I recently bought a 2 pound can of Amarena cherries in heavy syrup to make a couple of Italian desserts. I used some of the cherries to make Amarena Cherry Gelato, a sweet and creamy ice cream filled with sweet, dark cherries. Amarena cherries are dark bitter cherries found in the Bologna and Modena regions of Italy. The cherries are usually preserved in syrup. I also use these cherries to make Saint Joseph’s Day Zeppole.
Amarena cherries are found in specialty food shops. You can also buy Amarena Toschi Italian black cherries in syrup on Amazon, where I buy lots of my hard to find ingredients. To make Amarena Cherry Gelato, I usually start by making a vanilla gelato. I mix together equal amounts of whole milk and heavy cream, about a cup of sugar (you can reduce the sugar in this recipe since the cherries are extra sweet), and a vanilla bean, if I have one. If not, I used vanilla extract.
I usually add a cup of Amarena cherries in syrup to the mix when it’s almost done, but this can be increased or decreased to suit your taste. There are no eggs in this recipe, so there’s no cooking of the cream mixture required or chilling it for 2 hours before pouring into the ice cream machine. When it’s ready to eat, the gelato will have a slight pink tint and loads of sweet, dark Amarena cherries.

Amarena Cherry Gelato Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or 1 vanilla bean
- 1 cup Amarena cherries in syrup
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low-speed to combine the milk and sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream, and vanilla.
- Turn the ice cream/gelato machine on; pour the mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Five minutes before mixing is completed, add the Amarena cherries and let mix in completely. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.
I shared this recipe at some of these awesome parties.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and buy the product, I will receive a very small commission of the sales price. This helps me keep Olives-n-Okra alive. I use all of the products listed in this post routinely, and I trust the companies that make them.
I love ice cream recipes where no ice cream machine is needed and this one sounds delish! Pinning to keep the recipe onhand. Thanks!
oops, I misread your recipe, obviously you used an ice-cream mixer! duh! still pinned cause it sounds delicous!
So funny.Thanks for pinning my recipe.
That looks totally wonderful! thank you for stopping by!
Great looking ice-cream!! And I’m tempted as I have the ingredients at home…..
Delicious recipe… love ice cream!!
YUM! Thanks so much for sharing with the Creative Inspiration Party.
This sounds so amazing! I need a large bowl now!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Definitely tryng this one although it is winter here at the moment. Thanks for sharing with us at #WednesdaysWisdom and see you next week.
Thank you for joining the Small victories Sunday Linkup. Please join again. Pinned to the group board.
Our favorite ice cream recipe uses the same base – half milk, half cream and sugar. And I love cherry ice cream. I bet this version in delicious!
Thanks for joining us at the #HomeMattersParty
Thank you!
Delicious I love cream recipe, actually looking for one with cherries, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning tweeting.
Hi Sherry!
Oh I love homemade ice-cream! This is a perfect summer activity, and we haven’t made any this year yet, so thanks for the idea! I’m so glad you that you link up with us at the Talented Tuesday link party! 😉
Happy Monday!
AJ
I love the look and sound of that! Thanks for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things, Sherry! Hope to see you again this Thursday 🙂
I did not know about this type of cherries! I was reading about ice cream history this week and found out the no-eggs no-cook is called Philadelphia style! Thanks for the recipe!
It looks heavenly!
So heavenly!
Oh yum! This looks simply delicious! One of my favorite ice creams to buy is the one with the big chunks of cherries! Thanks for sharing with SYC. I will be featuring you this week.
hugs,
Jann
Awesome! Thanks for the feature:-)
Sherry, your ice cream looks heavenly! I’ve been looking for a new ice cream/gelato recipe to try! Yesterday, I just passed some Rainer cherries, and was thinking about cherry ice cream something??? Yours looks like the perfect one to try! Just have to find Amarena cherries! Would love for you to share this at #OhMyHeartsieGirlsWW link party! Hope you can join us! Have a terrific week! Pinned!
Christine@CherishingaSweetLife
We would just love your Gelato, it looks delicious. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
Thank you.
Thanks Sherry for sharing this summer treat on Friday Features, it looks really good and very easy!!