Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (2024)

Published: by Chef Dennis Littley

4.65 from 101 votes

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Lemon gelato is an amazingly refreshing frozen dessert that will tantalize your tastes with fresh lemon flavor and the creamy texture of ice cream made with milk and heavy cream so the flavors shine through.

Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (1)

All you need to make my lemon gelato (which can be made in your ice cream maker) is lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, heavy whipping cream, milk, and a dash of salt. No egg yolks needed!

Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (2)

Gelato isn’t that much different than ice cream, the big difference is that milk is used instead of all cream, which actually makes the flavors of what you’re using stand out even more, and if you find the right balance between cream and milk, you still get that rich creamy texture that Americans have come to love about our ice cream!

Table of Contents:

What ingredients do I need to make Lemon Gelato?

Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (3)

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make lemon gelato. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

*I originally made this gelato with Meyer Lemons so either variety are good.

How do I make Lemon Gelato?

It’s really easy to make my version of Lemon Gelato. All you need are a few simple ingredients to make this gelato / ice cream recipe.

Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (4)
  • Add the cream, milk, lemon juice, zest, sugar, and salt together. Using a wire whip, mix until the sugar dissolves and is completely incorporated. (the mixture should thicken some)
  • Pour the lemon mixture into a gelato or ice cream maker.
  • Allow the mixture to freeze.
  • When the gelato mixture has sufficiently frozen, place into a container and allow the lemon gelato to completely freeze.

Can I Use an Ice Cream Maker to Make a Gelato Recipe?

Yes, you can. The difference between the two machines is gelato is churned at a much slower rate than ice cream, incorporating less air and leaving the gelato denser than ice cream.

Of course, if you don’t have a gelato maker you can easily take my recipe for Lemon gelato and use your ice cream maker to make super creamy and delicious ice cream.

Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (5)

So when life hands you lemons, make gelato. Your friends and family will be oh so happy that you did. Just be prepared for all the compliments and requests to make it again and again.

These are the Gelato Makers I recommend

Recipe FAQ’s

What is the difference between gelato and ice cream?

Ice cream has a higher butterfat content which masks some of the natural flavors, where the creaminess of the ice cream is more of the star than the added flavor. Italian gelato uses less butterfat and also doesn’t whip the mixture as quickly, adding less air into the gelato. This makes the gelato denser and packs the flavor into each spoonful because of the density.

What ingredients do I need to make gelato?

Five basic ingredients are needed to make gelato. Heavy cream, milk, sugar, salt, and the flavoring you’ll be adding. Fresh fruit is my favorite added flavor when I make gelato, but you can easily make pistachio, chocolate, or any flavor you can imagine.

Do I need eggs to make Gelato?

No, you don’t. You can of course, make a custard-type base for your gelato using eggs, but that will require cooking the custard and allowing it to cool before freezing. The eggs will make the base richer, but eggs are not necessary for amazing gelato.

More Gelato Recipes You’ll Love!

  • The Best and Easiest Strawberry Gelato Recipe You’ll ever Make!
  • Blueberry Cheesecake Gelato and Very Cherry Gelato
  • Grilled Peaches and Cream Gelato
  • Blackberry and Mango Gelato Recipes

Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (10)

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4.65 from 101 votes

Lemon Gelato

You'll love the creamy texture and tart flavor of my lemon gelato. The recipe is easily made in a standard ice cream maker and is gaurunteed to amaze your family!

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

0 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 6

Calories: 300kcal

Author: Chef Dennis Littley

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Lemon Juice about 6 lemons
  • zest from one lemon very fine
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • teaspoon salt

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Using a micro-planer or a very fine grater, zest one Lemon

  • Cut lemons in half and juice them, straining out all the seeds.

  • Add the cream, milk, lemon juice, zest, sugar and salt together and using a wire whip, mix until the sugar is dissolved and completely incorporated. (the mixture should thicken some)

  • Pour the mixture into a gelato or ice cream maker and freeze following the manufacturer’s instructions.

  • Yield will be about 1 quart of lemon gelato

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 132mg | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 650IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

About Chef Dennis

Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home.For more details, check out his About page.

Reader Interactions

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  1. Nona

    Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (12)
    OMG – this is as good as anything I had in Italy! So good, and so easy!! This is my new Show Stopper dessert. Thank you, Chef Dennis!

    Reply

    • Chef Dennis Littley

      You’re very welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed my gelato recipe. It works great with most fruits.

      Reply

  2. Kaycee

    Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (13)
    BEYOND AMAZING!! Delicioso! Thank you so much!
    I am glad I doubled this recipe. After enjoying your Strawberry Gelato I already knew the Lemon one would be awesome.
    Doubling the ingredients fit perfectly in my 2 qt. Cuisinart Ice Cream maker.
    A couple of improvisational things:
    –I was 1/2 cup short of fresh lemon juice, so I added bottled juice.
    –And I defrosted skim milk (frozen into cubes) and used that with the same amt. of heavy cream and the results are amazing.

    The only slight quibble I have is the 30 minute prep time listed. It took far longer than that just to zest and squeeze the lemons for juice. Next time I will make this in 2 steps…prepping the fruit juice/zest one day and finishing it the next.
    This is well worth the effort, and far less expensive than a trip to Italy!

    Reply

    • Chef Dennis Littley

      Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my lemon gelato, it’s always been my favorite and definitely cheaper than a trip to Italy!

      Reply

  3. Natasha

    Can I use half & half instead of heavy cream?

