14 Irresistible Homemade Gelato Recipes (2024)

Don’t let summer pass you by without enjoying your very own homemade gelato. My step-by-step guides and tempting flavor combinations—which include vegan and dairy-free options—are just what you need to get started!

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Gelato is a true summer indulgence! It’s impossible to resist this cool, creamy frozen treat and it’s one of my absolute favorite things to make every year.

I have everything you need to get started churning out your very own homemade gelato flavors. You’ll definitely want to check out my step-by-step homemade gelato tutorial (listed below!). It will walk you through the entire process from start to finish with lots of helpful tips and tricks. In the end, you’ll be rewarded with a delectable Vanilla Bean Gelato!

I also have recipes that will help you create a beautiful Sicilian-style gelato base and a vegan gelato base. You’ll have all your bases covered!

Once you’ve got the basics mastered, the fun really starts. One of my favorite parts of making homemade gelato every year is coming up with irresistible flavor combinations.

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In this homemade gelato recipe collection, you’ll find just a few of the different flavors I’ve created—everything from classics like Dark Chocolate or Pistachio to more unusual flavors like Raspberry Rose and Sweet Corn.

If you want to make the most of fresh summer fruit right off the tree, you must try my Fresh Peach Gelato, Cherry Ripple Gelato, and Blueberry Gelato. Once you get comfortable with the basics of making gelato at home, you’ll be ready to start experimenting with your own flavors.

Need a little extra help? If you need a little extra help or you’re somebody who learns better through video, try my Homemade Gelato Skillshare class. You can watch me go through the whole process and replay it as many times as you need!

Homemade Gelato Recipes

1. Classic Gelato: A Detailed, Step-by-Step Recipe

If you’ve never made gelato, start here. This article details what classic gelato is, how it’s made, and the variety of flavors you can make with it. The recipe includes detailed, step-by-step instructions and tips to make the creamiest homemade gelato you’ve ever churned!

2. Sicilian-Style Gelato

Learn how to make Sicilian-style gelato, an incredibly creamy Italian iced treat that uses cornstarch as a thickening agent. Learn how to turn this versatile homemade gelato base into a myriad of flavors!

3. How to Make Vegan Gelato

Get helpful tips and an easy recipe for making a silky smooth, rich-tasting vegan gelato base you can turn into a variety of delicious fruity treats, including a zesty, refreshing Mango and Passion Fruit Gelato.

4. Dark Chocolate Gelato

This indulgent dark chocolate gelato is for true chocoholics: a spoonful provides a rich, strong hit of cocoa, reminiscent of biting into a square of 70% chocolate.

5. Pistachio Gelato

The secret to outstanding pistachio gelato is homemade pistachio paste. Learn how to make it and churn an amazing Italian frozen treat!

6. White Chocolate, Basil, and Strawberry Gelato

This White Chocolate, Basil, and Strawberry Gelato combines two quintessential summer ingredients–strawberries and basil–in a silky smooth treat with a delicate, sweet flavor.

7. Rhubarb Gelato

In this blush pink Rhubarb Gelato, the bright flavor of rhubarb is balanced by the silky-rich homemade gelato base. It’s a memorably refreshing summer treat!

WATCH MY GELATO MASTERCLASS

Never made gelato before? Curious about what makes gelato different from ice cream? Check out my colorful masterclass! In it, you’ll find out what makes gelato different from ice cream, how to make a versatile gelato base you can turn into various flavors, and all my secrets and tips to churn and serve outstanding gelato. I even share how to make dairy-free, vegan gelato! In short, it’s a very thorough, colorful class that will quickly turn you into a gelato master.

This masterclass was previously hosted behind a paywall on an educational site where thousands of students rated it 5 STARS! It’s now available to all gelato lovers worldwide, absolutely free. Watch Now!

8. Raspberry Rose Gelato

This Raspberry Rose Gelato sports the breathtaking fuchsia color of fresh raspberries and carries the flowery flavor of rose in an elegant, understated way.

9. Fresh Peach Gelato

This rich and creamy peach gelato highlights one of summer’s quintessential fruits to perfection: fresh peach puree is both mixed into the homemade gelato as well as rippled through it for a double dose of stone fruit sweetness.

10. Blueberry Gelato

This breathtakingly beautiful blueberry gelato is a silky-smooth treat that highlights the intense taste of the bright blue late-summer berry!

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11. Cherry Ripple Gelato

Bursting with fresh fruit and juicy fruit puree, this cherry ripple gelato is the best treat to enjoy on a hot summer day.

12. Sweet Corn Gelato

This sweet corn gelato is a silky treat with an intriguing savory edge that gives you a delightful new reason to welcome corn season every summer!

13. Almond and Orange Gelato

This Almond and Orange Gelato combines zesty and juicy with toasty and nutty to create a surprisingly comforting, yet remarkable frozen treat. It will charm your taste buds at the first spoonful.

