How to Make Fruity, Creamy Homemade Gelato Flavors

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Learn how to make homemade gelato the easy way with two all-purpose recipes that can be customized for many different flavors. Here’s your essential guide to making gelato at home. Get the simple steps and have your own mouthwatering homemade gelato extravaganza when you try the best homemade gelato recipes around. I’ve listed 22 of the best homemade gelato recipes for you to choose from, all variations of one of the two basic recipes I’m sharing with you today.

Homemade gelato in a waffle bowl


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All-Purpose Homemade Fruit Gelato Recipe

How do you make gelato from scratch? My all-time favorite way to use frozen berries is to make this easy fruit gelato recipe, which appeared years ago in the Food Day section of the Oregonian. It was adapted from a recipe used at the now-closed Mio Gelato. I could not find links to it anywhere online, so here’s my version. If you are looking for a gelato recipe with no eggs, this is it. To make this gelato, I just puree all of the ingredients in my food processor and freeze in my Cuisinart 2 Qt. Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker.

I received this ice cream maker as a gift from my parents, and it has revolutionized the way I make frozen treats. The recipe below literally takes only five minutes of hands-on time thanks to this machine. The rest of the time, I just let this marvelous creation do its work. The amazing secret to this easy-to-use time-saver is the freezer bowl, which is included with the machine. It may also be purchased separately.

Just keep the freezer bowl in your freezer (we keep ours in there year-round). Whenever you are ready to make a frozen treat, like ice cream or gelato, simply remove the bowl from the freezer and pour in the already mixed ingredients. Put the bowl in the machine, and turn it on. In about 25 minutes, your treat is ready!

***Important note: If you use any of these recipes in a traditional ice cream maker, I’d be interested in knowing how the gelato turns out. The gelato may not thicken as quickly. Also, please keep in mind that the gelato will still be soft after thickening, like soft serve ice cream. If you want it to harden more, you can stick it in a container in the freezer for a couple of hours. That’s what I do for a firmer gelato experience. Some people call it “curing”.

Fruit Gelato Ingredients

4 cups of fresh or frozen fruit

1 ½ cups granulated sugar, or to taste 

½ cup cold water 

1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional) 

½ cup whipping cream (sometimes I use 2% milk and no one seems to notice)

Directions

Add all of the ingredients to the food processor, puree until smooth, then take the freezer bowl component of the Cuisinart ice cream maker out of the freezer where it is stored.

Pour the mixture in, then flip a switch to turn on the machine.

About 20 minutes later, check the progress. If peaks are forming and the gelato has gotten quite thick, remove it from the ice cream maker (it will be very soft).

Scrape it into a plastic freezer-safe container and put it in the freezer to solidify. The whole process only takes about 25 minutes, including the time in the ice cream maker. So simple!

 

how to make gelato Strawberry banana gelato

Fruit Gelato

This easy fruit gelato recipe is the basis for many different fruit gelato variations.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Freezing Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Calories 370 kcal

Equipment

  • food processor
  • ice cream maker

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups fresh or frozen fruit
  • cups granulated sugar or to taste
  • ½ cup cold water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice optional
  • ½ cup whipping cream or milk

Instructions
 

  • Add all of the ingredients to the food processor, puree until smooth.
  • Take the freezer bowl component of the Cuisinart ice cream maker out of the freezer where it is stored.
  • Pour the mixture in, then flip a switch to turn on the machine.
  • About 25 minutes later, check the progress. If peaks are forming and the gelato has gotten quite thick, remove it from the ice cream maker (it will be very soft).
  • Serve immediately or scrape it into a plastic freezer-safe container and put it in the freezer to firm up.

Notes

The calories were calculated for the whipping cream option. If you choose to use milk, the calories are reduced to 290 per one-cup serving.
Keyword desserts, easy recipes, gelato

Homemade Fruit gelato strawberry gelato in a bowl

Homemade Fruit Gelato Flavors

To customize this gelato recipe for the fruit you have on hand, either fresh or frozen, try these ideas. Although suggestions for sugar content are included, you can adjust the sugar content to fit your taste. If you are using melons or peaches, make sure to wait until they ripen fully so your gelato is smooth and creamy. Here are some excellent combinations for making homemade fruit gelato.

How to Make Homemade Banana Gelato

Peel and slice the banana into chunks before putting it into the food processor. Use 4 cups of sliced banana and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.

