Buttermilk Basil Sorbet and Cornmeal Shortbread

Some days are quiet…

…And still.

On days like these my head gets clear and I can hear what my heart is saying. It says “maple-cinnamon” and “pumpkin-streusel”. But fall baking will have to wait.  The weather forecast calls for something much more refreshing.

The flavors for these two sweets was inspired by my grandmother’s favorite snack.  She’d crumble a piece of leftover cornbread in a bowl-full of buttermilk and then eat it with a spoon, like cereal. I think this “snack” makes a perfectly acceptable dinner (though I prefer whole milk to buttermilk).

The buttermilk-basil sorbet is a snap to make and it’s oh-so refreshing! The surprise ingredient is a bit of lime juice that perfectly heightens the basil flavor.

The cornmeal shortbread is just sweet enough.  And if you’re feeling daring, grind mixed peppercorns on top of unbaked dough slices.  You might be surprised at how lovely it is.

One last thing!  I’ve contributed an extra cute recipe for “Monster Cupcakes” to this awesome children’s book that is currently being funded through KickStarter.  It is illustrated by Heather Ozee and written by author Christina Cody with the sole purpose of inspiring children to read. If this resonates with you consider helping the cause!

Buttermilk-Basil Sorbet

Yield: twelve 1/2 cup servings                                                                    [click for printable version]

Adapted from: Food.com

Light and refreshing – just as sorbet should be! If you’re not crazy about basil, omit it from the simple syrup recipe or swap it for cilantro.

1 1/3 cups sugar, granulated, divided 

2/3 cup water 

1 cup fresh basil leaves cut into ribbons 

4 cups reduced fat buttermilk 

3 tablespoons lime juice 

2 teaspoons lime zest, grated finely with a microplane or other fine grater 

  1. Combine 2/3 cup sugar with 2/3 cup of water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add basil; let steep for 5-7 minutes or until syrup is strongly fragrant with basil. Set aside to cool. 
  2. In a large bowl, combine remaining 2/3 cup sugar with buttermilk, lime juice and zest; mix until sugar dissolves. Add cooled basil simple syrup to buttermilk mixture and mix thoroughly. 
  3. Place mixture into an ice cream maker and employ according to the manufacturer’s directions. Transfer sorbet to a container and freeze for 12 to 24 hours before serving. 

Note: If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into a metal tray and place it in the freezer. When the mixture starts to freeze, rake a fork through it several times to break up the ice crystals. Repeat this process about 4 or 5 times over the course of three hours. You can also pour the mixture into ice pop molds.

 

(I used the ice cream attachment for my KitchenAid mixer)

 Cornmeal Cookies

Yield: 24-30 cookies

Adapted from Gale Gand’srecipe for Food Network                                    [click for printable version]

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1/4 cup cornmeal, plus more for coating

3/4 teaspoon salt

  1. Cream the butter in a mixer fitted with the paddle
    attachment.
     Add the powdered sugar and
    mix until well combined.
     Add the vanilla
    bean paste or extract and beat again.
     Add the flour and salt and mix until blended.  Mixture will be crumbly at first, so keep
    beating until a soft, non-sticky dough forms.
  2. Roll into a log and then roll in cornmeal to coat.  Brush off excess cornmeal. Cover in plastic
    wrap and chill at least one hour or overnight.
  3. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  4. Slice shortbread dough thinly and bake on a Silpat or
    parchment paper for 12 to 15 minutes.
      When done the shortbread will still be
    blonde.
       Remove from oven and let cool
    on pan for 5 minutes;
     they will crisp as
    they cool.
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Averie @ Averie Cooks
Averie @ Averie Cooks
11 years ago

that shortbread sounds so interesting and the basil-buttermilk, mmmm…sounds so fancy! And gorgeous pictures, as usual!

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
11 years ago

A fantastic combination! That sorbet must be so fresh tasting. Divine!

Cheers,

Rosa

DessertForTwo
DessertForTwo
11 years ago

Gorgeous! Cornbread + buttermilk is a great snack!
I just made a log of cornmeal butter cookies myself 🙂

LauraLou
LauraLou
11 years ago

My Mom and Grandma back in VA eat buttermilk and cornbread the same way. Brings back memories! I can't wait to try this recipe.

Karrie
Karrie
11 years ago

Sounds so refreshing – yum!

Jen @ Jens Favorite Cookies
Jen @ Jens Favorite Cookies
11 years ago

I actually love herbs in a sweet sorbet, and this one sounds particularly lovely. I can't wait to try it! (Wish I had that Kitchen Aid ice cream attachment right now!)

