Chocolate Gelato Recipe with Cacao Nibs

This Chocolate Gelato Recipe with Cacao Nibs (also called Chocolate Nibs) is made with chocolate upon chocolate, all blended together to create a super smooth, super creamy and rich bowl of pure deliciousness. It’s a chocolate lover’s dream!

You can absolutely buy amazing ice cream and gelato. There are many incredible brands out there.

However, it doesn’t get much better homemade — the process is fun and the result is dreamy.

The cacao nibs (chocolate nibs) give this chocolate gelato recipe the perfect crunch that doesn’t add more sugar, and balances the flavor.

What are cacao nibs?

• Cacao nibs are pieces of cocoa beans from the Theobroma cacao tree.
• How do we get them? Cocoa beans are fermented, dried, roasted and then cracked. After the beans have been cracked, a brittle shell, along with the nibs are left. The shells are then removed and we use the nibs.
• Cacao nibs are also incredibly good for you! When pure, they’re naturally high in fibre, protein, and healthy fats. They are also low in sugar and an excellent plant-based source of iron.

(And to make chocolate bars . . .  . once the shells are removed the cacao nibs are then ground into a paste with sugar and sometimes milk powder.)

This recipe is really a double chocolate gelato recipe, and it’s unbelievably rich, creamy and beyond delicious.

How to Make it

There are 3 stages to this Chocolate Gelato Recipe.

Stage 1: Scald the milk, add the chocolate and mix until it’s melted. Cool completely.

Stage 2: With an electric mixer, blend the egg yolks with the sugar and then combine it with the chocolate mixture. When you blend the egg yolks with the sugar, mix until you get to the “ribbon stage” — this is when you drizzle it and it rests for a few seconds on top before sinking in. (See below image.) Then cook, stirring almost constantly to make a custard. Cool completely.Stage 3: Churn the gelato.

(More detailed instructions are below.)

What is churning?

• Churning is essentially mixing ice cream or gelato as the mixture freezes.
• It can be done by machine or by hand. The former is much easier! It helps prevent ice crystals from forming and creates a super smooth texture.

My favorite part in the chocolate gelato (or ice-cream) making process, is when the lid is first removed after churning to reveal this luscious sight.

Just look at that!

Gelato vs. Ice Cream

• Gelato is typically churned much more slowly than ice cream, therefore less air is incorporated into it, making it more dense.
• Gelato is served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream, which naturally makes it softer.
• And finally, gelato is actually made with less fat than ice cream, making its flavor more intense.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

• You must have patience. As noted above, there are 3 stages to making this Chocolate Gelato with Cacao Nibs: 1), melting chocolate into milk, 2), cooking the egg-sugar mixture with the chocolate-milk mixture to make a custard, and 3), churning. After stage 1 and 2, the ingredients must completely cool before moving on. The best way to do this is over a couple days — I typically do stage one in the morning and let it cool for a few hours. Then I do stage two that afternoon and let it cool overnight. And stage three happens the next day.
• Make sure to mix the egg yolks with the sugar long enough — to achieve the “ribbon stage.” (See above image.)
• After you make the custard, strain the mixture to be sure it’s lump free.
• I use semisweet chocolate in this recipe, you can also use bittersweet if your prefer.
• As I said the cacao nibs are the perfect crunch in this recipe — however, if you’re not into them and still want the crunch, mini chocolate chips would be next best. And of course, you can opt out of all add-ins and go for just a super smooth creaminess.
• If the gelato is especially hard when you’re ready to serve it, let it sit at room temperature until it’s as soft as you’d like.

I hope you enjoy every last scoop (and lick!) of this Chocolate Gelato recipe!

More delicious gelato recipes:

• Kahlúa Espresso Gelato Recipe
• Fresh Mint Gelato wtih Chocolate
• Best Banana Gelato

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