How to Make Homemade Blackberry Gelato

Use 4 cups of fresh or frozen blackberries and 1 1/2 cups of sugar. You may want to strain out the seeds when pouring into the ice cream maker.

How to Make Homemade Blueberry Gelato

Use 4 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.

How to Make Homemade Cantaloupe Gelato

Slice the cantaloupe into chunks before putting it into the food processor. Use 4 cups of sliced cantaloupe and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.

How to Make Homemade Huckleberry Gelato

Use 4 cups of fresh or frozen huckleberries and 1 cup of sugar.

How to Make Homemade Mango Gelato

Peel and slice the mango into chunks before putting it into the food processor. Use 4 cups of sliced mango and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.

How to Make Homemade Peach Gelato

Peel and slice the peaches into chunks before putting it into the food processor. Use 4 cups of sliced peaches (fresh is best) and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.

How to Make Homemade Pineapple Gelato

Peel and slice the pineapple into chunks before putting it into the food processor. Use 4 cups of sliced pineapple (fresh is best) and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.

How to Make Homemade Raspberry Gelato

Use 4 cups of fresh or frozen raspberries and 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups of sugar, depending upon the sweetness of the berries. You may want to strain out the seeds when pouring into the ice cream maker.

How to Make Homemade Strawberry Gelato

Halve the berries before putting them in the food processor. Use 4 cups of fresh or frozen strawberries and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.

how to make gelato fresh strawberries

How to Make Homemade Watermelon Gelato

Slice the watermelon into chunks before putting it into the food processor. Use 4 cups of sliced watermelon and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.

Other Fruit Combinations

Of course, there are other fruit combinations you can make. For the photoshoot for this post, I made strawberry banana gelato using 2 cups of strawberries and 2 cups of bananas. You could also combine berries. Raspberry blueberry gelato is divine, and for that gelato recipe I use 2 cups of each type of berry. It’s fun to create new combinations!

All-Purpose Homemade Cream Gelato Recipe

This next homemade gelato recipe requires a few extra steps, but it produces a wonderfully creamy end result. This is the gelato recipe you would use for flavors like vanilla, chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, or the very popular Biscoff gelato. You will need to separate egg yolks from egg whites. If you don’t have an egg separator, you could use a simple one like the one I have, which works really well.

 

Mine used to belong to my beloved grandma, who hosted Tupperware parties all the time. I am embarrassed to admit that for years I had no idea what this was used for. I kept it because my dear grandma had used it. I didn’t realize it was for separating eggs until I began bringing Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes to every family holiday gathering. Finally, the mystery was solved!

Other Equipment Needed

You will also need a stand mixer, a medium-sized pan, a candy thermometer, a small food chopper or processor, and an ice cream maker. My stand mixer is also a hand-me-down from my dear late mother-in-law. I use it often and think of her every time. I’m so grateful for the kitchen items that have been passed on to me by others. Each one brings back special memories. If you haven’t been the recipient of a hand-me-down mixer, I highly recommend the KitchenAid brand. Mine is vintage golden yellow, which I love. The new ones come in many other fun colors, like silver.

 

All-Purpose Cream Gelato Ingredients (Biscoff Variation)

8 egg yolks

1 cup granulated sugar

3 cups milk

1 cup whipping cream

Dash of salt

1/2 package Biscoff biscuits (about 16 biscuits–only if you are making the Biscoff recipe)

Directions for All-Purpose Cream Gelato

In a small food processor, pulse the Biscoff biscuits until you have crumbs. Of course, this is only for the Biscoff version of the recipe. I have a handy little chopper I like to use for jobs like this. I’ve had mine for years and it’s still going strong. I frequently use it for chopping nuts.

 

Separate egg yolks from egg whites by holding the egg separator over a small bowl, letting the egg white drip out, then quickly and carefully transferring the egg yolk into the stand mixer bowl. Add the sugar to the yolks in the stand mixer bowl, then beat until the beater creates soft swirls in the pale yellow mixture. 

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, cream, and salt until the mixture reaches 170 degrees. Use a candy thermometer clipped onto the side of the pan to measure the temperature as you stir.

 

With the stand mixer running on low speed, slowly add hot milk mixture to egg yolks to temper the eggs. This keeps the eggs from cooking and helps the mixture to thicken. In order to keep from making a mess, I highly recommend the KitchenAid pouring chute.

