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The Easiest Homemade Gelato Recipe (No Machine, 3 Flavors!)

Shaziya
This homemade gelato recipe is a game-changer—creamy, dreamy, and no machine required. In just 30 minutes, you can whip up three luscious flavors that rival any gelateria.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

Plain Gelato Base

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 4 large egg yolks room temperature
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream 36%
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Blueberry Cheesecake Gelato

  • 1 cup cream cheese softened
  • 1 ½ cups Graham crackers crushed
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 ½ cups blueberries fresh or frozen
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract optional
  • 1 small lemon zested

Salted Caramel Gelato

  • ½ cup salted caramel sauce homemade or store-bought

Triple Chocolate Gelato

  • cup chocolate ganache melted
  • ¾ cup bittersweet chocolate chunks
  • ½ cup white chocolate melted

Instructions
 

  • How to make Plain Gelato Base: In a heavy-bottom saucepan, add the milk. Place over medium-low heat until it comes to a gentle simmer.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until smooth. Temper the eggs by slowly pouring in the hot milk mixture while whisking continuously. Pour this custard back into the same saucepan and place over low heat.
  • Cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon for roughly 6-8 minutes or until the custard has thickened slightly and coats the back of a spoon. Do not bring to a boil or it will curdle. (See tips above about saving curdled custard.)
  • Pour the mixture through a fine sieve into a clean bowl and let cool down at room temperature, stirring every 5 minutes or so. Add in salt and vanilla to the custard and mix. To cool the custard quickly place the custard in an ice bath (see video above). Once completely cooled, cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • When the custard base is cold begin to whip the cream on high speed until stiff peaks form.
  • Gently fold the custard base into the whipped cream until smooth and thickened. Don't beat or you will deflate the whipped cream.
  • Salted Caramel Gelato: Stir in the salted caramel sauce, taste and add more if desired. It should be both salty and sweet. Pour into your loaf pan and follow freezing directions below.
  • Blueberry Cheesecake Gelato: Whisk the softened cream cheese into the gelato base until smooth.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the crushed Graham crackers and butter and add to your gelato base. Lastly, stir in the blueberries, vanilla, and lemon zest. Pour into your loaf pan and follow freezing directions below.
  • Triple Chocolate Gelato: Swiftly fold in the chocolate ganache into the gelato base. Make sure the ganache is not hot or it will set when it hits the cold base. Stir in the chocolate chunks. Lastly, drizzle over the white chocolate and allow to sit on the base to set and firm up before stirring it in completely. Pour into your loaf pan and follow freezing directions below.
  • Freezing your Gelato: Pour the gelato into a loaf pan or any freezer-safe container and place it in the freezer. Now, after 30-60 minutes go in a whip it up to break up the ice crystals. Do this roughly 2-3 times until it thickens up (see video above for step by step)
  • Allow freezing for another 4-5 hours or until frozen before scooping. If hard to scoop allow the gelato to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes until it softens slightly.
  • Cover well and store in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.
Keyword easy recipe, Gelato, homemade, no machine, three flavors
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!