Hazelnut Gelato

Hazelnut Gelato

I know what you’re thinking – Michelle! It’s November! What are you doing posting a recipe for Gelato?! I know, I know, it’s a bit of a weird time to be posting an ice cream recipe, but I’m of the firm belief that it’s never too cold for ice cream. I bet even Steve Rogers wouldn’t have turned down a big bowl of this hazelnut gelato right after he got woken up after being frozen for 70 years! Is there anything I can’t bring back to Steve Rogers? That’s the real question here!

Hazelnut Gelato

The Italians really do know what they’re doing when it comes to food, don’t they? Gelato is one of their brightest shining achievements in my opinion, it’s so creamy and delicious I can never turn it down. Hazelnut, or Nocciola, gelato is definitely my favourite flavour – and I think it’s most other people’s too since it always seems to be first to go in all the gelato places I’ve been to! So when I decided to make some I knew it was going to be hazelnut gelato. 

Hazelnut Gelato

Hazelnut is such a wonderful flavour, and while it does go beautifully with chocolate I really wanted the nut to shine in this gelato. I couldn’t resist the call of Nutella entirely of course, so it’s got a little swirled right into it. It adds a hit of richness, while still letting the hazelnut take centre stage. 

Hazelnut Gelato

I was a bit apprehensive about making gelato, since I knew it would be a lot harder than my super easy no churn pumpkin pie ice cream. And while this gelato does need an ice cream machine and a little more effort, it’s totally worth it! What makes gelato so much better than ice cream? Honestly, I couldn’t put my finger on one definitive reason why it is better, but I definitely prefer it. Gelato has a lower fat content than ice cream (which totally means it’s healthy, right?) and less air is whipped into it, so it’s somewhat denser. It’s also, therefore, best served at a warmer temperature than ice cream. Ideally it’s best stored at a warmer temperature too, but I don’t expect anybody to change their freezer settings to accommodate gelato (but I wouldn’t judge you if you did!), you will just want to leave it out on the side for at least 15 -20 minutes before scooping and serving – that way you’ll get that elastic, soft serve kind of texture that we all love about gelato. I didn’t leave mine out to thaw long enough before taking photos, I was fighting against the clock, so I apologise for that! 

Hazelnut Gelato

And if you’re still not sold on the idea of gelato in November, maybe it’s a little too cold for you, try a scoop in your coffee or hot chocolate – it’s amazing and will allow you to enjoy the yumminess of gelato while staying nice and toasty! In fact, I could go for that myself right now! 

Hazelnut Gelato

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Hazelnut Gelato
Soft, delicious Italian gelato flavoured with hazelnuts
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Ingredients
  1. 100g hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
  2. 6 tbsp full fat milk
  3. 700ml full fat milk
  4. 240ml double cream
  5. 6 large egg yolks
  6. 225g caster sugar
  7. 1/2 tsp salt
  8. 3 tbsp nutella
Instructions
  1. Put the the hazelnuts in a food processor, and process until coarsely chopped. With the processor still going, gradually add the 6 tbsp of milk and continue to process until you have a creamy paste. Add a little extra milk if needed. Transfer the paste to a bowl and set aside
  2. Heat the 700ml milk and cream in a saucepan over a medium heat until hot, but do not bring to the boil. Take off the heat and set aside.
  3. Add the egg yolks, sugar and salt to a bowl and whisk until thick and combined. Slowly add about 50ml of the hot milk mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in another 50ml of the hot milk.
  4. Slowly whisk the egg mixture in to the rest of the milk mixture.
  5. Stir in the hazelnut paste and return to a medium heat.
  6. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring constantly, until you have a custard.
  7. Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Place a layer of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard to stop a skin forming.
  8. Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, until cold.
  9. Freeze the ice cream in your ice cream machine for about 45 minutes or according to your ice cream maker's instructions.
  10. Once thickened, spoon the gelato into your chosen container and swirl through the nutella, cover and freeze for 4 hours or until firm.
  11. Remove gelato from the freezer at least 15 minutes before serving
Notes
  1. You can toast and skin the hazelnuts yourself by putting them on a baking sheet in a 180C/350F oven for about 10 minutes, until the skins start to crack. Then rub the skins off.
  2. To make the Nutella easier to swirl, warm it up first by either microwaving for 10 second intervals until smooth and runny. Or place the whole jar in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes.
A Tipsy Giraffe https://www.atipsygiraffe.com/
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46 comments

  1. Sarah says:

    It’s never too cold for ice cream, Michelle! I had some ice cream yesterday 🙂 in Winter I also often eat ice cream, just because I want to. And then I get cold so I make myself a nice cup of tea :p
    Your ice cream looks so so delicious!

