Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts

Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato

5 from 2 votes
Savor our Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato! Made with fresh watermelon and no eggs, this silky, refreshing treat is perfect for summer.
Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato is thick and smooth, in vibrant red-orange color.

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: With our Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato, crisp, refreshing watermelon gets a luscious, creamy glow-up! With just seven ingredients and our streamlined recipe, you’ll be indulging in this cool, silky-smooth Italian delight today! This is a delicious and unexpected delight.

  • A perfectly-textured frozen treat! If you’ve never made sumptuously smooth gelato, you’re missing out! Gelato is in that perfect spot between invigorating sorbet and luxuriantly rich ice cream. This Italian specialty is decadently velvety, but because it has a lower fat content than ice cream, its vibrant flavor and color are more intense.
  • Cornstarch is the secret ingredient. A traditional gelato recipe contains egg yolks, and the cooking process is more labor-intensive. This genius recipe uses a simple cornstarch mixture to duplicate the yolks’ thickening properties. You get a perfect hot-weather treat that even those who are egg-free will enjoy and adore!

Because of its high water and electrolyte content, melon is naturally cooling and refreshing, and just screams summer fun! In addition to a big slice of ice-cold watermelon or chunks of perfectly ripe cantaloupe and honeydew, you’ll love chilling with this Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato, and also Cantaloupe and Strawberry Popsicles, Homemade Cantaloupe and Mint Sorbet, Summer Fruit Spring Rolls, and Watermelon Popsicles.

Table of Contents

Smooth and thick Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato in a loaf pan.

What is Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato?

  • Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato is a frozen dessert made from a mixture of pureed watermelon, cornstarch, whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, and flavorings and churned in an ice cream machine.
  • This recipe differs from a traditional gelato recipe because a mixture of milk and cornstarch is used instead of the typical egg yolk custard. This milk and cornstarch mixture makes the gelato-making process faster, easier, and free of the issues–tempering the egg yolk, the possibility of curdling–required in custard-making.
  • It’s believed that Arabs brought their native foods, including sugar and citrus fruits, to Sicily in the 10th century and made frozen desserts by mixing them with snow from Mt. Etna. Using cornstarch instead of egg yolk became the standard in Sicily because it was more readily available, more easily digestible, and the mixture is more apt to stay stable in Sicily’s heat.

Tools You Need

Make it Bolder!

Once cooked, the color can turn an orange hue, so I suggest using a natural food coloring if you want a vibrant color.

Key Ingredients of Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato

Key Ingredients and Why

Heavy whipping cream

  • The fat from the heavy whipping cream gives the gelato creaminess and richness.
  • The high fat content of heavy whipping cream helps keep the gelato structure stable and keeps it from becoming too icy when it’s frozen. It lowers the freezing point to make ice cream still scoopable once frozen.
  • Be sure to use full-fat heavy cream (35% to 38% fat) which will whip up best.

Whole milk

  • Whole milk, with a milk fat content of around 3.5%, contributes to its velvety texture.
  • Because it has less fat than heavy whipping cream, whole milk lightens the gelato mixture so it’s pleasantly thick and creamy but not dense.

Granulated sugar

  • Granulated sugar sweetens the gelato.
  • Importantly, sugar prevents large ice crystals from forming in the mixture, which keeps the gelato smooth.
  • Sugar enhances the sweetness of the watermelon.

Cornstarch

  • Cornstarch thickens the gelato mixture.
  • Just like cornstarch can thicken a sauce, it does the same in the gelato mixture. The cornstarch is mixed with milk, cream, and sugar and then heated, which makes the starch granules swell and burst, creating a custard-like texture.
  • Because flavorless cornstarch is used instead of egg yolk in this recipe, the clean, fruity watermelon flavor is prominent.

Salt

  • Salt balances out the sweetness of the gelato and keeps the mixture from tasty flat.
  • Importantly, salt lowers the mixture’s freezing point. This means the mixture will be creamy and easy to scoop up, and won’t be rock-hard.

Watermelon

  • Watermelon, with its sweet, crisp flavor, makes this gelato taste like summer.
  • Naturally juicy watermelon makes this gelato supremely refreshing.

Lemon juice

  • Tart lemon juice gives the gelato a note of bright citrus flavor.
  • The lemon juice contributes to lowering the freezing point of the gelato mixture, reducing the chance of ice crystals forming in the mixture.
  • Lemon juice helps keep the mixture from oxidizing, helping to retain the vibrant color.

All-natural red food coloring (optional)

  • If you’d like, use a natural food coloring to ensure a watermelon-red look.

