Homemade gelatos are the best and my cranberry and eggnog gelato are perfect for the holiday season.
Each recipe will make a little more than a quart of homemade gelato, and depending upon how you serve it could be for 1 person or up to 6.
If you’ve never made ice cream or gelato, you really don’t know what your missing. To me, the big difference in gelato is the use of mostly milk instead of heavy cream. I do use some heavy cream to help with the consistency, but if you use too much heavy cream it becomes too heavy and instead of the intense flavors of the main ingredient, the cream and the sugar become the star of the show.
A gelato maker does not put as much air into the finished product as does an ice cream maker and this helps intensify the flavors. You will find gelato recipes that call for a custard don’t seem as flavorful as the easy version. What could be easier than mixing up your ingredients and in just a few minutes? After that, the machine does all the work.
If you love Gelato you might also like these recipes:
- Strawberry Gelato Recipe
- Strawberry Ricotta Gelato
- Meyer Lemon Gelato
- Blackberry and Mango Gelato Recipes
If you’ve tried my Gelato recipes or any other recipe on askchefdennis.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram @chefdenniseats and @chefdennistravels, Twitter and Facebook.
Eggnog Gelato & Cranberry Gelato
Ingredients
Eggnog Gelato
- 2 Cups Eggnog very good quality
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp Meyer's Dark Rum optional
- 1 tsp ground vanilla bean
- ¾ cup sugar
Cranberry Gelato
- 2 cups whole berry cranberry sauce homemade
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup sugar
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Eggnog Gelato
- mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, using a wire whip to make sure all the sugar is dissolved.
- Add mixture to your ice cream or gelato maker and follow instructions from manufacturer for freezing.
- Place finished gelato into another container and freeze overnite for best results, or at least 2 hours if you can't wait!
Cranberry Gelato
- Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl, using a wire whip to make sure all of the sugar is dissolved.
- Add mixture to your ice cream or gelato maker and follow instructions from manufacturer for freezing.
- Place gelato into another container and allow to freeze overnight.
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
- place all ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil, allow to continue a slow boil for 5 minutes
- reduce heat and allow to simmer for 15 minutes, sauce will thicken
- allow to cool for about 20 minutes, then refrigerate over night.
- Cranberry sauce will become jellied when fully chilled.
Joann Molek
The cranberry gelato was the first recipe I tried with my new Cuisinart gelato/ice cream maker. Wow. The only thing I did different was use an immersion blender on the cranberries to make a smoother texture. Perfection. Can’t wait to try the eggnog gelato. I used to hate eggnog until I made it homemade for my stepson. I never knew what I was missing! YUM!
Chef Dennis Littley
great idea with the immersion blender on the cranberries. The egg nog gelato was one of my favorites, I hope you enjoy it. I have a few other gelato recipes on my site as well.
Chef D
just use the basic recipe and interchange the ingredients you have on hand, I’ve made strawberry, blackberry, mango, and lemon so far using the same recipe for the cranberry gelato.
thanks for stopping by!
Charlotte Julienne
Lovely blog and fantastic photos!
Chef D
Thank you!
Ruth
That machine looks incredible! I’ll definetely add it to my wish list! Thanks for the info 😉
Ruth
I love this recipe! What is the difference between a gelato and ice cream machine? I love gelato so much that I’m considering buying a machine to make it.
Chef D
hi Ruth
a gelato machine doesn’t put as much air into the mixture as an ice cream maker, I don’t think in the home versions it matters as much, but that’s really the only difference that I know about. I go the delonghi GM6000 and it really has been wonderful and was priced right.
nicole {sweet peony}
i had no idea there were even gelato makers… how fun! i’m loving these gelato flavors! the cranberry gelato is gorgeous! thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Nicole, RD
Ice cream/gelatos are so hard to photograph well…kudos! I just want to lick the screen clean! I didn’t realize there were special geltato makers…or that there was any difference, really. I am picking up some egg nog this week…I think this may be next on the list of sweet treats to make 🙂
In Katrina's Kitchen
I can practically taste this goodness through my computer screen! My 1 yr old is obsessed with homemade popsicles right now. Nevermind that it is almost December 🙂
Megan @ Pip and Ebby
I guess I’ve never known the difference between gelato and ice cream until now! Thanks for the info. And thanks for the great recipes! Easy and delicious!!
Liz
Note to self: Put gelato maker on my Christmas list so I can make Chef Dennis’ gelato.
Cassie (Bake Your Day)
I would love to have a gelato machine. This sounds just perfect! Great way to welcome the holidays.
Janet@FCTC
Chef, you don’t mind if I drool all over your blog do you?
