Rainbow Sherbet Sparkling Cider Floats

5 from 1 vote
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Colorful scoops of sherbet float around in a bubbly glass of sparkling cider – you’ll love these Rainbow Sherbet Floats! They’re so easy to make and great for celebrating any special occasion.

Four Champagne Glasses Filled with Sparkling Apple Cider and Scoops of Rainbow Sherbet

Rainbow Sherbet Sparkling Cider Floats

Disclaimer: This recipe was developed through a sponsored partnership with Martinelli’s. As always, all opinions are my own.

I don’t do often do cute food. Sure, I’ll create Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts, but when it comes to fancy treats, well, you’re most likely to see me tossing some spinach in the blender along with a frozen banana and some mint extract to make a Shamrock Shake Smoothie for St. Patrick’s Day.

Luckily my kids don’t seem to mind that this kind of thing isn’t an everyday occurrence.

Sometimes, though, inspiration strikes. And when I do make something extra fun, they truly appreciate it and know that I’m showing them some extra love.

Like Jack O’Lantern Shepherd’s Pies for Halloween. Or Snowman Marshmallows for Christmas.

So you can bet they were excited about these…

These rainbow sherbet mocktails will brighten up any day with a colorful and tasty treat! This is a fun mocktail that can be as simple or as fancy as you like. The basic version is simply floating some scoops of sherbet in a glass of sparkling cider. However, even for that I have some tricks to help you prep things ahead of time. This also makes them easy to assemble at the last minute and keeps the sherbet from melting too quickly

But by adding a few special touches, you can make them extra festive for a birthday, spring holiday or gluten free St. Patrick’s Day party!

A Rainbow Sherbet Float Garnished with a Lime Slice, an Orange Slice and a Raspberry

What You’ll Need

For the Rainbow Sherbet Floats

  • Rainbow sherbet or individual container of three flavors of sherbet, such as raspberry, orange and lime
  • Sparkling cider

Optional Garnishes

  • Honey or light corn syrup
  • Rainbow sugar or nonpareils
  • Orange slices, lime slices, and raspberries

Other Equipment

A Bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Cider Beside a Line of Mocktails on a Silver Platter

How to Make Rainbow Sherbet Floats

Using a small cookie scoop, scoop balls of the different flavors of sherbet or sorbet onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. You can use individual colors or swirl them together. Freeze for an hour or two.

Small Scoops of Rainbow Sherbet on a Cookie Sheet Lined with Parchment Paper

If you want to add that extra bit of sparkle, before you make your floats, just dip the rim of your glasses or flutes in honey or corn syrup and roll it around in some rainbow decorator sugar or nonpareil sprinkles.

When ready to serve, fill each flute or glass about halfway with Sparkling Cider. Add a few of the sherbet balls, then top with additional Sparkling Cider. Garnish with orange and lime slices and raspberries with a slit cut in them, if you like.

Sparkling Cider Being Poured Into a Flute with Two Scoops of Sherbet Ice Cream

Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider and Juices make everyday a special day, and turn those special days and holidays into an event to remember. When I shared my Sparkling Cider Apple Chutney recipe, I told you how Martinelli’s have been a part of celebrations for me and my family throughout my life, and I have carried on that tradition with my boys.

Sparkling Cider Rainbow Sherbet Floats are sure to be a new way to continue our tradition of celebrating with Martinelli’s.

I hope that they are part of your Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthday, or any other special day this spring and summer too.

A Sparkling Cider Sherbet Float with Rainbow Sugar on the Rim of the Glass and Fresh Fruit Garnishes
5 from 1 vote

Rainbow Sherbet Sparkling Cider Floats

Colorful scoops of sherbet float around in a bubbly glass of sparkling cider – you'll love these Rainbow Sherbet Floats! They're so easy to make and great for celebrating any special occasion.
Prep: 20 minutes
Freezing Time 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 25 minutes

Equipment

  • Freezer

Ingredients

For the Floats

  • 3 pints rainbow sherbet or three pints of sherbet or sorbet, such as raspberry, orange, and lime
  • 24 oz Sparkling Cider or Sparkling Apple-Pear Juice

Optional Garnishes

  • 1 Tablespoon honey or light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup rainbow sugar or nonpareils
  • orange slices
  • lime slices
  • raspberries

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
  • Using a small cookie scoop, melon baller, or spoon, scoop balls of the different flavors of sherbet or sorbet onto the baking sheet. Place the sheet with the sherbet balls in the freezer for an hour or two.
  • Pour a small amount of honey or corn syrup into a small bowl. Dip the rim of your glasses or champagne flutes or glasses in the honey or syrup and then into the rainbow sugar or nonpareils. Set aside until ready to serve.
  • When ready to serve, fill each flute or glass about halfway with Sparkling Cider or Sparkling Apple-Pear Juice, using a funnel if needed to keep the sugared rim intact.
  • Add 3-5 sherbet balls of varying colors to the glasses, then fill to the top with additional Sparkling Cider or Juice.
  • Add orange and lime slices and raspberries (or other fruit) to the rim for garnish.
Nutrition Facts
Rainbow Sherbet Sparkling Cider Floats
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 334 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 1mg0%
Sodium 78mg3%
Potassium 363mg10%
Carbohydrates 76g25%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 58g64%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 135IU3%
Vitamin C 32.1mg39%
Calcium 122mg12%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

Categories:

More Rainbow Recipes

Enjoy!

12 Comments
  1. Kathy

    When I was a child my dad would put a roast and vegies in the oven Sunday mornings for dinner after church. Always that roast in the oven and we were starved by the time we got home! He would often give use a scoop of orange sherbet in a juice glass with apple juice poured over it. No bubbly apple juice yet that we knew of in the dark ages. He would also do vanilla ice cream with grape juice. Yummy fun memory.

  2. It’s so cute! The color is great, too. This will be a nice treat for my daughter on her birthday’s party. Coincidentally, it is on Valentines Day. Thank you for your very detailed recipe.

  3. You don’t make cute food but your Sparkling Cider Rainbow Sherbet Floats is so amazing!!!! I want to surprise my kid with it. Thanks you very much!!!

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