Baci Ice Cream (Chocolate-Hazelnut)

It all begins with a kiss...Baci, pronounced "bahtchee", means "kisses" in Italian. Baci are kiss-shaped chocolates filled with a ground hazelnut mixture topped with a whole hazelnut and wrapped in a packaging that contains a poetic love note in five different languages. They are made by an Italian Confectionery named Perugina founded by a woman in Perugia who revealed her love to the heir to the city in notes wrapped around her chocolate creations. A century later, the confectionery has blossomed into one of the most successful in Italy, with baci being its best-selling product. Baci chocolates are now a symbol of passion and romance that has crossed the borders of Italy to become popular all over world. Baci went further than that. It is now a name given to any dessert where chocolate and hazelnut are combined whether it contains Baci chocolates or not.




















I was lucky to find Baci at the Italian pavilion at Disney's Epcot. It was a nice coincidence because I was planning to make baci ice cream before knowing I could find the actual Baci chocolates for sale here in Orlando. I attribute the luck to the gorgeous sky we've been having lately. Seriously, I have not seen a prettier moon or brighter stars in my life. If you have haven't noticed, please take the time to do some stargazing. It may not last.




















This chocolate ice cream is quite decadent and seriously rich tasting. I'll even say it is the best, smoothest, most delicious chocolate ice cream I've ever had. It is a much more indulgent ice cream than I usually make. But then again it's almost Valentine's Day and it's totally OK to throw caution to the wind, be a bit more adventurous and let our passion loose. After all, this is the time when many of us have dared to write that first love letter, at the risk of being ridiculed or at least hoped our secret crush would dare to write us one. We have the rest of the year to be good.

Thinking about how to win your lover's heart this Valentine's Day? Follow the steps of the woman from Perugia by combining chocolate and hazelnut. You'll be glad you did. She was.












































Baci Ice Cream Recipe
Adapted from a recipe by Nigella Lawson

About 6 servings

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 cup honey (or 6 tbsps sugar)
2 cups heavy cream
4 egg yolks
7 ounces Nutella
1 tablespoon frangelico*



Bring the chocolate, cocoa, honey and cream to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to melt the ingredients and combine them into a homogenous mixture. Remove from heat.

Whisk the egg yolks in a large bowl. Slowly add the cream mixture to the eggs, whisking constantly and energetically. Let the mixture cool gently, about 5 minutes. Whisk in Nutella and frangelico.

Transfer the mixture to an ice cream machine and churn according to manufacturer's instructions. Freeze in a lidded container until set.


*I didn't use frangelico as I didn't have any but my ice cream still had a nice hazelnut flavor just from Nutella.


I am sending this Baci Ice Cream to wonderful Sarah at Maison Cupcake to participate in her event titled Forever Nigella: Seduced by chocolate.