    Reply

    • Chef Dennis Littley

      yes you can.

      Reply

  4. j

    Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (14)
    excellent and easy so refreshing after a spicy meal (had a pizza party) my friends were so happy! thank you chef dennis 🙂

    Reply

    • Me

      Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (15)
      Amazing tart and sweet.

      Reply

      • Chef Dennis Littley

        Thank you, I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the gelato.

  5. Poonam Java

    Can I make the gelato without an icecream maker/gelato maker

    Reply

    • Chef Dennis Littley

      you can place the mixture in a bowl set into a bowl filled with ice or an ice bath and whip it by hand.

      Reply

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Easy Lemon Gelato Recipe (Lemon Ice Cream) (2024)

FAQs

What is lemon gelato made of? ›

All you need to make my lemon gelato (which can be made in your ice cream maker) is lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, heavy whipping cream, milk, and a dash of salt. No egg yolks needed!

What is the secret to gelato? ›

There isn't really a “secret” ingredient in gelato – the magic lies in the process. However, what sets gelato apart from its frozen dessert counterparts is the quality of the ingredients used and the low amount of air incorporated during the slow churning process.

Why do you put lemon juice in ice cream? ›

The tartness of lemon juice can provide a contrasting and refreshing taste when paired with the sweetness of ice cream. It's similar to how people enjoy sorbets, which often have a fruity and tangy flavor profile. If you're curious about how ice cream and lemon juice taste together, you can give it a try.

How much bottled lemon juice equals one lemon? ›

To use: Shake well before use, and use the same amount of bottled lemon juice in a recipe as you would fresh juice. If a recipe specifies the juice of 1 lemon, replace it with 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice.

What is the best milk for gelato? ›

The best type of milk for the cream flavours of gelato is whole milk (3.5%) as opposed to heavy cream (35%). The milk helps the gelato obtain a creamy and smooth texture, but it also increases its resistance to melting so you can take your time to enjoy it on a hot day.

What's the difference between lemon sorbet and lemon gelato? ›

Gelato contains more calories and fat thanks to the use of milk. Because sorbet is just fruit juice and sugar (no dairy), it has less calories and is therefore a healthier option.

What makes gelato so creamy? ›

Gelato is churned at a much slower speed, which introduces less air into the base—think whipping cream by hand instead of with a stand mixer. That's why it tastes denser than ice cream—it is.

What makes the best gelato? ›

High quality gelato is made with all-natural, seasonal ingredients and little to no artificial coloring. Because of this the colors will not be vibrant, but rather dull. For example, pistacchio should never be bright green like you might imagine, but brownish.

Should gelato have eggs? ›

Like ice cream, gelato uses milk, cream, and sugar, but it differs in proportions. Gelato uses less cream and more milk than ice cream and typically contains no egg yolks or eggs at all. Gelato is served slightly warmer than American ice cream and is also churned at a slower rate, introducing less air into the product.

What happens if you add lemon juice to cream? ›

Lemon juice can curdle cream, I have never had that happen to me as I add it right at the end with the pasta. Also it shouldn't happen if your cream is neither too hot or too cold. That is why a gentle simmer on a low heat is key!

Can you add lemon juice to cream without curdling? ›

Heat the cream before adding lemon juice: To further prevent curdling, heat the cream in the saucepan before adding the lemon juice [2].

Will lemon juice curdle ice cream base? ›

The reason you want to add it just before churning is that the lemon juice will curdle your base if it is allowed to sit for too long after adding the lemon juice. So if you happen to have a huge ice cream maker that will hold this whole amount (lucky you!), just add all of the lemon juice at once just before churning.

Can I use Jif lemon instead of a real lemon? ›

Jif Lemon 100ml can be used in recipes that require or recommend the use of lemon juice. Jif Lemon 100ml is a great way of adding low calorie flavour to dishes.

Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh? ›

It's (Almost) Never Okay To Use Store-Bought Citrus Juice

The stuff you squeeze by hand has less time to oxidize and no funny preservatives, which means its flavor is brighter and more pronounced compared to the bitter or muted bottled versions.

Can I use bottled lemon instead of fresh? ›

If not otherwise stated in the recipe, if it calls for lemon juice, it means fresh lemons, and not bottled. Most recipe ingredients mean the fresh version, unless otherwise stated. Bottled lemon juice is an acceptable alternative if you have no fresh lemon to hand (well, barely tolerable rather than acceptable).

What's the difference between gelato and ice cream? ›

Gelato has a lower milk fat content than ice cream, usually 4 to 9%, yielding a softer, denser texture and smaller ice crystals. That's a result of the base, which typically includes less cream and more milk, as well as a slower churning process that introduces less air into the final product.

What is gelato and what is it made of? ›

Gelato translates to "ice cream" in Italian, but this dessert's texture is denser, smoother, and richer than American ice cream. Like ice cream, gelato uses milk, cream, and sugar, but it differs in proportions. Gelato uses less cream and more milk than ice cream and typically contains no egg yolks or eggs at all.

Is Lemon Gelato a good strain? ›

Medical marijuana patients choose Lemon Gelato to help relieve symptoms associated with chronic pain, fatigue, inflammation, and muscle spasms. This strain pairs well with activities like creative thinking, enjoying music, or listening to a podcast.

What is real gelato made of? ›

While both gelato and ice cream contain cream, milk and sugar, there are differences, too. Authentic gelato uses more milk and less cream than ice cream and generally doesn't use egg yolks, which are a common ingredient in ice cream.

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