Hello Italian food lovers! Hands up who does not know what a Viennetta is?
This incredibly popular Italian dessert/ice cream born in the 80s and now made by Unilever has been popular ever since it was invented.
Simply irresistible, with waves of soft ice cream flowing over layer upon layer of chocolatey deliciousness. No wonder this ice cream is still top of the list for being one of the most popular ice creams ever.
And you know what: I recently discovered you can make it at home EASILY! Yes, because its look is deceptive. All you do is whip egg white with sugar and fresh cream + vanilla and you make layers with chocolate. You don’t need to add chopped hazelnuts that’s my personal taste.
I thought I was going to die on the spot when I had it: my taste buds went haywire, goodness me, so good.
Please please do try this out, I guarantee you a place in heaven when the first spoon reaches your mouth!
- Prep Time : 30 minutes
Ingredients
- egg whites – 4
- fresh cream – 300 ml
- vanilla essence – 1 tsp
- icing sugar – 50 g
- salt – a pinch
- dark chocolate – 150 g
- To decorate:
- dark chocolate – 60 g
- fresh whipping cream – 150 ml
- toasted chopped hazelnuts – a handful
Instructions
Melt the chocolate by putting it in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water.
Spread the chocolate on a sheet of baking paper making 3 rectangles as big as the baking tin; they should be placed apart from each other. Then place in the freezer for 3 minutes.
Cover the plum cake tin with a sheet of cling film
Whip the cream in a bowl then in another bowl whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt and the icing sugar. Add the vanilla essence and gently stir the whipped cream and the egg whites mixture incorporating well.
Pour some of the mixture in the tin then take the chocolate out of the freezer and put a sheet of chocolate over it.
Carry on with the remaining ingredients making layers.
Finish off with a layer of cream and egg white mixture.
Put in the freezer covered with cling film for 4 hours. Then melt 60 g of chocolate and pour it over the top of the viennetta using a teaspoon. Sprinkle over some toasted hazelnuts (optional). Put the Viennetta back in the freezer and in the meantime whip the cream.
Take the Viennetta out of the freezer and decorate with the cream using a piping bag.
My Little Italian Kitchen 
Viennetta brings back memories. We used to have it quite a few times growing up and I remember it being such a special and fancy ice cream. Maybe I should share this recipe with my grandma for the next family gathering…
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I grew up with it too and now that I have discovered I can make it so easily I will make it again. Great for summer!
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Dear Alida, Now you are talking!!!! This was a favorite of mine when I was younger, it brings back many memories. Yes, we used to find that in our frozen food section of the supermarket. But can’t seem to find it anymore..But not to worry because Alida will show me how…Thank you for this wonderful recipe. I can’t believe how easy it is and it is amazing yummy according to your children’s picture. I will definitely have to copy this one down and try this really soon. A lovely way to have a beautiful dessert and have your tastebuds dance with happiness. Have a wonderful rest of the week…Dottie 🙂
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Neither could I ever believe it was so easy dear Dottie! And much better than the industrial version, as always homemade is best!
I am a child of the 80s and this brings back many memories to me too.x
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You’re a genius, Alida! This looks so good and so wonderfully easy too. I could spoon this up all day without any complaints 😀
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You made that? How cool!!! I can’t believe it is that easy……. I must must must try this. I loved viennetta as a child!!!!
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Quanto l’adoro! Ottima idea farla in casa, sei stata bravissima, è fantastica! Un bacione!
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You have outdone yourself, Alida. This Viennetta looks heavenly!
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Thank you 😉
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Ooooh this brings back memories. I used to eat viennetta as a child! Probably a little too much!
This is firmly on my must try to make list!
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How UTTERLY gorgeous and took me right back to my childhood! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
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I’m so impressed by how doable this is. When I saw the picture I thought it must have taken a really complex proceedure.
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It looks like that and it is so easy to make 🙂
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Alida! ERRRRR….How have I been missing all of your posts? Not sure!?!? Anyway…this looks soooo fun! I experimented with semifreddos years ago…but they were hit or miss for me…and I only like to prepare dishes that come out every time (in other words – – – the easy stuff! 🙂
I am going to try to this though….we love Viennetta, and it would be fun to try on my own.
What about Vanilla here??? I have never been able to find the kind we use in the States. I ended up making my own (vodka and vanilla beans), but I was still curious about where to find it here – – or what is is called.
Ok…I am off to have a look at your other recipes….ciao!
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Oh Diana! The vanilla question is very interesting. I grew up in the 80s thinking that vanilla was that chemically made powder you get in Italy called “vanillina” which does not taste of vanilla at all! It took me years to understand what vanilla is really like!
Whenever I am in Italy I can now find vanilla pods in supermarkets but I am not sure where you can find vanilla extract. Organic shops perhaps? Or just go online that’s probably easier!
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I bet this is better than any bought Viennetta. It looks perfect and I can just imagine how good it tastes too. I keep meaning to try making ice-cream with egg whites, maybe this is the one to start with!!! Someone looks like they are enjoying it.
Thanks for entering it into WSC 🙂
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What an absolutely stunning dessert – a superb entry to We Should Cocoa! Thank you for sharing! It’s not even 8am and I am now craving ice cream!
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This looks FAR enter than a shop bought Viennetta but then that goes without saying!
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This looks great! I’ve never had that brand, but we had something very similar in the 80s from a different company and I loved it.
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Hey Alida,
The recipe looks pretty good. Im curious about its possible origin tho. Ive never found any reference to this kind of cake in any of my italian cookbooks. Are you sure its an italian cake? Any idea what town or region is it from? Or any reference or source that makes you think its italian? I suppose its name means “viennese” so its giving me a brain strain trying to find out the history and background!
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Actually, I just found a wikipedia entry that seems to say that it is a Unilever product that was invented at an icecream factory in England.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viennetta
if thats true then the product has no connection with Italy, except that Unilever may sell it there.
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Hi Ulysses,
You have made a good point. Before writing this post I was curious as well about the origins of this dessert. I grew up in Italy and Viennetta was sold in most supermarkets.You would have it instead of ordinary ice cream, especially in the 80s and together with “Cornetto” they became some of the most popular ice creams sold in Italy.
According to sources (Italian Wikipedia) it was launched for the first time in 1982 by Algida (an Italian company that makes ice cream) using a technique devised by Kevin Hillman, head of development at the company’s plant in Gloucester.
Algida became part of Unilever in 1974 so it is infact a British-Dutch company now but we Italians still like to think that Viennetta is Italian! 🙂
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