#tortoni

Signo, Gran Cafe Tortoni, Avineda de Mayo, Buenos Aires, 2007.

Tortoni

20 servings

This is a dessert that was created by an Italian ice cream maker whose name happens to be Tortoni. He moved to Paris and had an ice cream café that existed for about 100 years until it was struck in a lightning storm and burned to the ground.  A tortoni traditionally includes eggs but since they are used raw they are not included in this recipe.

Ingredients

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened, condensed milk

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 tablespoon Amaretto liqueur (optional) like Disaronno

1 cup Amaretti cookie crumbs (or use vanilla wafers)

1/3 cup Maraschino cherries, finely chopped

2 cups heavy or whipping cream, whipped

Foil baking cups (white paper lining discarded)

for garnish:

½ cup slivered almonds, toasted and finely chopped

10 Maraschino cherries cut in half

Directions:

Stir condensed milk and lemon juice in a bowl until well mixed.  Stir in the almond extract, Amaretto, amaretti cookie crumbs, and chopped cherries.  Beat the whipping cream in a mixing bowl until stiff.  Fold the whipping cream into the milk mixture and blend well.

Scoop the mixture into the foil cupcake liners that have been placed in a cupcake pan.  Sprinkle the chopped almonds on top and then place a cherry half on top.  Place in the freezer overnight or until ready to serve.  This makes a great company dessert but you don’t have to wait until you have company to make and eat them!

Notes:

Amaretti cookies are sold in the international section of larger grocery stores.  However, if you can’t find them you can substitute vanilla wafers.

Tortonis taste like ice cream blended with rich ingredients.  Some Italian restaurants offer them for dessert.