Pumpkin Gelato with Candied Ginger and Dark Chocolate.
I have a perfectly good reason for serving you ice cream in chilly weather.
Because it’s today. It’s THIS ice cream (technically gelato?). And it’s way too incredible to keep from you for one more millisecond. I find that to be reason enough.
Ohhhh and today I turn 32. How.is.that.possible. I feel ancient.
[Sidebar: I had to have a 5 minute mental conversation with myself about my real age because I forgot it. For real.]
I don’t feel 32. I certainly don’t act 32. We can all agree that I don’t speak or write like I’m 32. Whatsoever.
I have decided that 32 is harder than 31 or 30 was. And I never ever think about age. I forget how old I am and that I’m not eternally like 26. Because, like… aren’t I? Maybe it’s because I have a human being karate chopping my ribs that will soon escape and change my life. Maaaaybe I’m just looking for other distracting things to engage me from this omggiganticlifechange that is what seems like minutes away.
I should probably stop saying OMG. I get it. I know.
I’ve learned that (you’ve told me), but refused to listen.
I’ve also learned that you really don’t know anything about anything ever. Or at least I don’t know anything about anything ever. Like 20 years ago I told my mom “I will never have my first baby at 32 like you did. !!!!!” Ha. HAHAHAHAHA.
Well. That’s happening.
Also, you’re never too old for grilled cheese with ketchup. And sprinkles. But not together. Just in general.
Or… maybe… together? A 32-year old definitely can’t be the one to come up with that. I shall teach my child and it can be their legacy.
(Oh and not Frozen either. Never too old for Frozen. Like a Frozen marathon. Frozen soundtrack. Frozen Halloween costume. Frozen birthday partay.
Forget that last part.)
This recipe perfectly represents what’s going on in my brain at the moment: scattered thoughts and slightly repetitive EVERYTHING mixed with lots of really good stuff and things that may or may not go together. Because how is a control freak supposed to deal with a completely uncontrollable situation? Oh yeah, that’s something else I’ve learned in the last three months of working on my 32nd second. LET IT GO!
Any pun intended.
Now, it IS my first pumpkin recipe of the season which in millennial speak (read: Starbucks’ determination of the universe) is gigantic for November 7th. BUT. It is nearly similar to a recipe I shared on November 7th of last year.
Err, not really identical, but still involving of pumpkin ice cream.
I didn’t even realize it either. See! I’m all over the place.
I’d like to think that this gelato is slightly classier than last year’s trashed up version, which maybe means I’ve grown up a bit and developed a slightly less trashy, more sophisticated palate?
Really?
HA.
Or not. I secretly kind of hope not.
I don’t know though. Gelato seems a bit more high brow than ice cream, no? That’s why I went in search of a recipe, to make myself seem more mature.
Is it working? I’m sure it is.
I can tell you one thing: I’m completely insane over this gelato. And I’m not even into pumpkin stuff these days, you know this. But THIS GELATO. Gah. It’s the ice cream I’ve been eating out of my fridge late at night before bed. Huge spoon and all. It’s too much to handle. It’s full of ridiculously happy feelings.
The consistency is creamy perfection. The flavor is like pumpkin pie but better, but also kind of indescribable. A very delicious, authentic pumpkin. As in, not candle flavored. This is important!
The candied ginger adds SO much. It’s chewy but a little crunchy at times and can give off an unexpected but welcome hint of spice. The chocolate is just chocolate and therefore is life.
It’s already making 32 the best year ever.
Pumpkin Gelato with Candied Ginger and Dark Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups cold heavy cream
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons black strap molasses
- 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste
- 6 large egg yolks
- 2/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/3 cup chopped candied ginger
- 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- Add the milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1/3 cup sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and vanilla bean paste to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until warmed through – but don’t let the sides bubble up.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the yolks and remaining 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Add in a few spoonfuls of the warm milk mixture while whisking constantly to temper the egg yolks. Once the egg yolks are slightly warmed from the milk, slowly pour the egg mixture into the milk saucepan while whisking constantly. Fit the saucepan with a candy thermometer and cook the custard over medium-low heat until it reaches 170 degrees F while continuing to stir.
