If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s my love for enjoying a delightful treat before bedtime. Among my favorites are dark chocolate-coated strawberries and blueberries.
So, when I came across a novel sorbet recipe on TikTok, I felt compelled to give it a shot. When I struggle to sleep, I resort to taking melatonin. However, I desired to combine my beloved late night snacks with something that might be able to help me sleep.
I decided to test this delectable dessert for three consecutive nights to determine if it truly lives up to its reputation.
From past TikTok trends such as the sleepy girl mocktail and drinking tart cherry juice, the properties of cherries demonstrate that it can help us get a little sleepy when needed.
Will I continue savoring this dessert to help me drift off to sleep, or will I stick to my trusty melatonin gummies? Let’s discover if this cherry dessert helped with those restless nights!
What Is The “Sleepy Girl Sorbet?”
So, what exactly does this recipe entail? TikTok’s Toscanas Table, a popular meals and recipe account, took a healthy dessert and elevated it to new heights.
With 49.1k likes, I knew I had to keep watching the video. The process involved blending frozen cherries, raspberries, non-dairy milk, and honey until all the ingredients combined smoothly, gradually adding the milk for a consistent texture before placing it in the refrigerator. After 30 minutes, she melted dark chocolate with a touch of coconut oil in the microwave, creating a crispy chocolate shell, which she finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
The inclusion of a chocolate shell on the sorbet not only enticed me, but I was also curious to find out if it would actually make me sleepy.
By the end of the video, not only was my mouth watering, but I also wanted to consult some experts to determine if this recipe could serve as both a late night snack and a sleep aid.
How Do These Ingredients Affect Sleep? Experts Weigh In
Martin Seeley, founder and CEO at Mattress Next Day, spoke with Sleepopolis about the potential of cherries to enhance sleep quality. He also highlighted the supplementary advantages of this fruit, which may contribute to overall health and wellness.
“Cherries are packed with several sleep-promoting nutrients, including melatonin, vitamin C, beta carotene and powerful antioxidants,” Seeley said. “Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally in the body that helps regulate our natural sleep patterns.”
I knew the cherries could aid in sleep due to their melatonin content, but I wanted to learn more about how the chocolate on top could affect my sleep before I gave it a try.
Seeley said that small amounts of dark chocolate could promote relaxation, but if not consumed in moderation it can keep you up due to its caffeine content.
“The chocolate placed on top of the sorbet may not have a significant impact on sleep,” he said. “While some people find that eating small amounts of dark chocolate can help them relax and fall asleep easier, it’s important to recognize that chocolate contains caffeine, which could cause one to stay up.”
In addition to Seeley, Dr. Laura Purdy, who also spoke with Sleepopolis, said that the presence of caffeine in chocolate is not the sole concern when it comes to sleep. Chocolate contains other stimulating ingredients that could potentially disrupt sleep.
“Caffeine and theobromine, two stimulants found in chocolate, can help someone stay awake and aware,” Purdy said. “Additionally, the sugar in chocolate can raise energy and alertness for a brief period of time.”
When it comes to determining if this sorbet can actually promote better sleep, Purdy said to experiment with the quantity of each ingredient and the serving size.
“The serving size should also be taken into account because a larger portion may require more components,” she said. “The person’s particular needs should also be considered. For instance, a person with a severe sleeping issue could need more components than a person with a milder disorder.”
Now armed with this knowledge, I knew I could try this the proper way. Not only could I assess my culinary skills, but also explore an alternative to relying on melatonin for sleep.
Let’s Give It A Try
In order to assess the effectiveness of this sorbet, I decided to conduct a three night experiment. Each night, I gradually increased my portion size to examine if consuming more of the sorbet would make me more ready for bedtime. Additionally, I wanted to observe the impact of adding chocolate to the sorbet on my sleep quality. On the first night, I consumed the sorbet with the chocolate, while on the final night, I opted to have it without the hard shell.
Night One
It was a Saturday night, and I already knew I would have a hard time sleeping since I took a nap later in the afternoon. I saw it as the perfect opportunity to indulge myself and put this sorbet to the test.
I retrieved my blender and followed the exact recipe instructions to create the sorbet. Once it was ready, I scooped out about half a cup and drizzled chocolate on top. Dressed in cozy pajamas, sorbet in hand, I settled down to watch a movie before bed.
After I finished the bowl, I decided to wait an hour to give the effects time to settle in. The clock struck 9:30 p.m. and the only feeling I had was fullness, not drowsiness. I decided to read my book for a little while to see if anything would happen later on. Nothing. I decided to pop open my melatonin gummies and call it a night.
Night Two
The second night, I was determined. I truly wanted to see if this sorbet was legit. I grabbed the tupperware out of the fridge and decided to scope myself about a cup of the sorbet this time.
Once again, I added the chocolate and prepared to indulge. After waiting about an hour, I began to feel a little relaxed, but I couldn’t tell the difference between my mind trying to convince myself this sorbet works or if I was just tired from a long day.
When I finally turned off the lights and tried to sleep, I still found myself tossing and turning before eventually feeling genuinely tired. I also noticed that I had more vivid nightmares compared to the other night. Even though I slept better on this night compared to the prior one, I was still skeptical that the sorbet made a large contribution.
Night Three
For the last night of my sorbet experiment, I aimed to make it a memorable one. I prepared a bowl of sorbet, slightly exceeding a cup this time, but unfortunately, I skipped the chocolate topping. My favorite part.
The sorbet was still delicious even without the chocolate. Interestingly, I observed a slight change in my experience without the chocolate. I found myself falling asleep a little faster, and I didn’t recall having any particularly vivid dreams or nightmares throughout the night. Maybe the thing I love the most is causing my sleep troubles.
Will I Try It Again?
I loved every minute of my past three nights having this dessert. I have come to the decision that I will treat it solely as a delightful dessert rather than relying on it as a sleep aid. I did not see any major significant change in my sleep. However, I am up to give it another try. For now, my melatonin gummies will do the trick for those sleepless nights.
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Sources
Purdy, Laura. Personal Interview. June 16, 2024
Seeley, Martin. Personal Interview. June 16, 2024.
