Indulge in the rich, timeless charm of Classic Italian Tartufo— a decadent frozen dessert featuring a creamy ice cream center wrapped in chocolate and finished with a crisp, glossy shell.
Whether you prefer the Classic version made with traditional ice cream and dark chocolate, the Diabetic-Friendly version crafted with low-sugar ingredients to help manage blood sugar, or the Keto version designed for low-carb, high-fat lifestyles, each option delivers the same luxurious taste and beautiful presentation. No matter which version you choose, Tartufo is an elegant, irresistible treat that brings pure joy with every bite.
Table of Contents
🩷 Diabetic-Friendly Classic Italian Tartufo
(Same taste… less sugar!)
📝 Ingredients
Ice Cream:
- 1 pint Sugar-Free Vanilla Ice Cream (ex: Halo Top, Carb Smart)
- 1 pint Sugar-Free Chocolate Ice Cream
Filling:
- 4 No-Sugar Cherries (or fresh cherries)
- 1 tbsp Sugar-Free Cherry Syrup (or 2–3 drops almond extract + water)
Chocolate Shell:
- 1 cup Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Chips (Lily’s or any stevia-sweetened)
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
Optional Topping:
Unsweetened cocoa powder or crushed roasted nuts.
🔪 Instructions
Same steps as the classic version, just replace the ingredients with the diabetic-friendly ones:
- Make vanilla core around cherries
- Cover with chocolate layer
- Freeze 2 hours
- Dip into melted sugar-free chocolate
- Freeze 30 minutes
- Serve with light toppings
❤️ Why This Version is Diabetic-Friendly
- Uses sugar-free ice cream
- Uses stevia/erythritol-based chocolate
- Very low glycemic impact
- Uses fresh/no-sugar cherries, reducing sugar spikes
- Keeps richness without adding extra carbs
Diabetic-Friendly Classic Italian Tartufo – Nutrition
Protein: 5–7g
Calories: 240–290
Carbohydrates: 18–24g
Sugar: 4–8g (using sugar-free ice cream & chocolate)
Fat: 16–20g
This recipe makes 4 servings.
Classic Italian Tartufo Recipe
📝 Ingredients
Ice Cream:
- 1 pint Vanilla Ice Cream (softened slightly)
- 1 pint Chocolate Ice Cream (softened slightly)
Filling:
- 4 Maraschino Cherries
- 1/4 cup Amaretto Liqueur (or cherry syrup/almond extract + water)
Chocolate Shell:
- 1 cup Dark Chocolate (about 6 oz)
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
Optional Topping:
Chocolate shavings, cocoa powder, chopped nuts
🔪 Instructions
1. Prepare the Filling
Soak cherries in Amaretto for 15–30 minutes, drain.
2. Shape the Ice Cream
- Line tray with parchment.
- Flatten vanilla ice cream, place 1 cherry inside, form a ball.
- Cover with chocolate ice cream to create a smooth sphere.
- Repeat for 4 tartufi.
- Freeze 2 hours until solid.
3. Make Chocolate Shell
Melt chocolate + coconut oil in 30-second intervals until smooth; cool slightly.
4. Coat
- Insert skewer into tartufo.
- Dip in melted chocolate; let it harden instantly.
- Add toppings.
- Freeze again 30 minutes.
5. Serve
Rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
🥄 Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Classic Italian Tartufo – Nutrition
- Calories: 380–420
- Carbohydrates: 38–45g
- Sugar: 32–38g
- Fat: 20–24g
- Protein: 5–6g
🥥 Keto Classic Italian Tartufo
(Extremely low carb + high fat)
📝 Ingredients
Ice Cream:
- 1 pint Keto Vanilla Ice Cream (Rebel, Enlightened, or homemade)
- 1 pint Keto Chocolate Ice Cream
Filling:
- 4 Fresh Cherries OR 4 almonds (better for strict keto)
- 1 tsp Sugar-Free Cherry Syrup optional
Chocolate Shell:
- 1 cup 90% Dark Chocolate or Keto Chocolate Chips
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
Optional Topping:
Sugar-free cocoa powder, crushed pecans, or toasted coconut flakes.
🔪 Instructions
Same method as Classic:
- Form vanilla core
- Add cherry/almond
- Cover with keto chocolate ice cream
- Freeze
- Dip in melted keto chocolate
- Freeze again
- Serve slightly softened
💚 Why This Version is Keto-Friendly
- Very low net carbs
- Keto-friendly ice cream using erythritol / allulose
- High-fat dark chocolate
- Almond option reduces carbs further
- No syrups, no added sugar
🥥 Keto Italian Tartufo – Nutrition
- Calories: 270–310
- Net Carbohydrates: 4–6g
- Total Carbohydrates: 12–14g (mostly sugar alcohols)
- Fat: 22–26g
- Protein: 3–5g
