Vanilla Bean Gelato

Sep 14, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Paste Medium

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

Rich and silky vanilla bean gelato made with a custard base enriched with extra egg yolks and enhanced by pure vanilla bean paste and beans for a deep, aromatic vanilla flavor.

Prep 25 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 2 hr 45 min

Total 3 hr 25 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (480.0 ml)whole milk
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)heavy cream
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
2.0 tbsp (12.0 g)skim milk powder
⅛ tsp (0.7 g)fine sea salt
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
1.0 tsp (5.0 g)vanilla bean paste
5.0 large (90.0 g)egg yolks

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine whole milk, heavy cream, half the sugar, skim milk powder, fine sea salt, vanilla bean seeds and pod, and vanilla bean paste. Heat gently over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot and steamy with bubbles forming around the edge, about 170°F (77°C). Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes for full vanilla infusion.
Whisk the egg yolks with the remaining sugar in a heatproof bowl until thickened and pale.
Remove and discard the vanilla pod from the milk mixture. Gradually temper the egg yolks by slowly whisking in about half of the warm milk mixture.
Return the egg yolk and milk mixture back to the saucepan and cook gently over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon, reaching 175°F (79°C). Do not boil to avoid curdling.
Pass the custard through a fine sieve into a clean bowl to ensure smoothness. Cool to room temperature while stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming.
Cover and refrigerate the custard for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight to fully chill and develop flavors.
Pour the chilled custard into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a soft gelato consistency, about 30-40 minutes.
Transfer the gelato to a shallow airtight container and freeze for at least 45 minutes to set before serving.
Serve the gelato slightly softened; garnish optionally with fresh vanilla bean specks or a light dusting of vanilla powder for an elegant finish.

Tips

When infusing vanilla, use both seeds and paste to deepen the vanilla aroma and flavor beyond typical vanilla gelato.
Stir the custard occasionally while cooling to prevent a skin from forming and maintain smooth texture.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla bean gelato?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours 45 minutes to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store vanilla bean gelato?

Store gelato in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week. Allow it to soften slightly in the refrigerator before scooping.

Can I make vanilla bean gelato ahead?

Prepare and chill the custard base up to 24 hours ahead, then churn and freeze just before serving.

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.

Rich and silky vanilla bean gelato made with a custard base enriched with extra egg yolks and enhanced by pure vanilla bean paste and beans for a deep, aromatic vanilla flavor.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

250 Calories / serving

15.8g Fat

23.4g Carbs

4.5g Protein

23.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2000 cal · 126g fat · 187g carbs · 36g protein · 186g sugar

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

Per serving · 250 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 47 min·2.7 mi·~5500 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 34 min·1.7 mi·~3400 steps
Moderate cycling 25 min·5.0 mi
Swimming laps 35 min
Jogging 24 min·2.0 mi·~3850 steps
Stair climbing 23 min·~2050 steps
Dancing 41 min
Bodyweight circuit training 25 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 58 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.

Made with VanillaGoods

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