Every Australian cook and baker would be familiar with Queen products. We’ve all used their food colourings, flavourings and vanilla in our cooking and baking. I have trusted Queen since I moved to Australia in 1996. I’ve always got Queen vanilla bean paste in my pantry.
To add to their range of impressive products, Queen has recently launched four make-at-home Gelato and Sorbet mixes — strawberry, vanilla, chocolate and lemon. Queen’s been around since 1897 and everything they sell has been sourced from the finest ingredients. Most commercial gelato shops in Australia and even in Italy use pre-mixes like Queen.
Just hearing the word gelato instantly transports me back to the day we hired a tour guide to take us out of Rome and over to Emperor Hadrian’s Villa and then the Villa D’Este gardens. It was a scorchingly hot day and after we finished (as if anyone can ever finish a visit to Hadrian’s historical home), our guide stopped for gelato for the four of us.
Italian gelato is absolutely divine and I’ve tried to recreate that in my kitchen with only mild success. Every time my father-in-law visits he talks about the day we had gelato just outside Rome.
When I heard that Queen’s new product line was easy to make at home authentic tasting Italian gelato and all I needed to do was provide milk (or water), I couldn’t wait to try it. I tried buying it at Coles but it’s available exclusively at Woolworth’s so don’t make the same mistake I did.
My first batch had me on the phone to my darling 91-year old father-in-law and told him he needed to freeze his ice cream bucket and head to Woolies and get some Queen gelato mix. We enjoyed chocolate gelato in Rome so that’s what we tried first. He loves it too, although my mother-in-law tells me she’s worried he’s going to get fat. I think he’s pretty safe.
The kind people at Queen invited me to test their gelato mix and create a recipe and I couldn’t wait. When I told John about the gelato he said, “Marg’s Gelato Cassata!” One of John’s favourite things to eat is this gelato cassata. I’ve never met Marg but her gelato cassata is legendary, at least at our house. It’s layers of gelato and a layer of rum splashed cake crumbs and a layer of rum soaked glace fruit in a whipped cream and gelato combination.
It takes just a few minutes to whip up the gelato mix and milk so that’s what I did first and it sits in the fridge for 30 minutes. That gave me time to get the ice cream machine out and cranked up. If you don’t have an ice cream or gelato machine, I think it’s time you invested. If my kitchen appliances all died today, the gelato machine would be the first thing I replaced.
A mere 30 minutes later and I had my vanilla gelato ready for the freezer and 30 minutes after that I had my chocolate. I was on a roll. Once the gelato had been in the fridge for an hour or two I was ready to assemble. I took a deep removable-bottom cake pan (not a springform, the one I have just pushes up) and I cut a silicone circle for the bottom and a strip for the sides to make plating easier. I put an inch and a half of gelato on the bottom and then sprinkled the rum soaked madeira cake crumbs on top of that and placed it in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Then I added the chocolate gelato and placed it back in the freezer for another 30 minutes. I know it sounds fiddly and it probably is but it was SO good, you MUST try this. Every bit just takes a minute or so but the freezing bit does take a bit longer. It’s worth the wait.
While the last 30 minute freezing was going on I whipped the cream and added some vanilla gelato and the glace fruit that had been strained from the rum. I gently folded the mixture and got the cake pan out of the freezer and poured the cream on the top, covered the pan with clingfilm and put it back in the freezer.
I must admit that I crossed my fingers a bit like Maggie Beer does when she’s not sure something is going to come out of the pan and because of the silicone, it slid right out and then right off the bottom onto the plate. I shaved some chocolate over the top and it was fit for well.. a Queen.
- 1 package Queen Vanilla Gelato Mix
- 1 Package Queen Chocolate Gelato Mix
- 1 Cup whipping Cream
- 1 cup chopped mixed glace or dried fruit (I used cherries, plums, ginger, blueberries and apricots)
- ½ cup rum (or as much as you need for the cake and the fruit)
- 1½ cups chopped cake crumbs (I used madeira cake from Woolworths)
- Chocolate shavings
- Make the gelato mixes and place in the fridge to cool
- Chop the glace fruit and soak in rum until needed.
