The luscious, velvety texture melds fabulously with delicate hazelnut and rich chocolate in my Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream recipe. It’s so indulgent, so creamy, and so easy to make you might agree homemade is better than store bought.
Ferrero Rocher and Raffaello ice cream products came out spring of 2021, perfect timing to develop a copycat version of this gourmet ice cream treat! And Ferrero Rocher chocolates happen to be my high school seniors favorite treat!I
Why you will love Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream
- The base for this Ferrero Rocher recipe is the same as my simple, old fashioned chocolate ice cream. Try my vanilla bean ice cream great on chocolate cake, pumpkin dump cake and of course a simple, but amazing hot fudge sundae!
- I spent time as an Au Pair in Germany in my early 20’s and fell in love with these creamy, crunchy, hazelnut and Nutella filled chocolates! You will too!
- Inspired by the decadent, golden-wrapped candies, I mixed rich Nutella with vanilla and chocolate flavors to create a thick and rich, creamy Ferrero Rocher ice cream, I suppose if I was in Italy I would call this Ferrero Rocher Gelato!
Ingredients
It’s Chocolate Week and I’ve joined other bloggers to bring you some amazing chocolate recipes this week! I’ve featured Starbucks White Hot Chocolate, this amazing chocolate gelato and easy Crockpot Peanut Clusters.
Full measurements and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.
- Heavy Cream | This makes our Ferrero Rocher ice cream luscious and creamy. Try and use organic, if you can.
- Whole Milk | Another ingredient to help make up the base.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder | Use the good stuff! It’s important to use baking cocoa for fudgy, chocolatey dishes.
- Sugar | All-natural, organic cane sugar is perfect for baking and combines well with other ingredients. Regular white sugar may also be used.
- Vanilla Extract | Did you know that you can also make this popular cooking ingredient right at home? Give it a try!
- Nutella | We’ll use this to both incorporate hazelnut flavor throughout the mix, as well as to serve on the side.
- Hazelnut pieces | When toasted hazelnuts are mild, and sweet. Be sure to chop, toast and cool them well so that they mix in!
- Ferrero Rocher Chocolates | All the delicious flavors of hazelnut chocolate in one beautifully wrapped, golden treat with a whole hazelnut wrapped in a creamy hazelnut filling.
HOW TO TOAST HAZELNUTS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees, chop whole hazelnuts as fine or chunky as you like. I actually popped mine in my Ninja Mini Blender and pulsed them a couple of times. Spread on a quarter sheet pan and toast, shaking half way for about 8-10 minutes. Cool completely!
Recommended Equipment
A couple of items I highly recommend to make this recipe.
- Ice Cream Machine or Maker | I have a Cuisinart and have used it faithfully for about a decade, it’s no frills and does the job!
- Storage Container | I typically use a loaf pan or a glass container that has an airtight lid, but I have been wanting to purchase some of these Balci BPA Free 1 quart containers or this low profile slim ice cream container.
- Ice Cream Scoop | I have several styles and honestly, this one is the best at going through firm ice cream!
- Ferrero Rocher Chocolates | Keep at eye out at your local grocery store, they often have the small packs of these on sale near check out! Add as few or many as you would like!
How to Make Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream
Whisk milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla in a large batter bowl until everything is completely combined and dissolved. I find using a hand mixer with whisk attachment works well.
If your Nutella is really thick, you can microwave it for 20 seconds, stir well and let it sit to cool for a minute or two, then whisk into the dairy base.
Pour in the heavy cream and whisk until the mixture has thickened slightly and the sugar is completely dissolved.
Refrigerate the base for 30 minutes or longer prior to placing in the ice cream machine. Chilling the mix in the fridge will help it to freeze faster — greatly improve the texture — and allow the cocoa powder to meld with the milk and cream.
Just before pouring the base mixture into the machine, gently whisk one last time to ensure that everything is mixed well.
Finally, pour the mixture into your ice cream freezer and follow the directions on the machine. Freezing time will vary — my Cuisinart takes about 20 minutes.
Add the toasted hazelnuts during the last 5 minutes of freezing, or simply stir in afterward.
