Tartufo
Forget the usual scoop of ice cream for a sweet treat! Our tartufo recipe is here to bring a whole new dimension to your dessert game. With a hidden cherry surprise inside and a dark chocolate shell, this little frozen delight is easier to make than it looks, so get ready to impress your guests!
Ingredients
|
400 ml
Vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, or stracciatella
|
|
|---|---|
|
8
Maraschino cherries
|
|
|
200 g
Dark chocolate
|
|
|
50 ml
Coconut oil
|
Freeze until firm
Freeze the ice cream domes until completely solid before coating them in chocolate to get the best texture and shape. Once coated, return them to the freezer immediately to keep the shape intact and help the chocolate set with a crisp finish.
Use silicone moulds
Silicone moulds create a smoother finish and make it easier to remove the frozen tartufo without breaking. Unlike rigid bowls, they flex to release the ice cream easily. This helps keep a neat shape and makes preparation more straightforward.
Pick high-quality chocolate
Choose dark chocolate with at least 70 % cocoa for the best coating. High-quality chocolate should have a short ingredient list, with cocoa mass or cocoa solids listed first, followed by cocoa butter and a small amount of sugar. A good chocolate will snap cleanly when broken and melt smoothly without feeling greasy.
Melt the chocolate properly
For a smooth, even coating, melt the dark chocolate gently with the coconut oil using a bain-marie. Chop the chocolate roughly and stir constantly over low heat to prevent overheating. The coconut oil helps create a thinner, more pourable consistency, making it easier to coat the frozen tartufo. Let the chocolate cool slightly before pouring over the ice cream domes to get a crisp shell with a glossy finish.
FAQ: Questions about tartufo
Before you get started, let us clear up any lingering tartufo-making questions. Keep reading for all the information you need.
What is tartufo?
Tartufo is an Italian frozen dessert that originated in Calabria. Traditionally, it consists of ice cream shaped into a ball with a hidden fruit or chocolate centre, then coated in cocoa powder, chopped nuts, or a chocolate shell. Modern versions often use different flavours and coatings, but the signature surprise in the middle remains the key feature.
What does tartufo mean?
"Tartufo" means "truffle" in Italian, named for its resemblance to the truffle fungus. This frozen dessert was first created in the early 1950s by Don Pippo, a confectioner who shaped ice cream around a fruit or nut centre and coated it in chocolate or cocoa powder.
How should I store tartufo?
Store tartufo in the freezer until it is time to serve. Once firm, place it in an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag to keep the texture smooth and the flavour intact, and it will keep well for up to 6 months. Sealing it properly helps prevent freezer burn, which makes each serving taste as fresh as the day it was made.
Nutritional values
Nutritional value, per
1176 Kcal
| Fibre | 0.9 gram fibers |
| Protein | 19.9 gram |
| Carbohydrates | 108.5 gram |
| Fat | 74 gram |
Try our easy tartufo recipe
Tartufo is one of those desserts that looks impressive but requires hardly any effort in the kitchen. Our recipe shows that you only need to scoop, fill, freeze, and pour, and that is about as tricky as it gets. Of course, there is a little waiting involved while the ice cream and chocolate firm up, but that just makes the final result even more rewarding.
Once tartufo are made, they can sit in the freezer for a little while, ready to save the day when surprise guests show up. Planning a big dinner and juggling a hundred things at once? No need to worry about making something sweet at the last minute. Or maybe you are craving a little treat out of nowhere. Tartufo is already sorted, just waiting for you to enjoy this cold, creamy delight.
Creamy ice cream with a crisp chocolate shell
A bite of creamy ice cream and a thin, snappy chocolate shell is nothing short of pure joy. With the first bite, the chocolate slowly melts, leaving behind a rich finish while the ice cream stays cool and creamy. And no matter what ice cream you choose, its sweetness meets the slight bitterness of the dark chocolate, creating a delightful bittersweet aftertaste. There is a reason the two are paired up in many desserts, and the utter deliciousness of tartufo is a classic example why.
Sweet maraschino cherry surprise
A tartufo would not be complete without the maraschino cherry hiding in the centre. It is the little surprise that makes digging in so exciting, the part everyone looks forward to. With its syrupy sweetness and just a hint of tartness, it is the perfect counterpoint to dark chocolate and ice cream, introducing a juicy, delicious pop of flavour.
Discover a classic Italian ice cream dessert
Tartufo is a classic Italian ice cream dessert, as alluring today as it was when it first appeared in the early 1950s. It all started in Pizzo, Calabria, where pastry chef Don Pippo found himself in a bit of trouble. A grand wedding, not enough moulds, and a room full of guests expecting dessert. He then shaped the ice cream by hand, tucked a melted chocolate centre inside, and dusted the whole thing with cocoa powder. And just like that, tartufo was born.
The classic version features chocolate and hazelnut ice cream wrapped around a rich chocolate core, but tartufo has taken on many forms over the years. Most versions hide a maraschino cherry in the centre. Others are coated in a crisp chocolate shell or rolled in chopped nuts for extra crunch. No matter the variation, one thing stays the same: creamy ice cream, chocolate, and that little surprise in the middle is what makes tartufo a timeless favourite.
So, why not embark on this sweet escapade and make a dessert that is rich both in history and flavour? Grab some ice cream, get shaping, and create your own tartufo!
Who needs a passport for a sweet adventure? Take a trip through our recipes instead. Scoop up the creamy kheer from India, bite into the golden, custardy pastel de nata from Portugal, or dive into the silky-smooth lemon posset from Great Britain.
Try different flavoured ice cream and crunchy toppings
In this recipe, we keep it classic with vanilla, chocolate, or stracciatella ice cream, but why stop there? Caramel ice cream melts into deep, buttery sweetness, while coffee ice cream leans into bold, slightly bitter notes. And for something fruitier, raspberry or mango sorbet shakes things up with a refreshing tanginess.
A few crunchy toppings on top of the chocolate shell give the tartufo another layer of texture. Chopped hazelnuts keep things roasted and slightly sweet, while toasted almonds lean towards a softer nuttiness. The light chewiness of shredded coconut may be the perfect companion that also adds an unmistakable tropical feel. For an extra surprise, a handful of biscuit crumbs or finely chopped nuts inside the ice cream creates a little crunch where you least expect it.