- Freeze the gelato and place in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours
- Prepare a pan sized to suit your family. I used a silicone sheet.
- Place 1½ inches of vanilla gelato on the bottom of the pan
- Drizzle two tablespoons of rum over the cake and sprinkle cake crumbs over the vanilla layer and place in freezer for 30 minutes
- Place 1½ inches of chocolate gelato over the cake crumbs and place in the freezer.
- Strain glace fruit and set aside.
- Whip cream to soft peaks
- In a large bowl add the glace fruit and the reserved vanilla gelato and mix together. Fold in the whipped cream.
- Pour over the chocolate gelato layer, cover and freeze for 6 hours or overnight.
- Place on a plate and garnish with chocolate, pistachios, whipped cream or more glace fruit.
My mind is racing with all the different mix-ins with the gelato but if you need some inspiration for your creation there are heaps of recipe ideas on the Queen Make at Home website.
This post was sponsored by Queen Fine Foods.
A very impressive ice cream cake with the glace fruit inside.
My goodness Maureen this looks amazing! I wish I could have a slice right now. You’ve definitely got me craving gelato.
Thanks, Claire, you’re really kind. I didn’t know that most gelateria places use a premix so using the Queen Make at Home is really making what the professionals make.
You have me dying to try Queens mix my friend, what a brilliant cassata you have made with it 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
This gelato is right up your alley, Uru. My mind boggles thinking what things you could poke into it. 🙂
Your gelato looks scrumptious, like it will transport us to Roma with one bite :).
Maybe two bites. Maybe the whole dish – but definitely Rome. 🙂
Beautiful and elegant gelato! Thank you for visiting my blog. You gave me the chance to discover this beautiful spot!
Hello Katerina, lovely to meet you. I hope we can get virtually better acquainted. 🙂
I need to try these 🙂 Seriously exciting!
It was fun to make too, Kari!
This looks sooooooo gooooooood, Maureen. You’ve just set off a cassata craving in my house!
I know what you mean! From the time John suggested I make it, he must have asked 5 times when I was going to get the mix to get started.
I love your cassata Maureen, it’s stunning. The layers are so perfect. What an incredible looking dessert. You’ve taken the Queen ice cream making to a new level xx
Oh Charlie, I’m still drooling over your gelato post!
I’m a fan of Queens, they make a fabulous sugar free maple syrup, which is wonderful because I’m a diabetic!
This is a keeper. My whole family will love this recipe.
absolutely.. with or without any alcohol, this is a delightful dessert
Mmmm this looks incredible! Would make a pretty good birthday cake….
I was thinking the same thing Kelly!
Serious cravings going on over here!
Come on over, Sandra, there’s a piece left 🙂
What a gorgeous, delicious cake! I’d have to have a very nice sized slice.
Maureen, this is absolutely beautiful. I might have to move to Australia just for these wonderful Queen products!
my mouth watered when I saw this Gelato!
This is just a gorgeous cake! Well done, Maureen!
Seriously, this post should come with a spoon! Cool, creamy, garnished with chocolate — enough said.
I didn’t know that the commercial places use premix! Always fun to learn new things. We don’t have the Queen brand here, but I should look around and see if someone else has something on offer. I love gelato! Be nice to make at home. Good post – thanks.
We don’t have that brand here, but I’m not gonna argue this dessert is fit for a Queen. At least this Queen anyways. I will make it to Rome one day and my first stop will be for gelato.
-Gina-
LOL, Gina, you’re too cute for words!
All made using gelato?! I’ve never seen anything more beautiful lol So amazing, love it!
Oh YUM!!! Ice cream cake = Happy Tummy! 🙂 I love your addition of dried fruit, that would make your cake perfect! Gorgeous, Hugs, Terra
What an absolutely stunning dessert! Looks like something you’d expect in a fine dining restaurant. So awesome!
Maureen, this is some impressive gelato! Love it! 🙂
if I could have gelato everyday for the rest of my life I would! Love it so much but now I think I am obsessed with this cake! WOW! never heard of the term cassata before
Cassata is a Sicilian cake and I found a gelato version when John told me about Marg’s dessert.
