Gelato bites

I can provide you with a simple recipe for “Gelato Bites”, which are small bites of ice cream coated in chocolate, an appetizing and convenient version for a sweet break or a dessert to serve on informal occasions.

Ingredients

• 200 g of ice cream of your choice (you can use flavors like vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, etc.)
• 200 g of dark or milk chocolate
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (optional, to make the chocolate more fluid)
• Chopped hazelnuts, shredded coconut, colored sprinkles or other toppings of your choice

Preparation

1. Prepare a tray or baking sheet lined with parchment paper and set it aside.
2. Using a teaspoon or an ice cream scoop, form small balls of ice cream and place them on the lined tray. If possible, use an ice cream scoop to get regular spheres.
3. Place the tray in the freezer and let the ice cream balls harden for at least an hour.
4. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, adding the coconut oil to make it more fluid if desired.
5. Once the chocolate is completely melted and smooth, remove the ice cream balls from the freezer.
6. Using a toothpick or a fork, dip each ice cream ball into the melted chocolate, making sure it is completely covered. Let the excess chocolate drip off before placing it back on the tray.
7. If desired, immediately sprinkle the surface of each gelato bite with the chosen topping.
8. Return the Gelato Bites to the freezer until the chocolate solidifies, about 15-30 minutes.
9. Once the chocolate has hardened, your Gelato Bites are ready to be enjoyed. Store them in the freezer until ready to serve.

Curiosities

Gelato Bites are a modern “finger food” version of classic ice cream that allows us to play with combining various flavors and coatings, giving free rein to creativity. In many countries, similar frozen snacks are popular, known as ice cream “Bonbons” or as chocolate truffles filled with ice cream.