I came up with this recipe for four reasons. First, I was tempted by some very beautiful peaches, all yellow with a blush of pinkish orange, and I bought quite a few. Appearances are truly not everything as these peaches proved. They were not as sweet as they looked, so there were no takers for them.
I had some extra milk in the fridge. We don’t need excuses to eat ice cream in this house. Anytime is ice cream time!
Mike at Mike’s Table is having a “Frozen Dessert Party”. This wasn’t a reason at the time this recipe was put together, but it is now. So Mike, this comes to your event.
I wanted to make some ice cream without cream in it. Actually, I’ve never made ice cream at home using cream, except once. And a gelato seemed a good idea.
A gelato is a sort of Italian ice cream made with milk, sugar, eggs and fresh fruit/ chocolate/ nuts. Northern Italy is known for its milk based gelatos where as southern Italy is known for sorbettos, a gelato made from fruit but without milk.
Gelatos have a softer texture and are best served fresh (because of the fruit). I try to avoid eggs if I can, so I’ve used readymade custard powder (which is largely cornstarch) here to make the custard. The spices add an interesting warm and spicy note to the gelato.
My picture doesn’t do this gelato justice (its all melty here and I’m not the greatest photographer) but trust me when I say this is really good. And no calories from cream and fresh fruit too! You can have your gelato and eat it!!
Spiced Peach and Honey Gelato
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk (3% fat)
- 4 peaches large , chopped (about 2 cups)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 tsps vanilla custard powder (or cornstarch and extract)
- 2 star anise points (from 1 flower)
- 3 pods cardamom
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Add the lemon juice to the peaches, mix and puree. Keep aside.
- Heat 3 1/2 cups of the milk in a thick bottomed pan. Add the brown sugar to the milk, stir, and bring to a boil. Powder the spices and add to the remaining xbd cup of milk. Also add the custard powder to this milk. Whisk well and add to the boiling milk. Keep stirring continuously while doing this to prevent lumps from forming. The milk mixture will become a little thicker (a custard of pouring consistency). Turn off the heat and allow it to cool, while stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming over the top.
- Put the cooled milk custard and the peach puree in a blender. Blend well.
- Pour into a steel or plastic container with a tight lid and freeze. As soon as the gelato starts freezing around the sides, break the ice crystals using a blender. Do this twice more to get a creamier texture. Freeze till ready to serve.
- The gelato will be very hard, so you may need to set the temperature a little lower than for freezing ice cream. Otherwise, let it sit outside for a little while before serving. Ideally, the gelato should be a bit soft and melt on your tongue.This recipe makes plenty of gelato. We got roughly three servings each (not all at once!).
I'm Aparna and My Diverse Kitchen is my ovo-lacto vegetarian food blog where you'll find recipes, food stories & photography. I've been blogging since 2007 and believe the kitchen, and the dining table (by extension) is really the heart of a home. 
Hey, Aparna, read this post on Google Reader, seems to be working well since I began yesterday. Like the colour of the ice-cream.
I love what you did with the blushing peaches…
Your gelato looks delicious……
Love the idea of “spicing” the peaches, looks delish!
I would love to take this as an entry to the sweet series cool desserts. Looks scrumptious.
I had the same experience with peaches! I think the gelato looks great!
You are satisfying my sweet craving right now.
Aparna, just love the color and texture. Apt for the season. Viji
Aparna, this ice cream looks and sounds delicious.
That sounds delish…love peach and honey 🙂
Yummy! Just what we need here today. It’s going to be hot and very long night tonight with all the Independence day celebration half the night here! Looks delicious!:)I may sneak in a entry for Nutmeg in my last post! ;D Spice not infused in this dish but nutmeg pd sprinkled on a western dessert! Is that okay for you?
Oh my goodness! This is heaven-sent. I’ll most definitely have to try this. It looks divine.xoxox Amy
Absolute magic Aparna…you’ve done more than justice. RIGHT…this doesnt need an excuse!! WOW…looks far out!!
simply irresistible.
Ice cream without cream! Now thats encouragin people to dig in more often into this sinful dessert :DGreat recipe. Gotta try this sometime!
Excellent Aparna,I always wanted to make gelato without eggs.Thanks u for sharing the beautiful and delicious looking gelato.
Its much easier now, isn’t it Sra?Happy to send it to you as well, Mythreyee. Thanks.I’ll be happy to include your ks for going out dessert, Asha. Thanks.Ice cream is always nice. Don’t know any one who doesn’t like it.
that gelato looks beautiful Aparna! love the flavor in there!:)
The first icecream i evern made was a peach one… that looks great and must have a great flavour.
I love gelato, but it is difficult to find a shop that makes it in my small town in S.C. so, I have to make it myself when I get a craving. I appreciate all of the recipes I can get my hands on. Check out this “cool” article about gelato at http://www.foodista.com
Such a cool idea Aparna. Lovely combination of flavors.