Orange sherbet, a nostalgic salute to childhood for many of us, is comfort food at its best. A touch of vanilla turns the flavor of plain orange into "Creamsicle®," reminiscent of the ice cream man and his treats.
Combine everything except the liquor in a bowl, beating until smooth.
Chill the mixture in the refrigerator until it's very cold, overnight if possible. Make sure the canister for your ice cream maker is in the freezer, too; at least 24 hours is preferable.
Pour the base into your ice cream maker canister, and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.
Transfer the sherbet from the canister to a freezer-safe container. If desired, stir in the liquor of your choice; this will keep the sherbet from becoming rock-hard in the freezer.
Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. If you haven't used liquor to keep it soft, remove the sherbet from the freezer about 15 to 20 minutes before you want to serve it, to soften.
Yield: about 1 quart sherbet.
