Amarena Cherry-Style Gelato

Aug 10, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Beans Medium

A generous swirl of amarena cherry-style gelato in a small glass cup with a flat gelato spade

Creamy Amarena cherry gelato enhanced with a touch of mascarpone and real vanilla bean for extra richness and balanced tart cherry flavor.

Prep 20 min

Cook 20 min

Cooling 2 hr 40 min

Total 3 hr 20 min

Servings 6

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1 ½ cups (360.0 ml)whole milk
½ cup (120.0 ml)heavy cream
⅔ cup (135.0 g)granulated sugar
2.0 tbsp (15.0 g)skim milk powder
⅛ tsp (0.75 g)fine sea salt
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
½ cup (120.0 g)mascarpone cheese
¾ cup (150.0 g)amarena-style cherries, chopped, with syrup

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, skim milk powder, salt, and the seeds and pod of the vanilla bean.
Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar and milk powder are dissolved and the mixture reaches 170°F (77°C), just before simmering.
Remove from heat and stir in the mascarpone cheese until fully incorporated and smooth.
Cover and let the mixture steep for 15 minutes to infuse the vanilla flavor and blend the mascarpone richness.
Remove the vanilla bean pod and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl for smoothness.
Cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until thoroughly chilled.
Pour the chilled base into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency, about 20-30 minutes.
During the last 5 minutes of churning, mix in the chopped Amarena cherries along with a few tablespoons of their syrup to distribute evenly.
Transfer the gelato to a freezer-safe container, smooth the top, and freeze for at least 30 minutes to firm up before serving.
Serve scoops topped with a few whole Amarena cherries and a drizzle of reserved cherry syrup if desired.

Tips

Use high-quality mascarpone for a creamy texture and richer flavor; substitute with cream cheese if unavailable but adjust sweetness.
Split and scrape a fresh vanilla bean to maximize aromatic flavor; freeze leftover pods for making vanilla sugar later.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make amarena cherry-style gelato?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours 40 minutes to chill, freeze and rest. The recipe makes about 1 quart (6 servings).

How should I store amarena cherry-style gelato?

Store gelato in an airtight container in the freezer. Consume within one week for optimal taste and texture.

Can I make amarena cherry-style gelato ahead?

Prepare the base and chill overnight before churning to deepen vanilla and mascarpone flavors.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Creamy Amarena cherry gelato enhanced with a touch of mascarpone and real vanilla bean for extra richness and balanced tart cherry flavor.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

294 Calories / serving

18.0g Fat

31.1g Carbs

3.8g Protein

30.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~1764 cal · 108g fat · 187g carbs · 23g protein · 182g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 294 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 56 min·3.3 mi·~6550 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 40 min·2.0 mi·~4000 steps
Moderate cycling 30 min·6.0 mi
Swimming laps 41 min
Jogging 29 min·2.4 mi·~4650 steps
Stair climbing 27 min·~2450 steps
Dancing 48 min
Bodyweight circuit training 30 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 68 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.