Jul 14 2026

Gelato Recipe

Time4h
Serves8

Italian-style ice cream with various flavors.

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Ingredients

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Base Ingredients

Method

Base Preparation

  1. 1

    Prepare the Base

    In a medium saucepan, combine the whole milk and heavy cream over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the mixture is hot but not boiling.

  2. 2

    Mix Sugar and Egg Yolks

    In a separate bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and egg yolks until the mixture is pale and thick. This should take about 3-4 minutes.

  3. 3

    Combine Mixtures

    Gradually pour the hot milk and cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs. Once combined, return the mixture to the saucepan.

  4. 4

    Thicken the Base

    Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 5-7 minutes). Do not let it boil.

  5. 5

    Add Vanilla

    Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let the mixture cool at room temperature for about 15 minutes.

Flavoring and Chilling

  1. 6

    Flavor the Base

    At this point, you can divide the base into separate bowls for different flavors. For chocolate gelato, whisk in the cocoa powder until fully incorporated. For strawberry gelato, fold in the pureed strawberries. For pistachio gelato, mix in the crushed pistachios. For coffee gelato, stir in the coffee grounds.

  2. 7

    Chill the Mixture

    Cover each bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the mixture for at least 4 hours, or overnight, until completely chilled.

Churning and Freezing

  1. 8

    Churn the Gelato

    Once chilled, pour the gelato mixture into an ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the mixture thickens and has a soft-serve consistency.

  2. 9

    Freeze the Gelato

    Transfer the gelato to an airtight container and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until firm.

Serving

  1. 10

    Serve and Enjoy

    Scoop the gelato into bowls and enjoy! You can also garnish with additional crushed nuts, chocolate shavings, or fresh fruit if desired.

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