How to Make Homemade Gelato
Any Flavor
Using a Ice Cream maker with Ice and Salt!

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What's better than ice cream?  Gelato!  Especially homemade gourmet gelato! Here are complete and easy directions, with step by step photos!

Gelato is a combination of whole milk, eggs, sugar, and natural flavoring, usually fresh fruit and sugar.  It is similar to ice cream, but lower in fat (ice cream tends to be 10% to 20% fat, while gelato is 8% or less). gelato is softer and has more intense fruit flavors; like a sorbet, but more creamy, like ice cream. history claims that gelato was invented by Bernardo Buontalenti for the court of Francesco de' Medici in 1565.   You can make plain vanilla gelato, strawberry gelato, peach gelato, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, or many other flavors, even chocolate! This taste as good as any gourmet luxury gelato and better than any gelato you've ever bought in any store! 

The only special equipment you need is an ice cream maker (either electric or manual) that uses salt and ice for cooling.  If you have an ice cream maker that uses a gel container that you pre-freeze, see these instructions instead!  If you are looking for an instruction manual for your ice cream maker, we have them, too! See this page.

Directions for Making Homemade Premium Gelato

Ingredients and Equipment

Instructions

Step 1 - Be sure you have plenty of ice and salt

There's not much point in trying to make gelato if you need ice for the ice cream maker. For a typical 2-quart ice cream maker, you will need approximately: 2 cups (500 ml) table salt and 8 trays of ice cubes. It is NOT NECESSARY to use rock salt or crushed ice in most units (certainly not the Oster's). 

Step 2 - Heat the milk, Splenda and powdered milk

In a large pot ( 4 quarts or larger) with a heavy bottom (for even heat distribution), mix the fat-free milk, Splenda and powdered, nonfat, dry milk. Bring the mix to a low simmer over medium heat and stir to dissolve the Splenda, then turn the heat down and just keep it warm.

Step 3 - Separate 8 egg yolks

Separate the egg yolks from 8 large eggs.

Step 4 - Whip the egg yolks until thickened

Put the egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk until they are thickened (it only takes about 2 minutes.  I use a hand mixer on low speed.

Step 5 - Slowly add 1 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks

While constantly whisking, slowly add 1 cup of the hot milk mixture and whisk until it is blended (a few seconds).

Step 6 - Pour the egg yolk mix into the pot of hot milk

Then pour the egg mixture back into the pot of hot milk and increase heat to medium. Stir the mixture constantly with a wooden or plastic spoon, until the mixture is thickened (like gravy) and registers between 170°F and 180°F (check with an instant-read thermometer, like the ones with a probe).

Step 7 - Add the light cream and vanilla and refrigerate

Stir in light cream, half-and-half or non-fat half-and-half and vanilla. Cover and pop into the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before continuing on to step 8. Overnight or even 24 to 48 hours is fine.

Step 8 - Prepare the fruit

Well, what kind of gelato do you want?  This is the time to decide!  You can add almost any fruit you have!  If you want vanilla, you already have it, just pop the mix into the maker. If you want chocolate ice cream, just add your favorite chocolate syrup, such as Hershey's or Nestle to the mixer in step 10 as it thickens!

For a fruit flavor, well, some fruit work better than others.  You get best flavor if you puree the fruit first in your food processor or blender.  So obviously, fruits like strawberries, raspberries, mangoes, figs and peaches are idea for this, while apples, coconuts and pomegranates might not be such a good choice. 

To prepare the fruit just prepare it as you would for eating, then blend it in your food processor or blender for a few minutes. Here are some tips:

• Peaches and nectarines: remove skins, pits and bruised areas
• Strawberries: remove the cap (the green parts)
• Raspberries: just wash them
• Blackberries: I like seedless, so I wash them and then run them through a Foley Food Mill to remove the seeds!
• Figs: Remove stems and bruises
• Mangoes: Peel, and cut the flesh off the stone.

Step 9 - Mix the milk/cream mix with the fruit and put the canister in the ice cream maker

About 45 minutes before you want to serve the gelato, stir the milk/cream mixture together with the pureed fruit. Stir it up well. Remove the freezer canister and pour the milk/cream/fruit mixture from step 8 into the freezer bowl. and put the cover on the canister.  Put the canister in the cream maker.   Layer ice and salt solution as follows:
A. Pour 1 cup (250 ml) cold water into Ice Bucket.
B. Place a 1 inch (2.5 cm) layer of ice cubes around Cream Canister in Ice Bucket.
(Hint: Cream Canister should stand straight while layering.)

C. Sprinkle 1/3 cup (75 ml) table salt or 1/4 cup (50 ml) Kosher (coarse)
salt on ice.
D. Continue layering ice and salt to the top of the Ice Bucket.
E. Pour 1 cup (250 ml) cold water over top ice layer.

Step 10 - Add the salt and ice and turn on the ice cream maker!

Turn the ice cream maker on and let the maker work until it is thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. From time to time, add more ice cubes and salt as needed.

You can tell when the gelato is done, by simply checking the consistency through the opening on the top of the ice cream maker.  You will also hear the motor straining, as the ice cream freezes.  On some units, the directions with the maker tell you to let it work until the motor stalls and stops.

When it is done, the gelato should have a soft, creamy texture. Gelato should be stored in a freezer that is just below freezing (say 30 F), or else it will  become harder - you'll need to thaw it and hand whip it back to smooth and soft!

Step 11 - Enjoy!

Hey, once it reaches the consistency you like, it's time to eat!  That's it!  You made great homemade gourmet gelato!

Frequently Asked Questions

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