Start by peeling, coring, and chopping your ripe pears into small pieces.

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves to create a simple syrup.

Transfer the chopped pears to your blender or food processor. Add the lemon juice and optional vanilla extract, then pour in the cooled syrup.

Blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary.

Give your sorbet base a taste and adjust sweetness if desired.

Transfer the blended mixture to a bowl and chill it in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.

Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Once churned, transfer the sorbet to a lidded container and freeze for at least 3 hours or until firm.