Homemade Stracciatella Ice Cream
Stracciatella ice cream is a classic Italian gelato and offers a delicious combination of creamy vanilla and fine chocolate shards. This recipe is for an incredibly easy no-churn stracciatella ice cream that only takes 10 minutes of hands-on prep time using four staple ingredients. A simple, yet delicious chocolate chip gelato, that’s perfect on its own or as a topping for your favorite dessert.
Why you’ll love this easy stracciatella ice cream recipe
- No-churn recipe: No ice cream maker needed.
- Quick and easy: 4 ingredients and 10 minutes of hands-on prep time only.
- Adjust to taste: Use your favorite chocolate – dark, milk chocolate. or even white chocolate.
What is stracciatella ice cream?
Stracciatella gelato was introduced by Enrico Panattoni in Bergamo, Italy in 1962. The chocolate-studded ice cream is a popular Italian dessert known for its simple yet delicious combination of creamy vanilla with thin, irregularly shaped chocolate shards or flakes running through it. The name “stracciatella” is derived from the Italian word “stracciare,” which means “to shred” or “to tear,” reflecting the way the chocolate is added to this popular ice cream.
Ingredients
- Condensed milk – Sweetened condensed ice cream as sweetness to this no-churn ice cream.
- Cream – Full-fat cream adds richness to this gelato.
- Chocolate – Shaved chocolate, chocolate chips, or flakes all work well for stracciatella ice cream. Traditionally made with semi-sweet or dark chocolate, you can also use milk or white chocolate for a sweeter version.
- Vanilla – Vanilla extract adds extra richness and flavor to this ice cream. You can also use vanilla essence or fresh vanilla beans.
Variations
Fruit swirl: Swirl in raspberry, strawberry, or other seasonal fruit purée into the vanilla base before adding the chocolate shards.
Go nuts: Add chopped toasted nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, or pistachios. The combination of creamy ice cream, chocolate shards, and nuts provides extra texture and flavor.
Add crunch: Crushed amaretti add extra texture to this Italian ice cream
Tropical: Add shredded coconut for a tropical, Bounty-like twist. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes and sprinkle some chocolate shards on top.
FAQ
Condensed milk ice cream can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks.
It usually takes 4-6 hours to freeze condensed milk ice cream properly. For the best results, let it freeze overnight. Longer freezing times help improve the texture.
Related recipes
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Homemade Stracciatella Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream chilled
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk chilled, 14 oz / 395g each
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Use a chocolate bar and a grater or a vegetable peeler to make chocolate shavings if you don't want to use packaged ones. Set aside.
- Whip 2 cups heavy cream with an electric or stand mixer until soft peaks form. Fold in 1 can sweetened condensed milk and 2 tsp vanilla extract.1 can sweetened condensed milk, 2 cups heavy cream, 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Gently fold in 3/4 cup chocolate chips into the mixture. Pour the ice cream mixture into a freezer-proof container or loaf pan and decorate the top with extra chocolate chips.3/4 cup chocolate chips
- Cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap and freeze the stracciatella ice cream for 4-6 hours or until fully set.
