15-Minute Vegan Chocolate-Hazelnut Gelato Recipe
Rich, creamy vegan gelato made with soaked cashews, cocoa powder, and roasted hazelnuts. No dairy or eggs required. Blend into a smooth base, chill, churn in an ice cream maker, then freeze until firm. Deep chocolate flavor balanced by natural sweetness from dates and nutty hazelnut pieces throughout.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups raw cashews
- 3 ½ cups filtered water
- 14 mejdool dates, pittedmaple syrup3 tbspdairy-free
slightly less thick texture
- ¾ cups cocoa powder
- ¾ cups roasted hazelnuts, choppedroasted almonds1:1dairy-free allergen
similar texture
Instructions
- 1
Soak raw cashews in water overnight for 6-8 hours.
- 2
Pit dates and soak in water for 15 minutes.
- 3
Drain cashews and dates.
- 4
Add drained cashews and dates to a high-speed blender and blend at high speed for one minute.
- 5
Add cocoa powder and blend for another minute or two until smooth.
- 6
Transfer mixture to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- 7
Transfer to an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer instructions, usually 20-25 minutes, until thickened.
- 8
Stir in chopped hazelnuts until evenly distributed.
- 9
Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 6-8 hours.
- 10
Thaw at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
Tips
Use a high-powered blender like a Vitamix for smoothest results.
Chill the gelato base thoroughly before churning for better texture.
Add hazelnuts after churning to keep them from breaking down during blending.
Good to Know
Keep frozen in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 weeks.
Prepare the soaked cashew and date base up to 2 days ahead. Refrigerate until ready to churn.
Thaw at room temperature for 20 minutes before scooping. Serve in chilled bowls for best texture.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the overnight soak to avoid grainy, thick texture.
Do not over-blend the base to avoid separating the nut milk.
Do not freeze without churning to avoid hard, icy consistency instead of creamy gelato.
Do not add hazelnuts before churning to avoid them breaking into dust.
Substitutions
similar texture