Gelato is one of my absolute favorite desserts when it’s warm outside. This Vanilla Milk Gelato is a perfect treat, with a creamy, dense texture and intense vanilla flavor. Vanilla gelato is similar to vanilla bean ice cream, but with milk instead of heavy cream. If you’ve been wanting to experiment with homemade gelato, now is the time to get started! Learn how to make this easy vanilla gelato recipe in no time.
I’m not sure what it is about the word milk, but whenever I see it in a dessert title, I want it.
Maybe it has something to do with the implications of milky, at least in my mind: creamy, smooth, a pleasant mouthfeel, and slightly sweet but far from cloying.
Like cream, but without the heaviness. I feel the same way about my milk panna cotta. Does that make sense?
Awhile back, I was browsing through the food section of a used bookstore and I came across several Donna Hay cookbooks. Jackpot! I have been a fan of Donna’s for years. Her recipes and food photography are a huge inspiration to me.
This Vanilla Milk Gelato recipe is adapted from Flavours, and I highly recommend making it and picking up a copy of the book. Each section is divided into ingredients such as vanilla, cinnamon and chili.
The photos are beautiful. Also, I am a bit obsessed with her vanilla chapter.
Gelato vs Ice Cream
While ice cream and gelato are very similar, gelato has a lower fat content. Ice cream typically has a fat content of 10 percent or more, while gelato uses more milk, and often less egg yolks (sometimes none).
Where to Buy Vanilla Beans
Don’t purchase vanilla beans from the grocery store; they’re a huge rip off! Aren’t they some insane price like $7-$10 for 3 beans in a spice bottle? Don’t do that.
I buy vanilla beans in bulk online. There are plenty of online stores. I’ve purchased several times from Vanilla Products USA, and am happy with the quality. (Note: it appears they’ve gone up in price since my last order, so you may want to shop around. Still much cheaper than the grocery store).
How to Scrape a Vanilla Bean
Place the bean on a cutting board. Use the tip of a paring knife to cut the bean in half lengthwise. Use the dull edge of the blade to scrape the seeds from the pod.
How to Substitute Vanilla Paste
Another option is to use vanilla bean paste. One teaspoon of vanilla paste equals one vanilla bean or one teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
Looking for more frozen desserts?
Check out my Passion Fruit Sorbet, Baileys Ice Cream, and Cookies and Mascarpone Ice Cream!
Vanilla Milk Gelato Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat the milk and vanilla bean in a medium saucepan set over medium heat until simmering, stirring occasionally with a heat-proof spatula. Meanwhile, vigorously whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a medium-sized bowl until the yolks lighten in color slightly.
- Remove the milk from the heat and pour slowly into the egg yolks while whisking. Pour everything back into the saucepan, scraping the bowl.
- Return the saucepan to the heat and, using a heat-proof spatula, stir until the mixture thickens slightly, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard the vanilla bean. Stir in the cream and vanilla extract. Allow to cool (I let it cool overnight).
- Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and prepare the gelato according to the manufacturer's instructions, until it's frozen and scoopable. Alternatively, place the mixture in a metal container and freeze, beating at 1-hour intervals, until the gelato is scoopable.
Notes
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
For immediate help troubleshooting a recipe, please email me using the form on my contact page. I’ll try to respond to urgent questions as quickly as possible! For all general questions, please leave a comment here :)
Oh darn for me. Don’t get me wrong this looks and sounds delicious but I am on a strict no sugar or dairy diet. Hmmm….I wonder how this would come out using coconut milk and xylitol, stevia?
Oh, I must try!!!
This looks delish!
So simple and so beautiful. I’m going to add this to my list of things to make.
LOVE gelato, and I totally just got an ice cream maker, yay me!! I’m making this.
Looks absolutely delish!! :)
Looks amazing! I’ve never had gelato before so this would be great to try.
That looks so good, and since I live in Florida, it’s gelato weather here, I never thought about making it at home, thanks for the recipe
Easy recipe sounds good! The cookbook sounds great I think I would love the vanilla section!
This looks so good. I need to try it!!
Um, to me any weather is gelato weather ;) love this recipe!!
This looks so good! Yummy! I’m going to try it!
This is perfection. The most delicious flavor combined with gelato. I cannot wait to make this.
I love this recipe. I have added a bar of dark chocolate, chopped up when I put it in another conner to harden. I make banana gelato, 3 ripe bananas pureed with 1 t lemon juice. Oh my goodness. Tomorrow i’m making peach gelato, 1 cup of fresh peach puree and 1 T lemon juice added to this recipe. ❤❤❤
Corrections to above: make should be made, conner should be container, should be 1 t lemon juice instead of 1 T. for the peach puree.
I will have to look at my comment before I post. Lesson learned.
Nice recipe, have never made gelato before, so this is an inspiring recipe for me, thank you for sharing it!