15+ Homemade Gelato Recipes for Creamy & Delicious Indulgence

Gelato is the ultimate creamy, smooth, and rich frozen dessert, originating from Italy and loved worldwide. Unlike traditional ice cream, gelato has less air, more milk than cream, and an incredibly silky texture. The best part? You can make it at home using simple ingredients and a few easy techniques!

From classic flavors to fruity and nutty creations, here are 10 delicious homemade gelato recipes that will bring the taste of Italy straight to your kitchen!

---

1. Classic Vanilla Bean Gelato

A smooth and creamy vanilla-infused gelato with the purest flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tbsp vanilla extract)

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, heat milk and heavy cream over medium heat, adding the scraped vanilla bean.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until pale.
3. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly.
4. Return to heat and cook until it thickens (do not boil).
5. Strain, cool completely, and churn in an ice cream maker. Freeze for 3 hours before serving.

---

2. Dark Chocolate Gelato

Intensely rich, smooth, and full of deep cocoa flavor!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ½ cup high-quality cocoa powder
• 4 oz dark chocolate, melted

Instructions:

1. Heat milk, heavy cream, and cocoa powder over medium heat until combined.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar. Slowly add warm milk to eggs, stirring constantly.
3. Return to heat and cook until thickened.
4. Stir in melted chocolate, strain, cool, and churn.

---

3. Stracciatella Gelato (Chocolate Chip Gelato)

A creamy vanilla gelato with delicate shavings of dark chocolate.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 oz dark chocolate, melted

Instructions:

1. Make Classic Vanilla Bean Gelato (recipe #1).
2. While churning, slowly drizzle in melted chocolate to create delicate shavings.
3. Freeze for 3 hours before serving.

---

4. Pistachio Gelato

A nutty and rich gelato with real pistachios for an authentic Italian treat.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ½ cup pistachios, finely ground
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and ground pistachios over medium heat.
2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar, then slowly add warm milk.
3. Return to heat and cook until thick. Strain and cool.
4. Churn, then freeze for 3 hours before serving.

---

5. Coffee Gelato (Gelato al Caffè)

Rich and smooth with a bold espresso kick.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder

Instructions:

1. Heat milk, cream, and espresso powder until dissolved.
2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar, then slowly add warm milk.
3. Return to heat and cook until thickened.
4. Strain, cool, and churn.

---

6. Salted Caramel Gelato

A creamy caramel gelato with a hint of sea salt for a perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ½ cup sugar (for caramel)
• ½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

1. Heat ½ cup sugar in a pan until golden caramel forms.
2. Slowly add milk and stir until smooth.
3. In a bowl, whisk yolks and sugar, then add caramel milk.
4. Cook until thickened, strain, cool, and churn.

---

7. Lemon Gelato

A refreshing and citrusy gelato perfect for hot days!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• Zest of 2 lemons
• ½ cup fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and lemon zest over medium heat.
2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar, then add warm milk.
3. Return to heat and cook until thickened.
4. Stir in lemon juice, strain, cool, and churn.

---

8. Hazelnut Gelato (Nocciola Gelato)

Creamy gelato with roasted hazelnuts for a classic Italian flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ½ cup roasted hazelnuts, finely ground

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and hazelnuts, then blend until smooth.
2. Whisk yolks and sugar, add warm milk, then cook until thickened.
3. Strain, cool, and churn.

---

9. Mango Gelato

A fruity and tropical gelato with natural mango flavor!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 cup fresh mango puree

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and cream. Whisk yolks and sugar, then add warm milk.
2. Cook until thick, then stir in mango puree.
3. Strain, cool, and churn.

---

10. Coconut Gelato

A creamy coconut-flavored gelato with a tropical touch.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups coconut milk
• 1 cup whole milk
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ½ cup shredded coconut (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat coconut milk and whole milk.
2. Whisk yolks and sugar, then add warm milk.
3. Cook until thickened, strain, cool, and churn.

11. Lavender Honey Gelato

A floral-infused gelato with the perfect touch of natural honey sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and cream over medium heat, adding lavender. Steep for 10 minutes, then strain.
2. Whisk yolks and sugar, then slowly add warm lavender milk.
3. Cook over low heat until thickened.
4. Stir in honey, strain, cool, and churn.

---

12. Tiramisu Gelato

A luxurious gelato inspired by the famous Italian dessert, layered with coffee and cocoa flavors.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

Instructions:

1. Heat milk, cream, and espresso powder until dissolved.
2. Whisk yolks and sugar, then slowly add warm milk.
3. Cook until thickened, then stir in vanilla extract.
4. Strain, cool, churn, then dust with cocoa powder before freezing.

---

13. Spiced Chai Gelato

Warm and aromatic, this chai-flavored gelato is infused with bold spices.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 chai tea bag (or 1 teaspoon chai spice blend)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and cream with chai tea bag and cinnamon, steep for 10 minutes, then remove tea bag.
2. Whisk yolks and sugar, then slowly add warm milk.
3. Cook until thickened, strain, cool, and churn.

---

14. Amaretto Almond Gelato

A boozy almond-flavored gelato with a smooth, nutty taste and a hint of Amaretto liqueur.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons Amaretto liqueur
• ¼ cup toasted almond slivers

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and almond extract over medium heat.
2. Whisk yolks and sugar, then slowly add warm milk.
3. Cook until thickened, then stir in Amaretto.
4. Strain, cool, churn, then fold in toasted almond slivers.

---

15. White Chocolate Raspberry Gelato

A creamy white chocolate gelato swirled with tart raspberry sauce.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ½ cup white chocolate, melted
• ½ cup raspberry puree

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and cream, then stir in melted white chocolate until smooth.
2. Whisk yolks and sugar, then slowly add warm milk.
3. Cook until thickened, strain, cool, and churn.
4. Swirl in raspberry puree before freezing.