This creamy, dreamy homemade peanut butter gelato is the perfect summer activity and treat! Churn it in your ice cream maker and serve in bowls with sprinkles on top!
When I studied abroad in Italy a few years back it didn't take us long to realize the peanut butter wasn't a common grocery store item (literal gasp). We had heard a rumor that there was a international grocery store somewhere in Rome and we were determined to find it. And when we did, they had $10 Betty Crocker cake mixes (like literally the $1 ones you can get at Walmart) and a out of stock supply of peanut butter.
So one day in the spirit of desperation, we left for class early in hopes of finding the golden peanut butter store and living happily ever after. I'm pretty sure it was raining that day, we were lost in whoknowswhere street, and our iPods (cause we didn't have phones for the semester) let us know that we were not exactly early for class. And if you've ever been to Rome, you know that the streets are literally mazes and finding your way to a hole in the wall shop is near impossible - especially for a directionally challenged GPS dependent college student like me.
So we eventually gave up, tried to find our way back to studio, and when the time came to tell the professor why we were 20 minutes late and dripping wet (probably half rain/half sweat), we really had no choice but to tell him we were on a mad peanut butter hunt and came up empty. Some are late for class from oversleeping, or missing the bus, but a peanut butter treasure hunt? Worth it.
I don't remember how we ever got our hands on an actual jar of peanut butter, but we eventually did. And from there on out, our studio snacks consisted of peanut butter saltines and pocky sticks. It's okay to judge, we judged ourselves too.
And despite having to ration out that $10 jar of overly processed peanut butter over the rest of the semester, we lived to see another day. Gelato was another thing we got heavily addicted to while living in Italy, and the day we came across a gelato shop that had PEANUT BUTTER gelato, we were hooked. No candy mixins or chocolate toppings, just straight up peanut butter gelato. It may have taken me a few years to recreate, but it's here. And it's stupefacente. Which means amazing in Italian, but I totally had to google that cause my Italian skills are basically non-existent.
Creamy Peanut Butter Gelato
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Instructions
- In a saucepan combine granulated sugar (½ cup) and milk (1 cup). Whisk in lightly beaten eggs (2 large) and place over medium heat until steaming (6-8 minutes), while stirring constantly.
- Once steaming, remove from heat and stir in heavy whipping cream (1 ½ cups), peanut butter (½ cup), and vanilla extract (1 teaspoon).
- Place mixture in glass bowl and cover with saran wrap. Place in refrigerator for 3-4 hours until thoroughly cooled.
- Pour mixture in ice cream maker and churn until gelato becomes a soft-serve consistency. (Because gelato is egg-based, it will not crystallize or get as hard as much as normal ice cream.)
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Notes
Nutrition
So pretty much the moral of the story is that if you ever go to Rome, please email me so I can direct to you the PB gelato shop. And the mozzarella ball restaurant. And the red pepper flake tomato pizza shop. And then send me a postcard, otherwise I'll probably stalk your Instagram and cry myself to sleep that I'm not there with you.
Mmkkay? Thanks.
Robert Maxwell
Thank you for giving me this recipe, I loved the recipe flavor so I decided to add peanut butter cups in quarters to fit my favorite candy also. The gelato was perfect.
Melissa
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Robert! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Mary Gilmore
My neighbor and friend has experienced the worse few months of her life. She lost her husband, mid January to head and neck cancer, after married only one and a half years and has suffered from emotional as well as physical illness. She shared with me how she found this smooth peanut butter, not ice cream, but something else. I think it was gelato, which we loooove. She experiences heart problems, but I wan to make this for her. Can I not substitute heavy whipping cream?
Immense thanks
Melissa
Hi Mary! That's so sweet of you to think about making this for her! Unfortunately I haven't tried this recipe without heavy cream & don't think it would work as well. But you could definitely try using whole milk and report back with how it worked!
Vickie
I think a couple of changes would make it just a little better. First I would change the two regular eggs for three egg yolks. Then make the milk 2 to 1 of cream. Since I used the gelato battle in the machine that made it a little better. I made one batch using your recipe then I used the gelato paddles and it was better. You have a great flavor of ice cream. I hope you will try my changes and like it as much as I like your ice cream. And because my husband loves peanut butter I will be watching for another custard to add your touches to.
Sam
Do you use regular peanut butter (Jif?) with sugar/palm oil or could I use a natural unsweetened peanut butter (Teddie Butter?)
Melissa
I would definitely recommend regular creamy peanut butter like Jif! I think the natural type would really mess up the texture & having it churn well.
Lara
First time making ice cream. This is so simple and so delicious! Will never buy store bought ice cream again! I don’t understand why companies can’t make simple ice cream with healthy ingredients.
Melissa
So glad that you enjoyed this recipe Lara, thank you for your review and compliment.
Ken C.
Thank you for this recipe. Very simple and tasty. Easy to make! Now I just have to figure out how to freeze it without getting a gelato freezer. Very hard after putting it in the freezer overnight. Had to put it in the fridge for a half hrs to soften it up.
Melissa
Hi Ken! That can get tricky but you might try putting the container of gelato in a ziploc bag. This is supposed to help keep it softer and more scoopable; I use that often for pints of ice cream since my freezer runs really cold.
Stacey
Fabulous! I just got a ninja creami and this is enough for 2 pints!! Mixed in some mini marshmallows and a drizzle of chocolate syrup and i'm heaven!
Jake M
Followed exact steps and ingredients, used only fresh ingredients. Used an ice cream maker. Turned out a disastrous "peanut butter whipped cream". Would suggest balancing ingredients and definitely never using more cream than milk if you are looking for a gelato texture.
Melissa
Hi Jake - Sorry this didn't work out for you! The milk to cream ratio I use is the same as what is on my ice cream maker's manual but if your ratio works better for you, then by all means adjust it. Not sure how long you churned it for, but I will say that this gelato does need quite a bit of churning to get out of the soupy state.
Christi @ Love From The Oven
The site looks amazing! As does the gelato. :)
Melissa
Thanks, Christi!
Lulu
This is delicious! My sister and I just made some - and I can't stop eating it. :)
Melissa
Yay, so glad to hear! Isn't it dangerous? ;)
Emma
This looks SO yummy! I tried gelato for the first time about a year ago and I've loved it ever since then! I will definitely have to try this!
Emma
Melissa
Isn't it the best?! Have you tried the Talenti gelato from Target? The dark chocolate one = ahhhmaaahzing!
And now I think a Saturday Target trip is in order purely for that...
Emma
That sounds so good! Target has everything!