Cherry Gelato

Is anyone else so excited for summer? As a chef, I look forward to this season so much. Farmers markets, hot summer days, and the delicious taste of ripe, seasonal produce. In my opinion, there’s nothing better. In Colorado, the growing season is very short so we have to make the most of it. I think the best part about waiting all year for certain ingredients is it all tastes so much better, and the experience is much more satisfying. Last summer, I had a booth at the local farmers market where I made and sampled recipes using seasonal produce. This cherry gelato recipe was probably the most popular one, and people kept asking if I sold it by the quart. Cherry season is incredibly short here, lasting about a month. I got inspiration for this recipe from The Elliott Homestead, a sweet family on YouTube that shares their trials and tribulations on their farm. 

Why We Love It

First of all, who doesn’t love gelato? It’s literally the essence of summer in a bowl. This one is special because cherries have a very short season in Colorado. You can use other fruits as they come in season, but I think cherries are the best. Some other fruits to use are strawberries, raspberries, peaches, plum, apricot, and nectarines, to name a few. It’s very versatile and you can swap out the milks, sweeteners, and flavor. This one has vanilla extract in it, but almond extract could be absolutely delicious with cherry. 

Another plus is you can make large batches if you have a ton of fruit, especially if it’s going bad soon. I would love to have a deep freezer someday to store large batches of gelato to enjoy long after the fruit is out of season. This recipe does take some time, especially if you are using fresh, unpitted cherries so batching it is ideal. It took me about an hour to pit all the cherries, but the end result was so worth it. You could have friends or children help you, which makes it all the more special to eat at the end. 

Lastly, cherries are packed with antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, and E. They can reduce inflammation brought on by free radicals. They can also help with sleep as they are high in melatonin, serotonin, and tryptophan. What a fun and tasty way to incorporate these vitamins into your diet by eating gelato! 

6 servings

8 hours and 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lb cherries
• 5 Tbsp raw, local honey (or sub sweetener of choice)
• Zest of 1 lemon
• ½ cup milk (sub milk of choice)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Pit the cherries, cut into pieces, and arrange on a tray. Freeze for at least 4 hours.
2. Pour the milk into a saucepan with the honey, vanilla, and lemon zest. Once the milk comes to a boil, filter it to remove the lemon zest and let it cool. 
3. Pour the milk into an ice cube tray or muffin tin and place in the freezer for 4 hours. 
4. Blend the cherries and the frozen milk. 
5. Store in an ice cream container or a loaf pan lined with parchment paper. 
6. Keep gelato in the freezer until it’s time to serve.

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About the Author: Meghan McGee is a graduate of NTI’s Certified Natural Food Chef program as well as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She believes food is the most powerful catalyst that brings people together. Sitting around a table, enjoying a nourishing meal with strangers or friends is her absolute favorite thing to do. Her mission is to inspire others to take control of their health.  You can find Meghan’s personal chef and other services at megsnourishedkitchen.com.

Photo by Meghan McGee