Luckily, I am here to help. In this article, you will learn how to make gelato without an ice cream maker and thank me later. Making gelato at home requires only an electric mixer. The beauty of homemade gelato is that the recipe is customizable to ensure your homemade gelato tastes just how you want it. You could be craving chocolate; add chocolate chunks or ganache to the recipe. Or maybe you need salty-sweet gelato. How about you throw in some salted caramel sauce to your recipe. Or you want to sample an eggless gelato, go right ahead. With homemade gelato, you are spoilt for choice. You get to savor the different flavors of gelato without breaking the bank. Can summer get any better than this?
How is gelato different from ice cream?
First, you need to differentiate between gelato and ice cream to ensure you make the right frozen treat. Gelato is a richer and creamier version of traditional ice cream. It has intense flavors and forms pretty folds when scooped. Both treats are made using the same ingredients, but the significant difference is the fat content. Ice cream has a higher fat percentage than gelato. When the fat cools, it has a bland taste and coats your tongue, making you tasteless and miss out on the intensity of the flavors of the ice cream you are savoring. The low-fat content in gelato makes the delicious flavors pretty intense.
What you need to make gelato at home
Medium saucepan with a heavy bottomWooden spoonElectric mixerFine sieveMixing bowlsMeasuring cups and spoonsLoaf panFlavors of choice
How to make gelato at home
What you need (serving for six people)
Two cups (450ml) whole milkFour large egg yolksOne cup (225ml) granulated sugar¾ teaspoon saltOne cup(225ml) heavy whipping creamTwo teaspoons vanilla extract
Procedure
Put your milk in the saucepan and heat over medium heat until it simmers gently.Whisk sugar and egg yolks to a smooth consistency.Add some hot milk to the whisked mixture, a process called tempering.Pour the tempered mixture into your simmered milk.Place the saucepan on your cooker and cook the mixture on low heat for about 8 minutes. Ensure to stir frequently with a wooden spoon. As the custard thickens, it will coat your wooden spoon. Be careful not to boil the mixture, as boiling will make it curdle. If your custard curdles, blend it for about 20 seconds before proceeding.
How to make salted caramel gelato
If you are craving salty-sweet gelato, here’s how to make one at the comfort of your home.
What you need
½ cup (142g) homemade or store-bought salted caramel sauce
Procedure
What you need
1 cup (225g) softened cream cheeseTwo tablespoons (28g) melted butter1½ cups crushed graham crackers1½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optionalLemon zest of 1 small lemon
Procedure
What you need
⅔ cup (142g) melted chocolate ganache¾ cup (128g) chunks of bittersweet chocolate½ cup (85g) melted white chocolate
Procedure
How to store homemade gelato
You can store your properly covered gelato in your freezer, and it may last up to 6 weeks.
How do you make gelato smooth?
A smooth gelato results from the foamy mixture of air, liquid, and solid ingredients that make gelato ice cream creamy and smooth.
Fat content
Fat is among the components that make a smooth gelato ice cream. Using egg yolks or milk fat helps create a smooth gelato. Egg yolks have emulsifiers that help bind water and fat in a creamy emulsion.
Air
Small and many air bubbles make your gelato smooth. When making your gelato, ensure to keep everything cold to incorporate more air.
Use stabilizers
Stabilizers keep your gelato smooth and help distribute fat molecules. They hold the air bubble structure, resulting in a smoother gelato ice cream.
Use alternative sugars
Alternative sugars make a creamier and more stable gelato. Examples of alternative sugars are corn syrup and glucose, to name a few. Monosaccharides like fructose create a smoother gelato ice cream.
Is there an ice cream maker substitute
If you are skeptical about an ice cream maker substitute, here is a list of items readily available in your kitchen to help you make a rich and creamy frozen treat.
A blender or a food processor
What you need
Heavy creamFrozen fruit pureeBlender or food processor
Procedure
Put your frozen fruit puree in the food processor or blender.Connect the equipment to a power source and let it run.As it runs, pour your heavy cream over the frozen fruit puree slowly. The puree freezes the cream almost instantly.Serve your treat.You can substitute the heavy cream with yogurt or coconut milk.
A hand mixer
What you need
Whipped creamTwo large bowlsAluminium foil or plastic wrapToppings, optionalSweetened condensed milkStand or hand mixerSpatula9×5 loaf pan
Procedure Use the sweetened condensed milk as your base, as it ensures the mixture is creamy and smooth when folding in whipped cream and freezing.
Place the sweetened condensed milk in a bowl and add a flavour of choice.Whip the heavy cream in another bowl until you see stiff peaks.Fold the whipped cream into the condensed milk in batches until it is thoroughly combined.Fold in any solids like nutsLine a loaf pan with foil wrap and pour the mixture.Cover the loaf pan and freeze for about 6 hours or until firm.
A plastic bag
This method is a fun activity you can do with your kids. What you need
Two tablespoons white sugar4 cups crushed ice cubes¼ cup kosher or rock saltOne teaspoon vanilla extract or other flavors1 cup half-and-half creamTowel¼ cup chopped fresh strawberries or other fruitsQuart-size resealable plastic bagGallon-size resealable plastic bag
Procedure
In the quart-size resealable plastic bag, combine the cream, sugar, strawberries, and vanilla extract.Press the bag to remove air and seal it.Give the bag a shake to mix the ingredients.Pour the crushed ice into the gallon-size bag and fill it.Add salt to the ice cubes. Salt reduces the freezing point of the ice cubes, creating an extra-cold brine to soak up heat from the cream mixture and make it freeze. This ensures the consistency of your treat comes out smooth. But if you want yours more firm, you can place it in the freezer.Close the bag and give a good shakeOpen the bag and put the quart-size bag inside it, and seal.Use the towel to wrap the bag and give it a vigorous shake for 10 minutes.Remove the quart-size bag from the gallon-size bag and rinse off any residue.Scoop your treat and enjoy
A mason jar
What you need
1 cup heavy cream1½ tablespoons sugar1½ teaspoons vanilla extractPinch of saltToppings and flavours of choiceA mason jar or any jar with a screw-on lid
Procedure
In the jar, put the cream, vanilla, salt and sugar and screw the lid on.Shake the mixture vigorously for about 10 minutes or until it thickens.Open the cover and add your flavourings and toppings like chocolate chips, mint, cereal, or jam.Freeze the mixture for about 2 hours for the mixture to firm up.
Check this too: Coconut Milk Ice Cream 101: Beginner’s Guide
Conclusion
These fantastic methods of making gelato at home will make summer a season to always look forward to. With the many flavors and toppings available in the market, you can try new combinations to see what flavours you most enjoy. Now you can have your friends over for a fabulous frozen treat.
