30 minutes or lessDessertEasy

Basic Gelato

By Instant Pot Culinary Team

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1 Pint

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2 Hours, 30 Minutes

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Easy

Three scoops of plain vanilla gelato in a bright blue bowl on a pink surface, surrounded by waffle cone pieces, pistachios, rainbow sprinkles, honey drizzle, and a yellow napkin.
Red background with darker red circles

Recipe Details

Course: Dessert

Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes

Total Time: 2 Hours, 30 Minutes

Cuisine: Italian-Inspired

Yield: 1 Pint

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup whole milk
  • ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp. cornstarch
  • Pinch of fine sea salt

This is your starting point for gelato at home. This basic gelato base comes together simply, then churns into a soft, dense scoop in the InstantChill Ice Cream Maker. Add in additional flavors and toppings to make it your own!

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Whisk the 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with ½ cup of the whole milk in a small bowl until completely smooth. 
  2. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the cornstarch slurry, remaining milk, heavy whipping cream, and a pinch of salt. Heat until gently simmering. 
  3. Cook and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not overcook. 
  4. Remove from heat. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the mixture and refrigerate for 2 hours until completely cold. 
  5. Pour the chilled base into the InstantChill Mixing Bowl. Use the Gelato program, set to 22 minutes
  6. Enjoy immediately for a soft gelato, or freeze in an airtight container for 1-2 hours for a firmer scoop. 

About the chef

Instant Pot® Culinary Team

Instant Pot® Culinary Team

When life’s moving fast and dinner needs to happen faster, the Instant Pot Culinary Team is here to make it deliciously doable. We cook up recipes for every Instant Pot appliance you’ve got your hands on—so whether you’re tackling Tuesday night or going all-out for the weekend, you’ll have the flavor without the fuss. No overthinking, no babysitting, just good food that works with your schedule (not against it).

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