Name: Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 5 cups
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3/4 cup dutch-process cocoa powder; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar; Pinch of salt; 1 cup whole milk; 1 cup heavy cream; 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

Thishomemade dark chocolate ice creamis so creamy and luxurious that you’ll never go back to the store-bought kind!

I’m one of those people who is happy to eat ice cream whether it’s the middle of July or the middle of a blizzard.I say just put a sweater on and keep scooping! Ice cream is all at once a love language, a mood booster, and one of the best sweet treats out there in my opinion, andit doesn’t get much better than a classic dark chocolate ice cream made at home.

Homemade ice creamis one of our favorite treats to make on the weekend or with friends, there’s just something magical about it! This dark chocolate ice cream is forever a favorite as well ascheese cake ice cream recipeand this simple recipe forhomemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. No matter the flavor, you can’t really go wrong!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfect Balance of Sweetness: The contrast between the deep flavor of dark chocolate (in this case cocoa powder) and sweetness from the sugar issogood. It’s rich but not overly sweet.
Easy to Make: Some recipes requires a bunch of steps and tons of ingredients, but this recipe is straightforward and easy to follow.
Impressive Dessert: Even though you’ll know it’s easy, there’s just something so impressive about your guests homemade ice cream.

Ingredients

Dutch-Process Cocoa Powder:you can sub another cocoa but Dutch-Process is going to give you better flavor so I definitely recommend it. It’s easy to find, just look for packaging that says Dutch Process on it when you visit the grocery store.
Granulated Sugar
Dark Brown Sugar:it has more molasses in it and will give the ice cream a deeper flavor. Light brown sugar will work in a pinch
Salt
Whole Milk:The extra fat in whole milk gives you smoother ice cream but you can substitute a different variety in a pinch.
Heavy Cream
Vanilla Extract

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

Popular Substitutions or Variations

You can vary the recipe by adding mix ins right at the end of churning. Chocolate ice cream goes will with chocolate chips or chunks, fruit like strawberries or raspberries, caramel, toffee bits, cookie pieces, and so many more.

How to Make Homemade Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

Step #1.In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugars, and salt.

Step #3.Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer directions.

Step #2.Whisk in the milk and cream, and continue stirring until the cocoa is fully dissolved and there are no lumps. Stir in the vanilla.

Step #4.Serve or freeze as desired.

Recipe FAQs

How long does it take to make homemade ice cream?

Miraculously, with my ice cream maker this recipe comes together in just 30 minutes! However, if you want that firmer consistency akin to the store-bought kind, make sure to freeze it for at least a couple hours, which adds to the total time.

Why is my homemade ice cream not thickening?

Too much sugar can make ice cream clumpy or runny. Meanwhile, too much milk can make it harder because milk is mostly made of water, which freezes into ice crystals. I’ve found this recipe makes a nice, creamy, just-thick-enough consistency, so be sure to measure well!

What makes ice cream creamy?

Higher fat content creates a creamier ice cream. That’s why I like to use half cream and half milk — the combination creates a rich, creamy, and decadent consistency.

What ice cream maker do you use?

My favorite is this Cuisinart ice cream maker because it’s low maintenance and FAST! And we all know, when we want ice cream, we want it ASAP. The saying isn’t, “I politely ask for ice cream.” It’s, “I scream for ice cream!” So get you a maker that delivers!

What is the ice cream like when it is done churning?

It comes out like a soft serve consistency, which is smooth and delicious. But if you like a firmer ice cream, just put it in a freezer-safe container before freezing for at least 2 hours. Set it on your counter for about 10 minutes to let it soften enough to scoop and serve. Voila! Homemade ice cream has never, ever been easier! (Not sponsored by Cuisinart, but I wanted to share a favorite product of ours!)

Expert Tips

If you want to add swirls of fudge, caramel, marshmallow creme, or anything else like that, alternate layers of ice cream and the “swirl” as you put the ice cream into the freezer container after churning.
Remember that you can add mix-ins right at the end of churning.If you combine swirls AND mix-ins, you can create pretty infinite kinds of ice cream.
To prevent ice crystals,put a layer of plastic wrap on top of the ice cream before putting the lid on the freezer containerand storing it in the freezer.
When mixing the ice cream ingredients together,be sure to whisk long enough to dissolve all the sugar so that the finished ice cream isn’t grainy.