Ingredients
- 150 g (3/4 cup) of granulated sugar
- 350 ml (1 1/2 cups) of fresh whole milk
- 250 ml (1 cup) of fresh heavy cream
- 100 g (3,5 oz) of dark chocolate
Directions
How to Make Stracciatella Gelato WITH an Ice Cream Maker
Step 1) – Pour the sugar, milk and heavy cream into a thick-bottomed saucepan. Stir everything together and cook over low heat, NEVER BOILING, for about 5 minutes, until all the sugar is well dissolved.
If you see that it starts to boil, remove the saucepan from the heat or lower the heat. Finally turn off the heat and transfer the mixture to a stainless steel bowl with lid. Let cool in the refrigerator for about 1/2 hour.
Step 2) – After this time, pour the mixture into the ice cream maker. Start the machine following the manufacturer’s instructions. Usually you have to let the ice cream maker work for about 30/40 minutes.
PLEASE NOTE: The best ice cream maker you can find on the market is the one with a compressor that cools while churning the gelato. This ice cream maker is very similar to the professional ones and is the one we used for this recipe.
How to Add Chocolate with Ice Cream Maker
Step 3) – After about 30 minutes, when the gelato is almost ready, you need to add the chocolate. So, melt the chocolate in a double boiler.
Step 4) – Slowly pour it directly into the ice cream maker while it’s churning. On contact with the cold gelato, the chocolate solidify. The spinning motion of the ice cream maker will reduce it to pieces.
The name Stracciatella comes from this process. “Stracciare” in Italian means “to reduce into small, irregular pieces” (for more informations, read the paragraph below, “Stracciatella Gelato: History and Origins.”)
Stracciatella gelato now is ready! Enjoy it immediately because freshly made gelato is terrific!
How to Make Stracciatella Gelato WITHOUT an Ice Cream Maker
Step 1) – Place the sugar in a saucepan and add the milk. Stir with a wooden spoon and cook over low heat for about 5 minutes, being careful not to let it boil. Transfer the mixture to a stainless steel bowl with lid. Let cool in the refrigerator for about half an hour.
Step 2) – Meantime whip the cream with the help of a stand mixer or an electric whisk.
Step 3) – Then add the sugar/milk mixture that has cooled down and stir gently from bottom to top to combine.
Step 4) – Pour the mixture into a gelato container and place it in the freezer for about 5 hours.
Every 30 minutes you have to break the frozen surface. So remove from the freezer and mix for about 30 seconds using a hand whisk or an electric whisk on low speed.
This step is necessary to prevent ice crystals from forming in the gelato and to obtain a creamy result. Of course, this is a slightly more labor-intensive process, but it is worth it!
How to Add Chocolate Without Ice Cream Maker
Step 5) – About halfway through the procedure described in step 4, when the gelato is already dense but still very soft, add the chocolate. So, first chop the chocolate into small pieces and then melt it in a double boiler.
Finally, pour it slowly, while still warm, into the gelato container. Spread evenly. On contact with the cold gelato, the chocolate solidifies. Stir to break up the chocolate crust.
Once the chocolate is mixed with the gelato, you can put it back in the freezer. Let it solidify again for the remaining time, always stirring every 30 minutes.
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