How to Make Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato

  1. Prepare to make the gelato.

    Place a metal loaf pan or another freezer-safe container into the freezer to chill.

  2. Make the cornstarch mixture.

    In a saucepan, mix the cream, milk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Let the mixture boil for just one minute, continuing to whisk constantly.

  1. Add the fruit.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in watermelon purée and lemon juice. 

  1. Strain 

Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Refrigerate for at least two hours.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make Sicilian Eagless Watermelon Gelato: Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Refrigerate for at least two hours.

  1. Churn and freeze.

Churn following your ice cream machine’s directions. Transfer to a pre-chilled container and freeze for at least four hours.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

  • Time cornstarch cooking. Be sure to allow the cornstarch mixture to be at a full boil for one minute to activate, but no longer. Not long enough, and it won’t cook, but boiling too long can cause it to lose its thickening power.
  • Puree until smooth. Use well-pureed watermelon to get the most fruit flavor in this gelato.
  • Chill with an ice bath. To speed up the cooling process before churning, you can place your watermelon mixture on an ice bath: fill a large bowl with ice and a little water, then place your bowl of watermelon gelato base on the ice and stir regularly until fully chilled.
  • Churn without a machine. You can hand churn this gelato by placing it in a shallow metal bowl in the freezer. Every half hour, give the mixture a vigorous whisk. After three to four hours, you will have a gelato consistency.
  • If you like this recipe, try our Cornstarch Ice Cream (Sicilian Gelato)!

Sicilian Watermelon Gelato Make Ahead & Storage Tips

  • To make the mixture ahead and chill. Chill cooked and strained gelato mixture in the fridge for up to 48 hours before churning.
  • To make and freeze: Churn the Sicilian Watermelon Gelato and place in the chilled loaf pan or freezer-safe container. Be sure the mixture is well-covered. It will keep in the freezer for up to four weeks.
  • To store leftovers: Store leftovers well-covered in the freezer for up to four weeks.

Scoops of Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato are served in a paper cup.

FAQs

  • How do I make sure my Sicilian Watermelon Gelato has great flavor?
    • Using ripe watermelon is crucial for making the best-flavored gelato. Look for the following signs of ripeness:
      • Check for a yellow or ivory spot on the rind. This is where the watermelon rested on the ground, and if the spot is green or white, it was picked too early.
      • Knock on the melon. A ripe watermelon will sound hollow.
      • Pick the melon up. A ripe melon is full of juice, and it will feel heavy.
      • A ripe watermelon will smell sweet, even through the rind.
  • How do I get a smooth and creamy gelato texture?
    • Be sure to use the full amount of sugar and lemon juice, which both deter the formation of ice crystals.
    • Be sure the gelato mixture is well-chilled before churning. Faster freezing during churning inhibits the formation of large ice crystals. It also helps trap air more efficiently, which makes the gelato creamier and less prone to forming ice crystals.

More Gelato Recipes

Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato

5 from 2 votes
Savor our Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato! Made with fresh watermelon and no eggs, this silky, refreshing treat is perfect for summer.
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 3 pints
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill and Churn 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Savor our Sicilian Eggless Watermelon Gelato! Made with fresh watermelon and no eggs, this silky, refreshing treat is perfect for summer.
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 3 pints

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups (12 fl oz/260 ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup (8 fl oz/240 ml) whole milk
  • 1 cup (8 oz/225 g) granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (32 fl oz/960 ml) pureed watermelon
  • 1/3 cup (2 ½ floz/75 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • A few drops all natural red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  • Place a freezer safe container in the freezer to chill.
  • In a medium saucepan whisk together the cream, milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt, then place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil.
  • Let boil for one minute, whisking the whole time, to activate the cornstarch.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the watermelon puree and lemon juice.
  • Pass the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any pulp or fibers.
  • Refrigerate the mixture until fully cold, at least 2 hours.
  • Churn according to the directions for your ice cream maker. I suggest churning until it resembles the consistency of soft serve.
  • Transfer the gelato to the chilled container, cover and freeze for a minimum of 4 hours. The remaining gelato can be kept in the freezer for up to 4 weeks.
5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)
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Sandie
Sandie
4 months ago

Love the recipes but when I go to PIN them it won’t work. It happens all the time with this site.

Rebecca
Rebecca
4 months ago

Can this be made without an ice cream maker?

Catherine
Catherine
4 months ago

This looks so good, and I am going to make this soon! Thank you so much!

About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

Weeknight Family Favorites Chapter from the Bigger Bolder Baking Every Day Cookbook