- Once the mixture has reached 170 degrees F, pour it through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl. Add the remaining 1 cup of heavy cream and the pumpkin puree, stirring until combined and smooth. Place the bowl in a large bowl filled with ice water, and continue to stir until the custard cools down. Once it has cooled, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 4 to 6 hours or even overnight.
- Remove the custard base from the fridge and churn according to your ice cream maker directions. I use the attachment on my kitchenaid mixer and churn for about 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, I stir in the candied ginger and dark chocolate. Spoon the custard into a freezer-safe container and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze for 4 to 6 hours before serving.
Notes
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Only way it could be better is to be covered in GLITTER. Never too old for that.
82 Comments on “Pumpkin Gelato with Candied Ginger and Dark Chocolate.”
HAPPY HAPPY Birthday! I hope it’s wonderful and filled with lots of sprinkles! This gelato looks amazing and I’d eat it yearround!
Loved having kiddies in my low thirties. And feeling your age is for the birds. Don’t really know if birds feel their age, but, well, you get it. Gelato looks perfect!
And happy birthday, birthday girl!
GORGEOUS gelato! Happiest Birthday to you, too!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS!
I am pretty sure that no one ever outgrows sprinkles, so you’re good to go!
I’m also pretty sure that, despite it being negative a billion degrees today, I need gelato. Specifically THIS gelato. Pinned!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope it’s a fantastic one! I relate, I do. I forget how old I am and have to recalculate. I also keep prematurely rounding up…. why would I do that to myself? Even right now I have to stop and think how old I am because I’m always rounding up on myself! Haha!
I also realized just a year or two ago that no one is ever ready for anything. As a kid, I thought adults had everything all figured out. Not so! Lol! I know I don’t anyway.
Never too old for glitter, sequins, neon, and all those best things in life!
Happy Birthday, lady! Cheers to having kids in your 30s! I’m right there with you :)
So, my friend’s husband thought she said LOL and OMG too much. So, he changed her phone settings so that anytime she typed either of those words, it auto-corrected to Sasquatch. So, my texts with her are filled with sasquatch this and sasquatch that. It’s pretty funny :)
Okay, that is HILarious.
This looks amazing!! I love dark chocolate and pumpkin together..the addition of candied ginger is perfect. Happy birthday I hope it’s wonderful!
Happy Birthday!! and everyone gets ice cream on their birthday no matter the age :)
Happy birthday lady! I think you need at least three scoops. One for you, one for baby, and one in honor of your birthday!
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So much goodness in one place!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY — and this ice cream … yeeessss … and grilled cheese … yesss .. and sprinkles – obvs.
Happy Birthday! And never change, omgs and lol’s for life! And sprinkles too. :)
Happy birthday Jessica!!!! I’m so glad I got to meet you a couple times this year to celebrate your cookbook. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Also… I want to steal that gelato-filled dish and inhale the whole thing. My body HATES dairy but for this, I’d make it suffer. Tastebuds win out. Amazing. <3
I just might go out and buy an ice cream maker for this recipe alone! Looks absolutely scrumptious and would be even better atop a piece of pie at Thanksgiving!
Emily
http://www.workinggirlafterhours.com
Awe we should have sang to you last night while you were cooking us soup! Happy Birthday! : ) :)
Happy Birthday!!! This looks so good–the texture is perfect. Where did you get that ice cream container?
Happy birthday! That gelato looks absolutely amazing and the flavors just are incredible together!
Happy birthday, girl. Love you a crazy, OMG amount. <3
Happy Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! This looks seriously incredible. It was pretty chilly this morning in NY and all I could think about was hot coffee. Now I’m all gelato, gelato, gelatoooooo!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA!! this ice cream looks like the most perfect and delicious way to celebrate it!!