 

Return the mixture to the saucepan. It should still be quite warm, so should not take long to heat to 180 degrees. While heating, slowly stir in the Biscoff crumbs or whatever flavor you choose to add.

When the mixture reaches 180 degrees, remove it from the heat and chill completely. I chilled my mixture overnight.

Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker to freeze until the texture is compact and creamy, about 25 minutes if you are using the Cuisinart ice cream maker.

Serve immediately or store in the freezer for up to one month.

how to make gelato biscoff gelato finished

Homemade Cream Gelato with Biscoff Biscuits

This homemade cream gelato is the base for many different creamy gelato varieties. For this recipe, we used Biscoff biscuits.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Freezing Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6
Calories 409 kcal

Equipment

  • mini-chopper
  • egg separator
  • Candy thermometer
  • stand mixer
  • medium saucepan
  • ice cream maker

Ingredients
  

  • 8 egg yolks
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1 dash salt
  • ½ package Biscoff biscuits (about 16 biscuits–only if you are making the Biscoff recipe)

Instructions
 

  • In a small food processor, pulse the Biscoff biscuits until you have crumbs. Of course, this is only for the Biscoff version of the recipe.
  • Separate egg yolks from egg whites by holding the egg separator over a small bowl, letting the egg white drip out, then quickly and carefully transferring the egg yolk into the stand mixer bowl.
  • Add the sugar to the yolks in the stand mixer bowl, then beat until the beater creates soft swirls in the pale yellow mixture. 
  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, cream, and salt until the mixture reaches 170 degrees. Use a candy thermometer clipped onto the side of the pan to measure the temperature as you stir.
  • With the stand mixer running on low speed, slowly add hot milk mixture to egg yolks to temper the eggs. This keeps the eggs from cooking and helps the mixture to thicken.
  • Return the mixture to the saucepan. It should still be quite warm, so should not take long to heat to 180 degrees. While heating, slowly stir in the Biscoff crumbs or whatever flavor you choose to add.
  • When the mixture reaches 180 degrees, remove it from the heat and chill completely. I chilled my mixture overnight.
  • Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker to freeze until the texture is compact and creamy, about 25 minutes if you are using the Cuisinart ice cream maker.
  • Serve immediately or store in the freezer for up to one month.

Notes

The calorie count includes the addition of the Biscoff biscuits. The basic recipe without the biscuits has 311 calories per 1 cup serving.
Keyword desserts, gelato

Homemade Cream Gelato Flavors

To customize this cream gelato recipe, try these ideas. Although suggestions for sugar content are included, you can adjust the sugar content to fit your taste. Here are some excellent combinations for making homemade cream gelato. Have fun trying these top gelato recipes!

Homemade chocolate cream gelato

How to Make Homemade Chocolate Gelato

Add one tablespoon dark cocoa powder instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

How to Make Homemade Coffee Gelato

Add one tablespoon coffee liqueur instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

How to Make Homemade Lemon Gelato

Cook strips of zest from one lemon when heating the milk. Strain the zest out of the mixture when adding to the eggs and sugar. Add one tablespoon lemon liqueur instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

lemon gelato with berries

How to Make Homemade Maple Nut Gelato

Add two tablespoons of maple syrup and 1/2 cup of finely chopped walnuts or pecans instead of the Biscoff crumbs and reduce the sugar content to 1/2 cup.

How to Make Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Gelato

Add one tablespoon of mint extract and 1 cup of finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of the Biscoff crumbs and reduce the sugar content to 3/4 cup.

How to Make Homemade Orange Gelato

Cook strips of zest from one orange when heating the milk. Strain the zest out of the mixture when adding to the eggs and sugar. Add one tablespoon orange liqueur instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

How to Make Homemade Oreo Gelato

Add one cup crushed Oreos instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

How to Make Homemade Pistachio Gelato

Add 1/2 cup pistachio paste instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Spice Gelato

Add 1/2 cup (or more) Libby’s Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

How to Make Homemade Salted Caramel Gelato

Increase the dash of salt to 1 teaspoon and add 2 tablespoons of caramel syrup (or more, to taste) instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

How to Make Homemade Vanilla Gelato

Add one tablespoon of vanilla extract instead of the Biscoff crumbs and keep the sugar content the same.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Gelato

How is gelato different than ice cream? Ah, the classic gelato vs. ice cream question! Gelato recipes often call for milk instead of cream, but not always. Ice cream generally contains more air and gelato is often denser.