You can either crush 3-6 Ferrero chocolates (or as many as you like!) and stir them into the soft chocolate Nutella ice cream. Or, crush 2-3 chocolates and sprinkle on top of the soft ice cream, then sprinkle with reserved chopped hazelnuts.
TFC TIP | Before you start your ice cream making make sure your ice cream freezer insert is completely frozen. I like to place it in the freezer at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours to make sure it’s completely frozen.
Variations
- Instead of an all-over hazelnut flavor, drizzle well-stirred, cooled Nutella into the machine during the last minute of freezing to create a ribbon throughout. You can also hand-stir the Nutella in just before transferring to a freezer container.
- Crushed Ferrero Rocher chocolates can be incorporated into the soft serve as well. Rather than sprinkle on top, stir them into the soft serve before freezing. I prefer serving them on top, as they stay nice and crunchy!
- Serve with warm hot fudge or a little swirl of warmed Nutella! I like to top it all off with whole or crushed Ferrero Rocher chocolates and toasted hazelnuts and a spritz of whipped cream.
Top TFC Tips
- Pro Tip 1 | Pour your soft serve into a parchment lined chilled loaf pan or glass container with a lid. Freeze for a scoopable consistency. At least a few hours of freezing will give you firm edges and a soft center, and an overnight freezing session will give you a scoopable treat.
- Pro Tip 2 | For a stronger Nutella flavor, use a bit less cocoa powder. And to really emphasize the chocolate flavor rather than the hazelnut, use more!
- Pro Tip 3 | Freeze the bowl you’ll be mixing your base mixture in beforehand. Remember: the more chilled your base is, the more delicious your Ferrero Rocher ice cream will be!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely! It won’t be as smooth and creamy, but it will still set up.
Is homemade Ferrero Rocher ice cream better than store bought Ferrero Rocher ice cream? I certainly think so, and you control the quality of the ingredients that go into the recipe.
Absolutely! Check my delicious, scoopable “no churn” recipe. No churn recipes are so easy to customize and make a fantastic presentation! This particular recipe will freeze up, but will not be as creamy or gelato like, more like ice milk.
Unfortunately, Ferrero Rocher are not gluten-free, their product contains a thin wafer shell made out of wheat.
If you are looking for a gluten-free option, leave the chocolates out all-together and just enjoy all of the flavor with the Nutella and hazelnuts. Or you can certainly make your own Gluten-Free Homemade Ferrero Rocher Truffles!
Allergic to hazelnuts? Hazelnuts are one of the few nuts my son with tree nut allergies can actually eat.
If you cannot eat hazelnuts, there are brands like Trader Joe’s Cocoa Almond Spread, that use almonds instead. Use toasted, chopped almonds in the ice cream and instead of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, try crushing up some dark or milk chocolate covered almonds for texture and crunch.
Storage
Ferrero Rocher Gelato will stay fresh for up to 6 weeks in the freezer, when kept in an airtight container. Keep an eye out for when tiny bits of ice form on the surface and on the lid, a tell-tale sign that it’s getting freezer burn and can start tasting a bit off. Keeping in a well sealed container will help!
LOVE IT? PIN IT!
Be sure to pop down to the comment section at the end of this post and let me know what you think about this gourmet Ferrero Rocher Gelato!
More amazing Ice Cream & Cool Treat Recipes
- Lemon Ice Cream {Lemon Gelato}
- Moose Tracks Ice Cream recipe
- Circus Animal Cookie Ice Cream (No Churn)
- Healthier Fried Ice Cream Cake
- Rose “No Churn” Ice Cream
- Amazing Mile High Mud Pie (Easy Ice Cream Cake)
- Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream
- 29 Tempting Ice Cream Topping & Sauce Recipes
More Chocolate Recipes from Chocolate Week
- Cake in a Jar from Devour Dinner
- Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts from Blogghetti
- Chocolate Chip Brownies from That Recipe
- White Chocolate Strawberry Bombs from Magical Ingredients
- Chocolate Chip Pecan Shortbread Cookies from Shockingly Delicious
- Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Peanut Butter Cup Brownies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Chocolate Funnel Cakes from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Chocolate Pomegranate Crostini from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream from The Fresh Cooky <<== You are here!