I am an ice cream FIEND and I am not ice cream biased… gelato works for me hehe. I adore egg nog and I adore cranberries so you’d better believe that both of these will be being made in my ice cream maker. That is, assuming I don’t burn out my computer drooling before I can print these out. 😛
Laur
This looks like the perfect autumn recipe! Going on my to-make list.
Cucina49
I am such a fan of gelato, but have never tried to make it–these recipes might be just the push I need to try it!
Peggy
Both of these flavors sound perfect for the season! And I definitely love the simplicity of both recipes, as well =)
claire @ the realistic nutritionist
I love eggnog. I drink SO MUCH OF IT. all the time. It’s a problem.
Dara
I am so impressed. Gelato? Wow. I know what I’m asking Santa for. Thanks!
Emily Malloy @Cleanliness
This is perfection!
Elyse @The Cultural Dish
Eggnog and cranberry gelato!! Yes please!
Kath
I’m not a huge eggnog fan, but I am so excited to try the cranberry gelato! I made way too much cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, and this will be a perfect way to use some of it!
deana@lostpastremembered
I just got the ice cream maker of my dreams after years of struggling with the put in the freezer type. 15 minutes and I have 2 cups of ice cream… whoa what a difference. Will definitely try the eggnog ice cream as I love it so. Can’t imagine anything better for apple and pumpkin pies.
Suzi
If I had a gelato maker I would make the eggnog right now. I bet the cranberry is really tasty too, made from fresh cranberry sauce. I think you may have gotten everyone wanting to use their machine or go out and get one. Cheers!!
Lora ~ cakeduchess
Oh my gelato goodness! You had to make two! Your photos are so pretty and your gelatos look absolutely deliziosi! 🙂
Jen
Oh my goodness, I used to LOVE Turkey Hill ice cream! I used to get it when I was in college in PA, and I still have dreams about eating their Peppermint Ice Cream again! Looks delicious chef.
Kiri W.
Wow, the eggnog ice cream sounds to die for! One day, I;ll play around with a gelato/ice cream maker!
Jill Colonna
Denis, this does look incredibly delicious and ideal for this time of year. You know, I’ve still never had Eggnog so high time I tried it in ice cream at least, since on an ice cream craze just now for some reason. Cranberry, too? Love the combination.
Lisa @ Tarte du Jour
Be still my heart… what fabulous gelato! I am a huge gelato enthusiast along with my family. We have spent many years searching for a gelato that comes close the the goodness we tasted once in Florence years back (to no avail) So needless to say I’ve started trying to make it myself. I adore your interesting flavors… very chic of you, Chef Dennis!
Alyssa
When I recently made sweet potato and eggnog ice cream recently, I came across the same thing as you while searching recipes for inspiration. All of them had the instructions for making the eggnog, but I wanted one that used the eggnog I already had. This looks like a great gelato! I don’t care for eggnog, but my husband does the same thing. As soon as he sees it, he buys tons and then never drinks it. I’ll be trying your recipe as well! I do have a question…what’s the difference between a gelato maker and ice cream maker? Great post with beautiful photos!
Chef D
Hi Alyssa
from what I’ve read the gelato maker does not put as much air into the mixture which makes it more dense and more flavorful. My guess would be because your not using as much cream is that there is no need to whip it quite so much. All I know is that Gelato flavors always seem so much more intense.
anne
I’ve have been checking the price of gelato maker but *sigh* 😀 so i’ll just settle for my ice cream maker for now 😛 . Just made some strawberry ice cream 😀 but still drooling over that lovely flavors 😉 Great photos , too !
Jessica
Im making Gelao for a school preoject and im using my ice cream maker. this will be my second time for this school project and the ice cream maker works good for Gelato! My dad said instead of making ice cream with the ice cream maker he think Gelato should be the new ice cream in the house. haha I like his thinking.
Dionne Baldwin
I would love both of these delicious gelatos to smear in between two cookies for a sandwich! MMM MMM MMM! Ice creams and gelatos are something that we really appreciate in my house but seldom make.
You know, I do love the taste of eggnog but I dislike it cold in a glass. It’s either got to be steamed or frozen like this. I’m going to have to give this a try!
Boulder Locavore
Yummy! There nothing more telltale of this time of the year than Egg Nog. Making it yourself and in this form is perfect. The cranberry gelato sounds fantastic too and a wonderful seasonal alternative to all the dishes we’ve just enjoyed for Thanksgiving. I’m hearing a Christmas carol in my head as I read…..though it was 60 here too today. Feels like anything but almost December! Great post and recipes as always (awesome photos too; love the single flavor ‘glamour shots’!)
Amy
These both sound wonderful Dennis! Especially the eggnog gelato though! I love eggnog, but I think some eggnog gelato with some warm apple crisp sounds even more delicious! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving :)!
dudut @mytwistedrecipe
lovely! i wish i have my own gelato maker :'(