The Italian Way to Make Ice Cream Sandwiches 10x Better originally appeared on Parade.
I’ll rarely pass up a chance to try a dessert where one of the ingredients is ice cream or gelato, so when I heard about brioche con gelato, the Sicilian ice cream sandwich, I knew I had to try it. The popular summer dessert consists of just three ingredients: a brioche bun toasted in butter and your favorite gelato.
When I first heard about this dish, I wondered why anyone would pair a buttery roll with a cold, melty dessert, but I was intrigued. Keep scrolling to learn more about brioche con gelato, including my honest thoughts about the Italian treat after I gave it a try in my kitchen.
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What Is Brioche con Gelato?
Brioche con gelato, which originates in Sicily, combines savory (the bread) and sweet (the gelato). The bread is often slightly warmed to contrast the chill of the gelato. In Italy, it’s more viewed as a pastry versus a dessert, which means you’ll see people having it for breakfast, and there’s even a special brioche bun made in bakeries specifically for this ice cream sandwich.
Related:We Tried 9 Different Ice Cream Sandwiches and the Winner Won By a Landslide
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How to Make Brioche con Gelato
This recipe is beautifully uncomplicated. To make brioche con gelato, all you need are brioche buns (I used brioche hamburger buns from the grocery store), butter and your favorite gelato. I opted for Talenti’s Belgian Chocolate Gelato, but you can grab any gelato flavor that speaks to you. Pistachio, vanilla, hazelnut or stracciatella are great options. Heck, you can even use a combination of flavors.
Start by toasting the bun in a skillet with plenty of butter (some versions of the dish use a waffle maker instead). Let the toasted bun halves cool for a few minutes before assembling the sandwiches. Once the buns are cool, top each half with the gelato. (I did one scoop on each, and found it to be plenty.)
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My Thoughts on Brioche con Gelato
I was pleasantly surprised by brioche con gelato. I was skeptical going in, but the rich savoriness of the bread balanced out the sweetness of the gelato just enough. I really liked the sweet chocolatey flavor paired with the buttery notes of the bun. The only issue I ran into was eating it before the gelato melted, but that’s a challenge you deal with anytime you’re eating ice cream.
Brioche con gelato is a fun and easy dessert to add to your summer party lineup. You could toast a bunch of rolls (regular or slider-size) and put them out with lots of gelato flavors and fun toppings (sprinkles, nuts, hot fudge, caramel sauce, whipped cream) and let guests build their own combos. It’s a dessert that’s kid- and adult-friendly and will get your guests talking.
Related: The Controversial Vegetable That Works Wonderfully Well In Ice Cream
The Italian Way to Make Ice Cream Sandwiches 10x Better first appeared on Parade on Jun 23, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Dining and Cooking