Maureen I seriously had to pick my chin up off the ground with this one. This is fabulous. I am in awe.
Kim, this is really easy to make. All it really takes is the ingredients and time but no bit takes longer than 5 minutes of attention.
Wow, the ice cream makers is the appliance above all others you can’t live without? I have yet to buy one. Not that I don’t want one, but I haven’t yet justified it to myself. You might have just convinced me to pull out the credit card. LOL
Maybe that was strong. I would miss my Thermomix too. 🙂 and my knives. and my silpat. I’d better stop now.
Do I see a pair of glass chicken next to the gelato?
That sure is one good looking dessert, you did such a great job, congrats.
lol I had just washed them and they were drying on the table so I left them in the photo 🙂 I used to have 24 chickens and a friend gave these to me as a gift one year.
Such an impressive looking dessert!
It really did look impressive on the plate. I’ll make this again for guests. 🙂
Looks heavenly. Wish I could sample a bit. I am sure it would transport me straight to heaven. 🙂
John says this is the best one I’ve made so that’s high praise. Usually I get, “hey, that’s all right.”
This looks divine. I wish I could have a bite right now.
Dawn, it’s so nice to meet you. Thanks heaps for the visit and I hope we get to know each other better.
That’s one drool-worthy ice cream cake. Save me some, Maureen 🙂
Do you have any left? Can I come and visit.
I bought six boxes before the 4 boxes they sent arrived. I think I have 5 boxes left. 🙂 I’m doing an ice cream machine giveaway with my next post. I have to make the recipe first. 🙂 Life is incredibly busy! Hope you are well.
Just spotted the glass chickens, nice.
Mmmmm yum, it looks fantastic! Gelato cakes are my favourite!!! I had no idea about this gelato mix that Queen has come up with! I’ll have to look out for it on the weekend! 🙂
Ohhhhh you made me miss Italy… hehehehe
BTW, there is something waiting for you here: http://www.manusmenu.com/raspberry-glazed-chicken-wings
Have a great evening Maureen!
You can get the gelato and sorbet mixes exclusively at Woolies. The chocolate is my favourite. 🙂 Off to check out your raspberry glazed chicken wings! and thank you ahead of time. 🙂
hi Maureen, thank you so much for stopping by. this cassata does look orgasmic as the name of the website promises. so glad to have discover you!
Thanks so much for visiting and I was thinking the same thing about your blog! I hope we can become friends.
What a gorgeous ice cream cake! Great recipe, Maureen!
Ah good ol’ Queen! We’ve always had their products in our pantry for as long as I could remember. I love gelati but the weather down here is too cold for it – give me a few more months though and I will be right 🙂
You poor thing. It was 27 today and gelato was divine 🙂
This is simply stunning! I love gelato and cassata and for me, this is perfect! Love the pictures.
I love how decadent and fancy this looks – so pretty!
and best of all it’s SO easy to make.. just the freezing takes a while.
My god maureen! This is gorgeous and so packed with creamy flavors and textures….i don’t think i would have the patience to wait till it freezes…i might start spooning and eating before that…lol
Btw, i think i may have a guest post for you soon…i made something that turned out delicious! I just have to write it all up and edit picturess 🙂
This looks amazing, Maureen! All of a sudden I started swallowing really fast… YUM!
It was worth a big swallow, Anna 🙂 Lovely to see you today!
That is one gorgeous cake. Gelato mix? I had no idea there was such a thing!
I didn’t know that the commercial places used a premix either but it’s nice to be able to make something this creamy and delicious and soft at home. With all the mix-ins you can add, it can always be different. I want mango next!
Well this does fit right in with your blog name – you don’t disappoint! This looks absolutely dreamy. I’ve never heard of a gelato mix but would be happy to check it out! Really lovely dessert.
Tricia, hello and welcome. I’m so pleased to see you and thanks heaps for the kind words.
That looks sensational Maureen!!!! Ooooooo! I would LOVE a bite.
What would be the US alternative for that?
Someday I hope to visit Italy. I must try gelato there.
I’m not sure. Maybe we can talk the Queen people into sending some over to the states. You’d love the chocolate.
