4 cups Whole Milk
2 cup Heavy Cream
1 cup plus ½ cup Sugar
8 Egg Yolks
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 cup Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread
1 cup Hazelnuts, crushed, optional
Cooking Process
In a saucepan combine the milk, cream, and 1 cup sugar over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl whip the egg yolks with the remaining sugar using an electric mixer until the eggs have become thick and pale yellow, about 4 minutes.
Pour ½ cup of the warm milk and cream mixture into the egg mixture and stir.
Add this mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 7 to 10 minutes.
Place a strainer over a medium bowl and pour the warm custard mixture through the strainer.
Stir in the vanilla and hazelnut spread until it dissolves.
Pour mixture into the freezing canister and follow the directions in the “Using Your Ice Cream Maker” section. Do not fill the freezing canister above the “MAX” line, as the mixture will expand during freezing.
To serve, scoop gelato into serving bowls and top with hazelnuts.