This chocolate and vanilla ice cream tartufo is coated with chocolate cookie crumbs and has a cherry inside. Eating ice cream doesn’t get any more fun than this!
For today’s recipe, we’re taking a little trip back in time…to my younger years when I was a grad student. I attended the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and one of the best parts of my education there was being able to participate in their summer festival, the Opera Theatre of Lucca.
For five weeks, I lived in the charming Tuscan town of Lucca and performed in chamber ensembles as well as the opera orchestra. It was heavenly.
Today I’m going to share a traditional Italian dessert that stands out in my mind. Aside from all the gelato I ate, sometimes twice a day! ;)
The dessert that I decided to recreate for you is a tartufo. A tartufo is essentially two flavors of ice cream molded around frozen fruit or jam in the center, and then coated in cocoa powder, cinnamon, or in this case, cookie crumbs.
This is a fun dessert for a summer party or any special occasion. You could even make mini versions for a fun treat.
Ingredient Notes
- Dairy Free Ice Cream – You can use any variety of ice cream that works for your dietary needs.
- Cookies – Just about any crunchy cookie or graham cracker will work in this recipe. Try Partake crunchy cookies, gluten free graham crackers, oreos, Kinnikinnick K-toos, or any other variety that works for you.
Variations
The neat thing about the tartufo is that you can customize it! Put a raspberry in the center, coat the outside with cocoa powder or even graham cracker crumbs. The choice is yours! This is my favorite combination – cherry in the center, vanilla, chocolate, and then cookie crumbs on the outside for the perfect bit of crunch. .
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Recipe
Dairy Free Chocolate and Vanilla Tartufo.
Ingredients
- 2 sweet cherries pitted
- â…” cup dairy free vanilla ice cream
- 1 ½ cups dairy free chocolate ice cream
- 5 chocolate sandwich cookies
Instructions
- Set the dairy free ice creams out to soften (not too melty, just soft enough so you can scoop and shape them easily).
- Place the cookies in a food processor and process until fine crumbs are formed. Pour these into a shallow bowl.
- Take â…“ cup of the vanilla flavor and place it on a piece of waxed paper. Divide it in half and place one cherry in the middle, then press the frozen dessert around the cherry. Wrap it in waxed paper, twisting the paper at the top, making sure the frozen dessert forms a ball.
- Take a clean piece of waxed paper and place the vanilla ball on it. Scoop out ¾ cup of the chocolate frozen dessert and mold it around the vanilla ball. I found it was easiest to use an ice cream scoop to scoop out smallish scoops, then I used my hands and the waxed paper to form a layer around the vanilla center.
- Wrap the ball up in waxed paper, and use the paper and your hands to form a ball.
- Repeat these steps with the rest of the ingredients to make two tartufos.
- Place the waxed paper wrapped tartufos in the freezer to solidify for about 30 minutes.
- Place two clean sheets of waxed paper near the cookie crumbs. Remove the tartufos from the freezer, and unwrap one, placing it in the cookie crumbs. Roll it around to completely coat it, then place it on a clean sheet of waxed paper, wrap it up and place it in the freezer again. Repeat with the other tartufo.
- Freeze until very firm, about 1 ½ hours.
- Remove the waxed paper, serve, and enjoy!
Katie
Delicious recipe!
Kristy from Southern In Law
This looks INCREDIBLE! What a delicious idea!
Cadry
What a gorgeous recipe! This would be such an impressive dessert to pull out for guests. They’d never believe how few ingredients are involved.
Kelly
Thank you!
Laura | Petite Allergy Treats
This is so beautiful and unique! I’ve never seen or heard of a tartufo before. So many delicious possibilities!!
Julia Mueller
This is the first I’ve heard of a Tartufo and it looks fabulous! I need to acquaint my face with it..up close and personal…for research purposes ;) Mega fan of So Delicious’s ice creams over here..the whole thing looks amazing!
Kelly
Thank you, Julia!