I eat ice cream all year round, so this suits me perfectly! Loving this!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!! What better way to celebrate than with ice cream & glitter? :) but I have a question, where there the sprinkles????
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I turn 33 in December. I’m desperately holding on to my early 30’s this year. Enjoy your special day. I’m sure you will if you’re eating this gelato. Looks SO good. Reminds me how much I enjoy candied ginger!
Happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful, lovely and delicious day!
I want this ice cream in my face. like immediately. and happy birthday :)
Happy Birthday!!!! I already know that 32 will be one of the best years yet for you! Can’t wait to see you and the baby (bump) in a few weeks.
Happy Birthday Jessica!!! You rock in every age girl!!
Happy Birthday fellow Scorpio!! (I knew I liked you!) My birthday is tomorrow. I’m going to be 52. I can’t believe it, either. It doesn’t get any better the older you get; in fact, time speeds up. I swear.
I hope it’s a happy and joyful one!!
SJ
Happy birthday! x
http://www.wild-cherrytree.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! This looks so good, but I don’t know if I can get on board with candied ginger… I used to work for Origins and they would feed it to us at training seminars, and I just. Ick. But it does look amazing. Maybe this is the one way I could eat candied ginger… omnomnom. Ice cream is a vehicle for all things.
Wow this has everything I want and love in life…in a single package. Thank you!
And on another note, age has nothing to do with a number, in my opinion. My friend has a quote on her fridge that I love- it goes something along the lines of “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” I’m still in my 20’s and obviously have much to still learn but I’ve found that the older I get, the more I realize that no one really knows anything about being an adult. Like, not really. I mean, what is an “adult”, really?
Happy birthday!!! I feel the same way as you about age, and I think part of it might be having a partner who is older? Like, I was always the young one but now I’m not that young anymore and I just forget about how old I am. And sometimes I feel so old but 29 isn’t that old, right? Until you talk to a 24 year old. Then you know you’re old.
In any case, you are amazing at any age and I hope your birthday partay is full of Frozen delights.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Is there any way to make this ice-cream without an ice cream maker? It looks delicious!
Happy birthday! This pumpkin gelato looks like the perfect way to celebrate!
Happy Birthday, Jessica! This gelato looks to die for!
Hippo Birdie Two Ewes!
My license says 51 ,but I have been 25 for many years,I still drive crazy ,dance to Duran,Duran and stay up late eating ice cream.
Someday I realize i’m not 25 ……….NOT!
I want to be your BFF!! :)
Happy Birthday!! Its is amazing!
Looks great!Happy Birthday Jessica
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Happy Birthday! This gelato sounds amazing. I need to get an ice cream maker! I’ll probably have trouble finding one at this time of year! :)
Happy Birthday!! You have such an incredible year coming up with baby on the way. May it be the best year to date.
this gelato looks so creamy and dreamy. And OMG happy birthday! This year we have listened to Frozen non stop, watched the movie approximately 5,237 times, had TWO Frozen birthday parties, and homemade Frozen Halloween costumes. Granted, this was all for and because of the two little girls that I will soon be step-monster to, but I love it just as much. I often listen to the soundtrack when I’m all alone.
Happy Birthday Sweet Thang!!
I love your candidness in this post. I will be 32 next year and it takes me a while to figure it out (and fight my denial) how old I actually am. And the thought of babies still….aahhhh!!! It’s still all about me!!
Im so excited for your endeavours awaiting you. YOu will dominate year 32 and mommy hood and blogging world and anything else you put your mind to :)
I want this gelato!! Like now. I totally forget how old I am all of the time. I have to really think about it. My husband always has to correct me.
Happy Birthday Jess! I hope it’s fabulous and filled with neon and glitter!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday beautiful! You are so awesome and have so many incredible things happening for you this coming here. If I could accomplish half of what you’ve done with my little ol’ blog by the time I turn 32 I will consider that a huge win. I admire you so much and everything you do is spectacular ESPECIALLY this gelato. I just adore it and you and I hope you have the best birthday EVER.