Giada’s chocolate hazelnut gelato

If you asked me what my favorite dessert was, I would have a hard time picking, but ice cream and other frozen treats like gelato and frozen yogurt are certainly in the top 3. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that store-bought brands of ice cream just aren’t quite as good as the real homemade stuff. Sure, the packaged brands are convenient, but they contain way too much air and don’t have that dense, velvety texture that I crave.

One Christmas I asked for an ice cream maker attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer and received it (thanks, Mom Lu)!  I couldn’t wait to try making some ice cream at home for the first time.  It was much easier than I expected, and now I’ve been making my own ice cream throughout the summer.

Giada’s chocolate hazelnut gelato is a favorite in our household, and I’m glad it’s the first ice cream recipe I tried making.  The texture is nice and creamy – the way gelato should be.  We’ll be making this recipe time and time again.

Giada's chocolate hazelnut gelato

Giada's chocolate hazelnut gelato is definitely something to write home about!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Chilling time8 hours
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Ice Cream
Servings: 1 quart
Author: Eva Bakes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar divided
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread recommended: Nutella
  • 1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts crushed, for garnish (optional - I did not use)

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, combine the milk, cream, and 1/2 cup sugar over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whip the egg yolks with the remaining sugar using an electric mixer until the eggs have become thick and pale yellow, about 4 minutes. Pour 1/2 cup of the warm milk and cream mixture into the egg mixture and stir. Add this mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Place a strainer over a medium bowl and pour the warm custard mixture through the strainer. Stir in the vanilla and hazelnut spread until it dissolves. Chill mixture completely before pouring into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions to freeze. To serve, scoop gelato into serving bowls and top with hazelnuts if using.

Notes

Source: Giada De Laurentiis, via the Food Network

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating