Perhaps even something to do later this month for Memorial Day weekend.
Ella Fitzgerald got it right when she sang, “Summertime and the living is easy!” Keeping entertaining easy during the summer (and anytime) is so key. And this idea is definitely easy. You simply offer guests a variety of fruits and sorbet flavors and let them make their own fruit and sorbet cups. Done and done.
How to Prep for Your Dessert Bar
The Fruit
Pick a variety of in-season fruits like watermelon, pineapple, strawberries and mango. You can clean and cut your fruit the day before, making for less work the day of your party. Cut all the fruit into small bite-sized pieces and place in individual bowls or glass bottles. Here I used glass bottle carafes found at Ikea. I always love using things in unexpected ways. So while the carafes are perfect for water or lemonade, I really love the statement they make when filled with fruit. Plus if using outdoors, the cork stoppers mean no bugs will be landing on your fruit! Something to think about when hosting outdoor events.
The Sorbet
There is no prep here other than picking your flavors. If putting out the dessert bar for a long time, you may want to put the sorbet on ice. Otherwise, just put out the sorbet when it’s time for dessert and I’m sure it will go in no time. I placed three flavors on a vintage aluminum tray; however, the amount you buy depends on your number of guests.
Cups & Silverware
You’ll also need cups/bowls and spoons. You can, of course, use plastic-throwaway dishes; however, mason jars make for an affordable and reusable option. I suggest wide-mouth pint-sized jars. The wider mouth makes it easier to put in the sorbet and fruit. I also used a collection of vintage silverware. I think the mix of patterns and their delicate nature added a little extra charm. You can find vintage silver at thrift shops and antique malls for fairly cheap, especially if not buying mix-and-match pieces and not a complete set.
Pretty simple, right? Yet so dang cute and delicious! I love how it turned out and can’t wait to do it again come summer.
