Ok, I’m from the Dairy State.
I grew up saying sherbeRt…then, read a carton which spelled it sherbet. I was confused so I asked friends and family what they thought. Everyone I know says sherbeRt
(then again EVERYONE I know says bubbler, but that’s another story)
In hashing this out w/so many people the older generation said they thought the whole thing got started due to brand differences (one brand to be different called it sherbeRt. Apparently it took off)
Maybe this all adds to the confussion, but I’ve done leg work on this one since I was a teen and it’s the best answer I’ve heard.
sherbert/sherbet ALWAYS has dairy. Sorbet NEVER has dairy