A simple vanilla gelato recipe with rich caramel cream and chocolate shavings is Italian decadence at its finest! I’ve got some big news today. Can’t wait to share!

Vanilla Gelato Recipe with Caramel Swirls and Chocolate Shavings #gelato #icecream #italian

So at this very moment… I’m roaming around ITALY eating gelato!

That’s right, after years of dreaming about traveling to Italy, we have finally arrived. Eeeeeek!

Dreamy Vanilla Gelato Recipe with Caramel Swirls and Chocolate Shavings #gelato #icecream #italian

This summer our family is spending 3 whole weeks perusing Tuscany, Liguria, Verona, and Lake Como. I’m sure I will have wonderful tails to tell in our Una Prospettiva Piccante Su Italia (A Spicy Perspective on Italy) series when I get home.

But in the meantime, we are celebrating by sharing 3 weeks worth of easy Italian-inspired recipes you can enjoy all summer.

Silky Vanilla Gelato Recipe with Caramel Swirls and Chocolate Shavings #gelato #icecream #italian

If you are interested in what we’re doing in Italy from day to day, keep an eye on our Instagram Feed over the next few weeks. I’ll make sure to capture plenty of decadent meals, age-old monuments, and Italians.

So today let’s start our Estate d’Italia (Summer of Italy) with the end-all of Italian summer treats, a gelato recipe.

Ok, okay. Alright, alright, alright, alriiiiiiight.

I have to be honest. This isn’t authentic gelato.

Italian Vanilla Gelato Recipe with Caramel Swirls and Chocolate Shavings #gelato #icecream #italian

The difference between gelato and ice cream is that ice cream generally has a higher fat content and is churned at a higher speed, making it lighter and fluffier than gelato. Whereas, gelato is made with milk and is churned very slowly, so it’s more dense than ice cream. Gelato is also usually served at a slightly higher temperature, so the flavors seem more intense.

So the reason this is technically ice cream, not gelato, is that I have an American ice cream maker, not a slow churning gelato maker… I had to use cream and egg yolks, not milk, in order to reach that silky texture we love so much about gelato (ice cream.)

And P.S. gelato literally means ice cream in Italian, so let’s not be too particular about the details.

Love this Vanilla Gelato Recipe with Caramel Swirls and Chocolate Shavings #gelato #icecream #italian

Just know this gelato recipe is dense, rich, and creamy with an intense vanilla flavor and a luxurious swirl of caramel and chocolate flecks running throughout.

It’s pretty dreamy. Just the sort of gelato recipe I’m enjoying right now in Italy.

You can also follow our Una Prospettiva Piccante Su Italia on Facebook!

Gelato Recipe
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Gelato Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Freezing Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
A simple vanilla gelato recipe with rich caramel cream and chocolate shavings is Italian decadence at its finest!
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, half & half, vanilla, and two pinches of salt together in a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Heat until the edges of the pot start to bubble, whisking continuously, then remove from the heat.
  • Pour the mixture through a sieve into a bowl to remove any particles. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours.
  • Once the mixture has chilled, pour it into an ice cream maker and churn for 20+ minutes to the desired consistency. Meanwhile, shave the chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler, so the pieces are very thin.
  • Scoop a quarter of the gelato into a plastic container. Drizzle some of the caramel and chocolate shavings over the gelato, then repeat with the remaining gelato, caramel, and chocolate shavings, filling the container in layers. Cover and place in the freezer until firm. Scoop into small cups and serve!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 361kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 167mg, Sodium: 154mg, Potassium: 235mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 590IU, Vitamin C: 1.1mg, Calcium: 148mg, Iron: 1.1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Italian
Author: Sommer Collier
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