My Mums favourite ice cream is cassata and Dads is rum and raisin, so because I was always given a lick of theirs while I was growing up, I cant decide which is my favourite, so now I just get both 🙂
gelato mix, how cool! and what a gorgeous gelato cassata…
That looks wonderful Maureen! I use their vanilla bean paste but not this item 🙂
You’ll have to try it Lorraine. The chocolate is really good!
That is a queen of a cake indeed
I love how elegant it is with the chocolate shavings on top
Thanks, Sawsan, it’s lovely to see you visit. I’m very glad we’re friends.
Honestly Maureen, if I was a company with a product, I’d give it to you to play with. Hard to believe you could come up with something so magnificent looking from a pre-mix!
Aww Celia, you are so kind. That means a lot coming from you, the Queen of everything food AND you have chooks. 🙂
Absolutely lucious and elegant looking. So impressive!! Love.
So kind of you to visit, whichever one of you did. 🙂 The cake is really easy.
What a gorgeous dessert! Well done!
Maureen, that looks fantastic! My husband would leave me for you in a heartbeat if he saw these pics – he’s a tragic when it comes to any kind of iced treat. I really want to try some of this Queen mix, but will have to wait until they come to supermarket I’m prepared to give my money to, I’m afraid.
Sorry Amanda. 🙁 I do understand how you feel. If you come to Queensland, bring the fella and I’ll share my cake.
so true! Italian gelato is the best, no doubt!
now thats a complicated cake, I mean you did a great job, it just look so very perfect. Surely you wont mind if I have a bite?
Helene, if you come to my house I’ll make a new one just for you, I promise!
I love the layers in your pretty cake! And, I’m on an ice cream and gelato kick. I can’t stop making it lately, but I haven’t turned it into anything as lovely as this.
Lisa, all you need is a cake tin. 🙂 I did line mine with a silicone sheet so it would look pretty when I took it out of the pan, but honestly, that’s as difficult as it was.
OMG Maureen…..I’m speechless! Absolutely beautiful! I don’t know if we have that Queen’s product here or not….but I definitely want to make this. Your photo looks like something out of a magazine! What an incredible dessert! : )
Until it gets to the states, Anne, use what you have and pour it in a cake tin. 🙂
Maureen! This is out of control. You make your own gelato and then you turn it magically into a cake. You’re the Harry Potter of cooking!
It wasn’t *really* magic. I poured it in a cake tin. 🙂 easy peasy
What a perfect gelato cake! To me, making a cake is a huge step and making it with gelato is like… in my next life. LOL! I really loved how you shaved chocolate on top and this cake does look like how a professional made. Gorgeous work!
Oh Nami, you always say things that make people feel really good! You’re the best.
i would finish that all by myself.
I have an ice cream making attachment for my kitchenaid mixer, I love it. That gelato cake looks absolutely amazing. Have a great week!
Oh my goodness, this looks absolutely divine!! Bravo my dear!
Thanks heaps, Yudith!
HOLY MOLY! This looks freaking amazing!!
Must give this a go in Summer 🙂
Thanks, Shellie! I have to pick up my game next to your blog. 🙂
Wow! This cake looks out of this world!! What an amazing job you did. I would love to make my own gelato!!
Gelato isn’t tough to make, especially with this Queen premix. Just add milk and toss in an ice cream machine. The cake is even easier. Pour into a cake tin and freeze. 🙂
This would make one hell of a birthday cake! It’s a grown up’s ice cream cake…although, I reckon we are never too old for ice cream cake!!!
Adrian, we are NEVER too old for cake of any sort at all! I should know. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
This cassata is gorgeous beyond belief!
Thanks Joanne! Hope you’re having a good week.
Wow, this sounds great!! Making gelato at home would be awesome!! And umm, your cake looks so beautiful!
Aww Julie, that’s really kind of you. Next to the things I see on your blog, my little cake comes 2nd best. 🙂
Oh wow, that sorbet cake must taste amazing! I’m sure it was all eaten before it melted..
I entered the contest but I doubt they’ll ship all the way to Canada. haha
It lasted three days, Ilan and it was just as good on day 3. I kept it well covered.