Sue
Sue
11 years ago

I MUST make the shortbread cookies for my dad. Shortbread cookies are his favorite cookies! He was just here visiting last week, but I'm sure these will ship well:) Thanks, Heather!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

They both sound lovely, but it isn't sorbet if it contains dairy. Sherbet, perhaps?

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
11 years ago

Maybe so.

Alex
Alex
11 years ago

I must try to do the shortbread! 😀

Cecilia
Cecilia
11 years ago

Your pug. So adorable.

Christina Marie
Christina Marie
11 years ago

I love the lime zest added to this! Love the presentation. 🙂

xo,
Christina
http://www.becauseofmadalene.com

Peque a la Moda
Peque a la Moda
11 years ago

Hi, Heather!
I love Sprikle Bakes.
In my last post I have spoken about you. I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.pequealamoda.com

Kisses from Spain

Raquel

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

that's so interesting about the cornbread and buttermilk combination. I haven't heard of anyone actually drinking buttermilk. There was a book I read, Lonesome Dove, where one of the characters loved to drink buttermilk straight, but it just seemed so weird, I didn't know anyone really did that. And here I am being proved wrong, haha.

I love cornbread, and the cornbread shortbread cookies look really nice 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

Beautiful! And delicious! And the darling pug oh so precious. 🙂

vanillasugarblog
vanillasugarblog
11 years ago

basil buttermilk! oh that just sounds heavenly on the tastebuds

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

What an intriguing combo–thanks for sharing! Also, Monster Reader sounds like an amazing project. I study children's literature and do a lot of work in education, but it always wows me to see what people can come up with to help the cause.

Deb
Deb
11 years ago

A subtle and elegant presentation, evocative of a cooling breeze on a shade covered veranda. A splendid post!

Heather
Heather
11 years ago

Hooray you did it! Don't you love the lime/basil combo? 😉 This is a winner!

Heather
Heather
11 years ago

Looks so refreshing!

Lora
Lora
11 years ago

That sorbet looks perfect. I always have too much leftover buttermilk and not enough ideas on how to use it up.

italiangirlcooks
italiangirlcooks
11 years ago

This is an intriguing recipe!

Eileen
Eileen
11 years ago

This sounds like a perfect combination! Herby and creamy, hot and cold, and of course full of delicious corn flavor. Hooray!

Noelle Marie
Noelle Marie
11 years ago

I love herbs and desserts, this looks like the perfect combo! Beautiful post. Will definiately return to your blog.

Vanessa [theteensytinyinsignificantdetails]
Vanessa [theteensytinyinsignificantdetails]
11 years ago

The trouble with the majority of food bloggers being based in America is that I'm seasonally out of whack. But I will certainly re-visit this when things heat up again, because I want to investigate these interesting flavours!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

It looks great
Andreja

Jessie
Jessie
11 years ago

Sorbet sounds great!

Leslie
Leslie
11 years ago

i can only imagine how delightfully refreshing this is!!!

Gerry @Foodness Gracious
Gerry @Foodness Gracious
11 years ago

Basil is just an awesome herb in savory or sweet dishes, in fact I've been nurturing a plant from TJ's for a while now and my daughter keeps eating the leaves from it…
Great post.

SweetSugarBelle
SweetSugarBelle
11 years ago

My dad lives corn bread and milk too…but it has to be whole milk :-). I'm ready for fall too I've had enough of this heat, but in the meantime, this looks amazing!

Megan's Cookin'
Megan's Cookin'
11 years ago

This sounds perfect together. I've made a conrmeal shortbread before and loved the texture and taste! Sounds great with this sorbet.

Vera Zecevic - Cupcakes Garden
Vera Zecevic - Cupcakes Garden
11 years ago

Great two recipes! I like your "quiet" puppy very much!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Hi,
I want to make this sorbet for a basil party I'm going to. I have a question: did you strain out the basil ribbons before adding the syrup to the buttermilk mixture? Or did you blend it all together? I don't detect any basil in the pictures of your sorbet.
Thanks

Lili
Lili
11 years ago

Loved seeing the pics of your little darlin' and that gorgeous frosty vintage pan holding the sorbet! This combo looks so refreshing. xo ~Lili

Amy Jo
Amy Jo
9 years ago

I just made these with blue cornmeal, and it made the cookies a beautiful blue/gray color. So pretty! And I'm so glad I had an excuse to buy vanilla bean paste. 🙂