14. Gianduja Gelato (Milk Chocolate and Hazelnut Gelato)

This classic gianduja gelato made with real roasted hazelnuts and milk chocolate has a nutty sweetness that is reminiscent of childhood treats. An unforgettable dessert!

Bonus Frozen Treat: How to Make an Affogato

Affogato is the easiest Italian dessert you can make with your very own homemade gelato. Affogato is a delightful and refreshing coffee-based treat that is guaranteed to impress your guests. Find out how to make it!

14 Irresistible Homemade Gelato Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What makes gelato so creamy? ›

Gelato is churned at a much slower speed, which introduces less air into the base—think whipping cream by hand instead of with a stand mixer. That's why it tastes denser than ice cream—it is.

What is the secret to gelato? ›

There isn't really a “secret” ingredient in gelato – the magic lies in the process. However, what sets gelato apart from its frozen dessert counterparts is the quality of the ingredients used and the low amount of air incorporated during the slow churning process.

Is gelato healthier than ice cream? ›

The main difference between ice cream and gelato is their fat content. With only 4-9% fat to the usual 10-25% of ice cream, gelato usually is lighter and healthier. Per portion, however, the answer is clear, gelato is typically healthier than ice cream.

What is authentic Italian gelato made of? ›

The ingredients for gelato

Very common ingredients such as milk, sugar, fruit, water, cream, eggs, powdered milk and fructose are used.

Why does gelato taste better in Italy? ›

The raw materials. The key feature that really makes the difference between Italian gelato and ice cream is the use of fresh raw materials. For the ice cream, in fact, milk powder is rehydrated on the spot. The Italian gelato, instead, is made with milk and fresh cream.

Is Talenti real gelato? ›

Talenti gelato is particularly special because we make it from scratch with the finest ingredients from around the world, and use an old world process that involves slow cooking our ingredients and making our gelato in smaller batches than most other ice cream in the US is made.

What is gelato without milk called? ›

"Sorbet is made with fruit but no dairy (eggs or milk/cream) so it's generally vegan-friendly and suits those with egg or dairy allergies, too," she says. The pureness of the fruit makes it icy and refreshing, and it won't be silky or rich in its texture as some other kinds of ice creams and sherberts may be.

What does egg do in gelato? ›

Eggs leverage the fat already present in the ice cream base (the butterfat in cream and milk) and make it work even further for a creamier texture. But wait, there's more! Egg yolks also improve the stability of an ice cream, reducing its tendency to melt before you can get it from freezer to cone to mouth.

How long to churn gelato? ›

It takes about 25 minutes to get the mix frozen to a very thick consistency. I always make sure the mix is super cold, too.

What do Italians call gelato? ›

Gelato is a frozen treat that hails from Italy; the word "gelato" actually means "ice cream" in Italian.

Why can I eat gelato but not ice cream? ›

Using more milk and less cream is the main reason gelato tends to have lower fat and caloric content. Eggs are another differentiating ingredient; ice cream often contains small amounts of eggs, while gelato is usually completely void of them.

Can diabetics eat gelato? ›

Yes, at the end of a meal, instead of fruit

Being a food which leads the body to produce glucose, first of all, gelato should replace and not be eaten in addition to other foods containing carbohydrates such as fruit, bread, pasta, rice, and the quantities should take into account the recommended daily calorie intake.

How can you tell if Italian gelato is real? ›

Meanwhile, mounds indicate that air has been pumped into the gelato to make it voluminous instead of flavorful. The best gelato is flat and dense with muted colors—a sure sign that there are only fresh, natural, and raw ingredients.

What is the most popular ice cream in Italy? ›

Cioccolato is a chocolate-based concoction with a rich, lasting flavor. As a result, this ice cream is regarded as having the most delectable flavor in Italian cuisine. Cioccolato is at the top of everyone's list, from children to adults.

How is gelato served in Italy? ›

It's also served a good bit colder than gelato—if you served ice cream at the temperature gelato is served, it'd melt into a puddle. Gelato's dense, velvety texture is perfect at about 25℉, a temperature that intensifies its rich flavor. It's another reason it's so refreshing all year long.

Why is gelato softer than ice cream? ›

It is churned at a much slower rate, incorporating less air and leaving the gelato denser than ice cream. Gelato is served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream, so its texture stays silkier and softer. Because it has a lower percentage of fat than ice cream, the main flavor ingredient really shines through.

What makes gelato dense? ›

Gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, which creates a denser consistency since less air is whipped into the mixture. Gelato contains about 25 to 30 percent air, while ice cream can contain as much as 50 percent air.

How is gelato so smooth? ›

Gelato is often described as almost elastic in texture but remains smooth because little to no air is whipped into its components. It uses less air, so it remains dense and insanely rich in flavor with a creamier texture.

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