Honey Gelato

Jul 9, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Beans Medium

A generous swirl of honey gelato in a small glass cup with a flat gelato spade

Rich and creamy honey gelato enhanced with vanilla bean and a touch of mascarpone cheese for added silkiness. This batch yields about 3 cups of smooth gelato with a deep honey flavor and balanced sweetness.

Prep 15 min

Cook 20 min

Cooling 2 hr 20 min

Total 2 hr 55 min

Servings 6

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1 ½ cups (360.0 ml)whole milk
¾ cup (180.0 ml)heavy cream
¼ cup (50.0 g)granulated sugar
2.0 tbsp (14.0 g)skim milk powder
⅛ tsp (0.7 g)fine sea salt
⅓ cup (113.0 g)honey (mild-flavored)
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
¼ cup (60.0 g)mascarpone cheese

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine the whole milk, heavy cream, and skim milk powder. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the milk mixture; add the empty pod as well.
Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a gentle simmer to help infuse the vanilla flavor and dissolve powders.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and cover; let the mixture steep for 15 minutes for maximum flavor extraction.
Remove the vanilla bean pod and stir in the granulated sugar, fine sea salt, and honey until fully dissolved.
Return the mixture to low heat and cook gently while stirring constantly until it reaches 170°F (77°C), ensuring pasteurization without boiling.
Remove from heat and whisk in the mascarpone cheese until smooth and fully incorporated, enriching the gelato’s texture.
Transfer the base to a clean container and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled.
Pour the chilled base into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions, about 20 minutes, until it achieves a soft-serve consistency.
Transfer the gelato to a freezer-safe container, cover tightly, and freeze for at least 1 hour to firm up before serving.
Serve with a light drizzle of honey on top for extra flavor and visual appeal.

Tips

Using mascarpone cheese adds luxurious creaminess typical of Italian gelato.
Steeping the whole vanilla bean seeds and pod in the warm milk base infuses deep, authentic vanilla aroma.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make honey gelato?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours 20 minutes to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 3 cups (6 servings).

How should I store honey gelato?

Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 5 days; let soften at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving for optimum texture.

Can I make honey gelato ahead?

Prepare and chill the gelato base a day ahead to enhance flavor before churning.

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.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

272 Calories / serving

17.1g Fat

28.2g Carbs

3.3g Protein

28.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~1632 cal · 103g fat · 169g carbs · 20g protein · 170g sugar

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

Per serving · 272 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 51 min·3.0 mi·~5950 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 37 min·1.9 mi·~3700 steps
Moderate cycling 28 min·5.6 mi
Swimming laps 38 min
Jogging 27 min·2.3 mi·~4300 steps
Stair climbing 25 min·~2250 steps
Dancing 44 min
Bodyweight circuit training 28 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 63 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.