Even though we don’t get that brand here in Canada, I can appreciate a great frozen treat like this! Beautiful, Maureen!
Thank you so much for visiting, Jen! I hope you get something like Queen over in Canada soon. This cake was so easy!
oh yum, I know just who would like a slice of that gem. Our oldest granddaughter. xo
Bring her over, Katy! 🙂
Beautiful ice-cream cake Maureen! Even if we don’t have Queen products around here, looking at your cake made me wish we had. Looks amazing!
Maybe they’ll migrate over one day, Roxana!
My goodness!! That looks sinfully divine *wink*
Say the word “gelato,” and I’m sold!
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Oh Miriam, you really know how to flatter someone 🙂
I saw these mixes over at Charlie,’s blog Hotly Spiced, and I was immediately intrigued Maureen. Wish we could get them here in Canada. Your gelato cassata is impressive.
Yes, Charlie did it before I did. She got her samples weeks before I did. There was a little hiccup I think. I ended up buying mine and then the samples arrived in the mail. I’ve got plenty to make more gelato treats. 🙂
My fiance would love this! As he adores tiramisu, and even though I don’t like tiramisu I’d love a huge slice of this 😀 Gorgeous!
So naturally this kind of weather calls for ice cream! But really, we love ice cream and have it quite often no matter what the weather. When I was in Italy, I fell in love with what I called my perfect combination of gelato – one scoop of Frutti di Bosco and one of Nocciola – “Fruits of the Forest” or mixed berries and hazelnut. Such a dreamy combination. Light yet rich at the same time. So I decided to make my own perfect flavor at home, using kefir, a fermented, probiotic dairy drink as the base. We make kefir here at the homestead fresh every day and I love finding new uses for it, beyond a glass straight up for breakfast! So I can now confirm it makes a really delicious ice cream! Next time I will probably add an egg or two to the mix, for a more creamy consistency. But there was nothing lacking in the taste department here! So if you are as hot as we are, or just looking for a different kind of ice cream flavor to cool off on a hot summer day, give this one a try! I promise you will love it!
Hi Dieta, I heard about kefir recently and how good it’s supposed to be for you. I’ll have to see if I can get some going this summer.
hi Maureen, Came upon your blog from Kylie. Am up the coast every couple of weeks. Where oh where can I taste that divine Gelato Cassata? Many years ago my wife and I used to buy from an Italian Gelato Shop in Wickham Street Fortitude the Valley. They sold Gelato Cassata! We stopped by often when we were courting. And now, you have it! Is the Queen mix available here in Q’Land?
Kefir jewels are really great, make a great addition to many dishes and are Oh so healthy. I obtained some from the organic market at Bowen Bridge. I lost it when we started travelling and believe it can still be obtained there!
Hiya Percy, Queen gelato mix is available at all Woolies stores Australia-wide. I like making my own gelato cassata because then I can put in the fruit I really like best. Lovely to meet you and thanks for stopping by!
Hi Percy, lovely to meet you through Kylie! Queen gelato mixes are available in all Woolies stores Australia-wide. Thanks for the heads up on kefir and I’m really glad you stopped by.
Nice!
This looks gorgeous and delicious! Thanks for sharing. Ask your husband how I found your site!!
LOL I get copies of all the emails. I saw what you two were getting up to! Lovely to meet you Vicki and thanks so much for coming by. I’m off to visit you now!
I bought an icecream maker late last summer and can’t wait for the weather to warm up enough for me to use it 🙂
This is a cake fit for a queen for sure!Temperatures are expected to reach late twenties this week and I can’t wait to try an alcohol free version of this
Let me know how it goes?
Oh this looks amazing! Gorgeous! I have never made gelato at home, or ice cream for that matter. This inspires me to give it a shot though.
Hi, Peggy, lovely to see you. This dessert was really good. 🙂
I managed to pick up packets of Queen Gelato at my local Aldi Store for $1.99, I have just made some Strawberry Sorbet and it came out great, going to try the Chocolate Gelato next.
That’s the perfect cake dear. I would love love to make that cake and eat the whole one.
Have a good weekend.