This Raspberry Rose Gelato sports the breathtaking fuchsia color of fresh raspberries and carries the flowery flavor of rose in an elegant, understated way.
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I am mildly obsessed with the combination of raspberry and rose water. This comes as a surprise because I’ve hated it for the longest time. Rose is a strong flavor that can easily taste “soapy” if too much of it is added to a dessert. Yet, raspberry and rose is a classic flavor combination in French pastry: you’ll find it in macarons, refined cakes, choux and éclairs, and more.
As ubiquitous as this flavor combination is in the world of French pastry, I’d been disappointed by every bite of every raspberry-rose dessert I’d had. Yet I kept being attracted by the combination, mostly because both ingredients open doors for such prettily decorated desserts. The only treat that kept my hopes alive was Pierre Hermé’s Ispahan macaron, which combines raspberry and rose with lychee. This made me conclude the combination needed to be on the sweeter side of things to work.
I started playing with raspberry and rose fairly recently, using both rose water and dried rose petals in desserts. I’ve found that the line is indeed fine when it comes to using rose water: a teaspoon too much and the dessert may smell and taste like perfume. But if you get the balance exactly right, the result is surprising and memorable. Rose seems to enhance the flavor of raspberries, making them taste more complex and luxurious.
This Raspberry Rose Gelato sports the breathtaking fuchsia color of fresh raspberries and carries the flowery flavor of rose in an elegant, understated way. The gelato doesn’t bear the aroma of rose, but when you have a spoonful, you taste that extra flavor dimension that clearly distinguishes the frozen treat from regular raspberry gelato or sorbet.
This Raspberry Rose Gelato is made using my Sicilian-Style Gelato Base, which produces an incredibly silky texture and uses just one egg yolk, resulting in a leaner treat that tastes every bit as luscious as its egg yolk-based counterpart.
I tend to be conservative when it comes to the amount of rose water I like to use in recipes. If you happen to love the flavor of rose, feel free to play around with the quantities. Start from the amount I’m using in the recipe, then taste the raspberry rose gelato mixture before churning it. It should taste exactly how you want the final result to taste. Add more rose water, 1 tsp (5 ml) at a time, until you reach a level of rose flavor that pleases you.
Simply omit rose water and petals from this recipe and you’ll produce an extraordinary Raspberry Gelato.
Or, replace rose water and rose petals with either of the following suggestions:
Always remember to bring gelato to room temperature 15 to 20 minutes before serving. One of the defining factors of gelato is that it is kept and served at a warmer temperature than ice cream is. This gives gelato its signature creamy texture and allows flavors to shine brighter. It also makes gelato much easier to scoop and serve.
Never made gelato before? Curious about what makes gelato different from ice cream? Check out my detailed video class: How to Make Gelato: Tips and Recipes to Make the Delightful Italian Frozen Treat. In it, you’ll find out what makes gelato different from ice cream, how to make a versatile gelato base you can turn into a variety of flavors, and all my secrets and tips to churn and serve outstanding gelato. I even share how to make dairy-free vegan gelato! In short, it’s a very thorough, colorful class that will quickly turn you into a gelato master. Watch Now!
Love gelato? Then you need to give these irresistibly fruity, homemade gelato recipes a try.
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Author: Marie Asselin
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