- White Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries from The Redhead Baker
- White Chocolate Strawberry Muddy Buddies from An Affair from the Heart
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Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream
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Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream organic
- 1 ½ cups whole milk organic, regular or 2% fine too
- ⅓ – ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar I use all natural organic cane sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons Nutella or similar
- ⅓ cup hazelnuts chopped and toasted (2 teaspoons reserved for topping if desired)
- Extra Nutella for serving optional
- Ferrero Rocher candies for serving optional
Instructions
- Grab a batter bowl and whisk (or use a hand mixer with whisk attachment) together milk, cocoa powder, vanilla until cocoa powder (use less for more pronounced Nutella flavor and more for heavier chocolate flavor) and sugar are dissolved and combined, about 2 minutes.
- In a microwave safe bowl, heat Nutella in 20 second intervals until pourable, should only need one heating, allow to cool for 1-2 minutes then whisk into milk and cocoa sugar mixture.
- Pour in heavy cream, whisk well, another 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened and no sugar granules can be seen.
- Refrigerate the ice cream base for 30 minutes or longer, prior to placing it in the ice cream freezer. By allowing it to hang out in the fridge, it will help it freeze faster, greatly improve the texture AND allows the cocoa powder to get to know the milk and the cream.
- Before pouring your ice cream base into the ice cream freezer, stir it again one last time — a nice gentle stir to ensure everything is mixed well. Then pour into your ice cream freezer and follow the directions on your ice cream machine. Mine (Cuisinart) takes about 20 minutes. Add hazelnuts (make sure they are cooled after toasting) during the last 5 minutes of freezing or simply stir in afterward.
- Ice cream straight from the machine is a soft serve texture. For firm, scoopable ice cream, pour soft ice cream into a chilled (I put my container in the freezer while the ice cream maker is on) loaf pan or container. Cover and tuck in the back of your freezer. The longer you let it hang out, the harder it will be, a couple of hours will yield firm on the edges, soft in the center. Overnight or longer, firm, scoopable ice cream. But who's kidding who, this stuff is fabulous straight from the machine or days later!
- Can you use 2%, 1% milk, yes, absolutely, it won't be as creamy, but will still set up!
Notes
Variations
STORAGE | It will stay fresh for up to 6 weeks in the freezer, when kept in an airtight container. Keep an eye out for when tiny bits of ice form on the surface and on the lid, a tell-tale sign that it’s getting freezer burn and can start tasting a bit off. Keeping in a well sealed container will help!
Nutrition
This ice cream is our new favorite flavor….so chocolatey and delicious! I made it twice in the last two weeks.
Wahoo!! Love hearing that!!
Those are one of my fave candies! This ice cream looks super creamy and delicious.
Thank you so much Christie, hope you love it!
Ferrero Rocher is my biggest weakness! This ice cream is divine! I would love to have this everyday!YUM!
Haha! Yes, it’s a good one!
YUMMY! Yes please. What a great addition to chocolate ice cream.
Thanks Rebecca!
I’m laughing at your comment to add “3-6” of the candies to the ice cream. I’m like that’s just not enough! I love this recipe. Will be trying soon
Haha, well, believe or not, when you crush those babies, it equals more than you think, but who am I to stand in the way of you adding a whole tray! 🙂
This ice cream sounds delicious! What an awesome flavor!
Tastes amazing too!
My favorite candy in ice cream form? That’s a big yes from me!
That is how my son feels!
I am just imagining myself enjoying a scoop of this! I’ve recently tried the candy. What took me so long?
Really? Truly, they are little crispy bursts of pure chocolate-y deliciousness! The best of all worlds if you love chocolate and nuts.
I’m screaming over this ice cream. Can’t wait to try it.
Haha! YAY, sorry to make you scream, but it is scream-worthy!
Sounds so good! I can eat ice cream anytime!
Me too!!
Oh my gosh, that looks absolutely awesome! I love your posts because they’re always packed with such good info and tips.
Thanks so much Jolene, I’m wordy and I own it! But hopefully no matter what questions readers might have, I have answered them!
My son in law loves these candies. I can’t wait to surprise him with this ice cream
I am pretty sure he will LOVE it!