  2. Polianthus says:

    Hi Michelle, remember it’s always hot somewhere in the world, I am currently in the caribbean and it’s hot hot hot so gelato recipes are perfect even if only to drool over – wonderful pics thanks Poli

  3. Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen says:

    I love Gelato! A little more than Ice Cream 🙂 My favourite Gelato I always get is the Hazelnut one or the Ferrero Rocher one! I can’t wait to try this! It is NEVER too cold for Ice Cream! I even have it when I have a cold 🙂

    • Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says:

      Yum I love ferrero rocher anything, but especially gelato!
      Other than hazelnut, my favourites are pistachio and amaretto! There’s a gelato place in London called scooped and they do a flavour called Amareno which is black cherry and meringue, soooo good!

      I do hope you give this a go, it’s really yummy! and I’m glad you share my feelings that it’s never too cold for ice cream, and I bet it helps cure a cold too!

  4. Hannah says:

    Hazlenut gelato is one of my favourites too 🙂 and I prefer gelato to ice cream. This looks delicious, its definitely one I’m going to try! 🙂

  5. Tracy @ Scratch It says:

    This just makes my heart sing. Two of my favorite things- hazelnuts (filberts here in Oregon) and gelato! I’m drooling over here. And psh- gelato is an every season dessert! I could eat it in the snow! 😉

  6. Nicole Neverman says:

    Thank you so much for attending week 11 of #PureBlogLove and linking your fantastic blog post. Well I am definitely thinking “Michelle! Thanks for posting a gelato recipe!” Just coming into summer here in New Zealand so this is fantastic. I have been wanting to try my hand at making a gelato 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you have in store for our party next week Thursday 8 PM EST- Sundays at midnight. Your post has been added to the #PureBlogLove Pinterest board for all to see 🙂 Have a great day!
    Nicole

  7. All that's Jas says:

    Three things:
    1. Love everything hazelnut. It doesn’t get the appreciation here (US) that it deserves
    2. Love your blog name! My 2-yr-old granddaughter is obsessed with giraffes
    3. Love gelato (I blogged recipes for margarita and rum & raisins one)
    Thanks for sharing!
    Hugs

    • Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says:

      There is definitely not enough love for hazelnut in the US, or gelato for that matter (in my experience anyway). I live in the UK but spend a lot of time out in the US, in Atlanta and there is one gelato place, and the rare times they do hazelnut it disappears immediately, you gotta be lucky to get it! I imagine there’s more gelato up New England way where there’s more people with Italian heritage though!

      Thank you for the compliment on my blog name, I’m a little bit obsessed with giraffes too!

      I’m definitely going to go check out your gelato recipes, margaritas are my favourite cocktail so that’s definitely going on my list to make!! x

      Thank you 😀

  8. Natasha in Oz says:

    I love anything hazelnut so might have to give this a try! Yum!

    Have a wonderful week and please feel free to stop by and say g’day if you have a a minute to spare.
    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

  9. Andrea Fogleman says:

    It’s never to cold. lol I just wrap myself in a blanket. Thanks for the recipe. Thank you for sharing and linking up to Scraptastic Saturdays. This post has been shared via Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Have a wonderful week.

  10. Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says:

    It’s never too cold for Ice cream, I agree. I plan on making a batch for Christmas. I love the sound of this gelato, I love hazelnut. This has been featured as the most viewed link over at Sweet and Savoury Sundays. Stop by, grab a button and link up with us again this week. Have a great weekend!

    • Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says:

      Hi Jairo! It’s just parchment paper, I used it for 2 reasons – 1 because I think it looks pretty and 2 to protect the tin I froze it in because it’s got a non stick coating, didn’t want to scratch it with my scoop! So it’s not required at all!

      Thanks so much

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