Mocha Chip Gelato

I am moving in with my new roommate at the end of the month and since she is on a diet I need to start making things we can enjoy together.  I love mocha chip ice cream and I loved gelato when I had it in Italy, so I didn't think I could go wrong with this recipe....I was wrong.

First recipe fail, it called for cornstarch instead of eggs (which I later found out was an important ingredient in gelato, thanks to my mom who has been to Italy many times).  The second fail, it calls for instant coffee instead of espresso.  These fails lead to the strange thick texture and a weak coffee flavor.

I am still going to post the recipe so I know never to try it again!

1 3/4 cups 1% milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon instant-coffee
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate

Stir together 1/4 cup milk and cornstarch.

Whisk together sugar, cocoa, and remaining 1 1/2 cups milk in a small heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring. Whisk in coffee. Stir cornstarch mixture again and whisk into coffee mixture. Return to a boil, whisking, then remove from heat. 

Add vanilla, a pinch of salt, and half of chocolate to saucepan, stirring. 

Set saucepan in a large bowl of ice water to cool, whisking frequently. 

Freeze chocolate mixture in ice-cream maker. When nearly frozen, add remaining chocolate and churn until blended. 

Serve gelato sprinkled with almonds. 

If anyone has a good gelato recipe, I would love to try it.

Next time I will be looking for a recipe that calls for eggs and NOT cornstarch...gross!