One of my favorite childhood summer memories is licking the dasher after Mom made ice cream. Mom and Dad had the wood bucket style ice cream freezer with the big metal container that required ice cream salt and ice poured all around it, and my sister and I always hung close while Mom lifted the lid and pulled the dasher out. Ice cream flavors were simple vanilla-based with fruit, and banana was one of our favorites. We make our ice creams and gelatos in a counter top electric model now, but I often yearn for that old-fashioned bucket.
I make our banana gelato using a French vanilla base, then stir in mashed ripe bananas before a long chill in the refrigerator. Then just 30 seconds before churning is finished, we squeeze in some warm Nutella, which spreads throughout the gelato, giving chocolaty chunks of goodness in every bite.
It’s not exactly like Mom’s banana ice cream, but it’s still pretty darn good.
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 3/4 cup (131 g) granulated sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 very ripe soft banana, peeled and mashed
- 1/3 cup Nutella, slightly warm but not melted
- GELATO BASE: Put the split vanilla bean and its seeds in the saucepan, then add the milk and 1/2 cup (100 g) of the sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the thermometer registers 170° F/77° C. Remove from heat, cover, and allow to steep for 30 minutes.
- Remove the vanilla bean pod and return the pot to the burner. Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, until the thermometer registers 170° F/77° C.
- In the other 3-quart bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the remaining 1/4 cup (50 g) sugar until the mixture is foamy and slightly thickened.
- Temper the egg yolks by adding about half of the hot milk mixture one ladle at a time, whisking continuously. Whisk the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan and return to the burner. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula until the thermometer registers 185° F/85° C. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Remove from heat and insert the immersion blender into the hot liquid. Blend until smooth. (Note: You can also use a whisk and vigorously whip the mixture, or use a blender.)
- Make an ice bath in the large bowl and set the bowl with the heavy cream mixture on top. Place a fine-mesh strainer on the rim of the bowl and carefully pour the custard through the strainer. Stir the custard about every 5 minutes until the mixture is cooled, about 30 minutes. Remove the bowl from the ice bath, dry the bottom, and stir in the mashed banana. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- CHURN: About 30 minutes before churning, set the bowl in the freezer to get the mixture as cold as possible without starting to freeze. Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s directions for processing. During the final 30 seconds of churning, drop spoonfuls of the Nutella, or you can pipe it in with a sandwich bag if you want smaller bits.
- Transfer the churned gelato to the plastic container. Press a layer of plastic wrap against the gelato and seal the lid on top. Freeze until fully hardened, at least 2 hours. To serve, allow the gelato to soften slightly on the counter for about 2 to 3 minutes before scooping.
3-quart heavy bottom saucepan with lid
instant-read thermometer
whisk
2 nonreactive 3-quart bowls
4 or 5–quart bowl
immersion blender (optional, though helpful)
fine-mesh strainer
ice cream maker (review)
1 quart plastic freezer container with a lid
Recipe Notes
Prep time does not include freezer time.
More Gelato Recipes
Tres Delicious says
August 20, 2011 at 8:06 amFabulous! I love that yummy and indulging ice cream. A cool summer treat
tandteacake says
August 21, 2011 at 4:27 pmMmmmmmh that looks fabulous! Too bad I don’t have a machine. 🙁 But I can still drool on your pictures, right? 😉
Tobias
The Dinner Belle for Kimberlybelle.com says
August 22, 2011 at 3:22 pmOne of my fave breakfasts in Thailand was Nutella and Banana pancakes or crepes, but putting this mix into my favorite dessert of ice cream sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it before fall sets in.
The Dinner Belle for Kimberlybelle.com
Russell at Chasing Delicious says
August 28, 2011 at 4:11 pmWow this ice cream looks incredible! I’ve always loved bananas and chocolate together; the nuetella sounds like a perfect companion for the banana too. Yum! I am definitely adding this to my ice cream list.
cheapcraftymama says
April 10, 2012 at 8:44 pmThat looks SO yummy! I featured it today on my “Top 10 Nutella Recipes” post. Feel free to grab a “featured” button. Also I would love for you to share this (and any other creations) at my new linky party “Pin It and Win It Wednesday” @www.cheapcraftymama.com!