Thinking of bringing something to your friends’ holiday party but not sure what? Well, here’s a treat that is sure to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth and is fairly easy to whip up. The color is kind of Christmasy too! I made this gelato for Thanksgiving, but I’m sure your friends wouldn’t frown upon you if you showed up at their holiday meal w/ this in hand…
Cranberry Gelato w/ Roasted Hazelnuts
Ingredients: (for cranberry sauce)
12 ounces fresh cranberries
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon lime juice
Procedure: (for cranberry sauce)
1) Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil; maintain at a slow boil for 5 minutes
2) Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 15 minutes until sauce thickens
3) Remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes; refrigerate overnight
Ingredients: (for gelato)
1/2 cup sugar
6 egg yolks
1 quart half & half
1/3 cup roasted hazelnuts (roughly chopped)
1 1/2 cups cranberry sauce
Procedure: (for gelato)
1) In a metal bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until mixture becomes smooth and pale yellow
2) Place half & half in a heavy pot and heat until scalded
3) Very slowly whisk half & half into egg/sugar mixture so as not to curdle the mixture
4) Place bowl w/ mixture over a pot of simmering water, stirring continuously w/ a heat resistant spatula until mixture coats the back of a metal spoon (do not let mixture exceed 170 degrees F to prevent curdling), then quickly place bowl in an ice bath to stop the cooking process and promote rapid cooling
5) In a food processor, blend together cranberry sauce and gelato mixture, then chill in fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight
6) Churn mixture in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions, adding the hazelnuts when mixture starts to freeze
7) Pour gelato into a 2 quart plastic container, stir to evenly distribute hazelnuts, then place a piece of parchment paper cut to size on the surface of gelato (this will reduce air exposure and prevent ice crystals from forming on the surface of the gelato), seal container and freeze until firm
Yield: Approx. 1 1/2 quarts
Happy Holidays!