How to Make an Ice Cream or Sherbert Bombe

Many people dont know what ice cream or sherbert bombes are. Others think theyre too much trouble to make. Sure, its a little bit of work to make a bombe, but any warm day is suitable for serving the dessert thats as colorful as it is delicious. Its not so much that its a lot of work as it is that the work is stretched over a period of time. Thats what makes many people think its too much trouble to make an ice cream or sherbert bombe. But, if youve got a special occasion coming up, and youd like to create a spectacular dessert that will have your guests complimenting, make a bombe. Theyll love it!A gelatin mold is ideal for making a bombe, however, some other containers work well, too, like a bundt cake pan or a plastic bowl. With a gelatin mold you can leave gorgeous patterns on top of the dessert with no extra effort.Combine sherbert and ice cream to make one type of bombe. Use three layers of sherbert to make a different type. For the combination bombe, start by placing a quart of sherbert in the refrigerator. It can be any flavor or color you want but this choice will become the top of the bombe and the most prevalent color of the finished dessert.Check the sherbert occasionally and remove it when it becomes soft enough to stir but still very thick and frozen. Spread it inside the gelatin mold at the bottom. Place it in the freezer for now and put the second flavor of sherbert in the refrigerator. When its softened enough to stir, but is still very thick, spread it around in the gelatin mold, atop the first flavor. With this second sherbert, spread it around the sides of the mold as well. Spread it all the way to the top of the mold, on the sides. Place in the freezer.Set your chosen ice cream flavor in the refrigerator to soften slightly. When its easy to stir, add it to the bombe. Spread it around the gelatin mold so that it fills the remainder of the mold. Set in the freezer.Use the bombe within 48 hours, but for best results, leave it in the freezer for at least 12 hours. Take it out, turn the mold upside-down onto the serving platter, and place a hot towel on the mold. Check every few seconds to see if the bombe has fallen out of the mold; you dont want to melt it too much with the hot cloth.The striped, frozen dessert is perfect for a Fourth of July celebration, a summer cookout or another special occasion. Dont forget how to make them, though, because family and friends will want to have your bombes on many special occasions.See lots of bombes here.