Classic Vanilla Gelato

Silky vanilla gelato made with real vanilla beans delivers pure, unadulterated cream flavor that puts store-bought ice cream to shame. The custard base creates that luxuriously dense texture gelato is famous for, while the split vanilla beans infuse each spoonful with delicate speckles and authentic depth. Perfect for a special dessert that feels indulgent yet surprisingly simple to master.

Prep time

20 minutes

Total time

35 minutes

Servings

6

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
6 large egg yolks
2 vanilla beans, split and scraped
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine milk, cream, vanilla bean pods and seeds, and half the sugar. Heat over medium heat until just beginning to simmer.
In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks with remaining sugar until pale and thick, about 3 minutes.
Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks while whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it coats the back of the spoon and reaches 170°F.
Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto surface and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions, typically 20-25 minutes.
Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving for optimal texture.

Easy Recipe Journey — easyrecipejourney.com/recipe/classic-vanilla-gelato