Which is better for you ice cream or gelato? Gelato made with milk has fewer calories than gelato made with cream. When gelato is made with cream, one serving of gelato has about the same amount of calories as a serving of a comparable flavor of ice cream.

Should gelato have eggs? As you have read in this post, some gelato recipes contain eggs and some do not. It depends upon the type of gelato you want to make.

Which country invented gelato? Gelato is often credited to Italy, but answers vary on its exact origins. The Italy Magazine website refers to gelato as having ancient Mesopotamian roots. Modern gelaterias abound in Italy.

Do you need an ice cream maker to make gelato? No, you can make gelato without an ice cream maker, but it involves repeated whipping of the mixture as it freezes in a pan. If you want to learn how to make homemade gelato without an ice cream machine, you certainly can do it. You will just use your mixer more and do a lot of stirring during the freezing process.

Where Are the Best Places to Get Gelato? If you ever have the chance to travel to Italy, there are gelaterias everywhere, it seems. Some of my favorite places were found near Vatican City and in Florence, just off of Piazza della Repubblica. My dad is an absolute devotee of gelato, so we visited a lot of gelaterias when I traveled to Italy with my parents. Here in the United States, the best gelato I’ve had was at Gelato Love in Carlsbad, California.

gelato flavors in Carlsbad

Is This Easy Homemade Gelato Beckoning You?

I had a lot of fun making gelato for the photos in this post. Has this recipe made you crave some creamy gelato of your own? If you decide to try it, I’d love to know which gelato flavor is your favorite. Was it tough to decide which one to make?

Whether you are planning a tea party, making a treat, or making a meal, it’s always nice to have a plan. If you’re looking for a way to get more organized with your food planning efforts, I’ve got something for you. Free, editable meal planners! The templates can be used over and over, as often as you need them. You can make as many duplicates as you like, and you’ll be able to save old meal plans for future reference. I hope it simplifies things for you.

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I hope you enjoy finding your favorite flavor of gelato. May all of your gelato-making endeavors meet with great success!

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Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and school librarian who likes to create and share recipes, often using fresh ingredients from her family’s small Pacific Northwest farm. To learn more about what this website has to offer for foodies, click on over to the Food page.

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14 thoughts on “How to Make Fruity, Creamy Homemade Gelato Flavors”

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you so much! I hate eating in the summer, so I eat a lot of junk. These recipes will help me eat healthier and also stay cool!

    Reply
    • Great! I’m glad these homemade gelato ideas will fit your needs.

      Reply
  2. 5 stars
    I was looking at an ice cream maker at Lidl yesterday, and I thought it was too bulky for my kitchen. I have never made ice cream, but I do love any type (who doesn’t?:))). Coffee flavour is number one, then pistachio, and of the fruity ones, I prefer strawberry. I must try a way without churning, not sure if I need a special recipe for that.

    Reply
    • Yes, there are recipes for no-churn gelato out there. The ones I’ve seen involve a lot of stirring and refreezing. Best of luck with all of your gelato endeavors.

      Reply
  3. I have always wondered how to make homemade gelato. Now, I know. This recipe looks so refreshing and cool on these hot summer days.

    Reply
    • I hope you get the chance to try making homemade gelato.

      Reply
  4. 5 stars
    Love these recipes and instructions how to make homemade gelato! They sound so easy and fun! I need to try them. Thanks for sharing these great ideas for a summer treat!

    Reply
    • You are most welcome! I love to share recipes for homemade gelato.

      Reply
  5. We love gelato. There’s a shop we go to in Bonaire every day when we’re there. Haven’t ever thought about making homemade gelato but I’m sure I could. Thanks.

    Reply
    • I think you would be great at making your own gelato!

      Reply
  6. 5 stars
    There’s one problem with this post. How exactly are we supposed to choose which flavor to make!? All of these gelato flavors look amazing, I can’t wait to try them. Thanks for showing us how to make homemade gelato, will try this soon!

    Reply
    • Have fun deciding which flavors of homemade gelato to try.

      Reply
  7. 5 stars
    These gelato recipes look yummy! Thank you for sharing them. I’ll have to give as many as I can a try!

    Reply
    • I’m glad you are so enthusiastic about the gelato recipes. Have fun trying them out!

      Reply

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