This Simple Chocolate Ice Cream is a chocolate lovers dream. Rich in chocolate flavor and ultra creamy, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to make this decadent frozen treat with minimal effort!
With its creamy texture and sweet, chocolatey flavor, it’s no wonder chocolate ice cream is a favorite treat among many. Chocolate ice cream is easily one of the top ice cream flavors, ranking high up there with vanilla ice cream, and with good reason – it’s delicious!
But did you know just how easy it is to make this delicious frozen treat at home? Since purchasing an ice cream maker, we have enjoyed testing out recipes and, especially, enjoying the fruits of our labor. I use the term labor loosely here because this Simple Chocolate Ice Cream recipe has become a favorite and it requires so little work on your end.
This recipe requires zero time on a stove top. Just mix the ingredients, pour them into your ice cream maker, and then let the ice cream maker do all the churning for you. It really couldn’t be simpler.
There are no eggs in this recipe, and so we do not start with a custard base. While custard ice creams are ultra creamy, this simplified version does not disappoint. It is super creamy and ultra rich in chocolate flavor – everything you look for in a chocolate ice cream recipe!
Why we love this recipe
- This simple chocolate ice cream recipe is ultra creamy, rich in chocolatey flavor, and super tasty.
- The chocolate is perfectly sweetened – not overly sweet.
- It is incredibly easy to make this simple chocolate ice cream recipe. You only need 5 minutes of prep time.
- This simple chocolate ice cream recipe does not start with a custard base, so it is egg-free.
- There is no stove-top cooking required for this recipe.
- You can mix-in other fun ingredients to the chocolate ice cream base to make a brand new flavor. Stir in chocolate sauce, brownie bits, chocolate chunks, crushed Oreo cookies, marshmallow fluff, etc. There are so many possibilities.
Ingredients in Simple Chocolate Ice Cream
- Whole milk: Whole milk is used alongside heavy cream to make ice cream with an ultra creamy texture. Lower fat milks can be substituted but they will affect the texture of the ice cream (less creamy). In Canada, homogenized milk (which is 3.25%) can be used.
- Cocoa powder. Unsweetened cocoa powder is what gives this the chocolate flavor. A generous amount of cocoa powder makes the chocolate rich in flavor.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar and brown sugar sweetens the ice cream. Feel free to adjust the amount to suit your own tastes.
- Heavy cream: Heavy cream is what gives ice cream its ultra rich, creamy texture. The higher fat content is essential to a creamy ice cream. Lower fat content results in an icier texture. In Canada, whipping cream (not to be confused with whipped cream) is the equivalent to heavy cream.
- Vanilla extract: Use real vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavor.
**Note: Ingredient quantities and full instructions are in the recipe card at the end of this post.**
How to make Simple Chocolate Ice Cream
- Mix milk, sugar, and cocoa powder. To a mixing bowl, add the whole milk, cocoa powder, and sugars. Whisk together for a couple of minutes to help the sugar dissolve.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt to the mixture and stir to combine.
- Churn. When you are ready to churn the ice cream, give the ingredients a quick whisk and then add them to the ice cream maker. Follow the manufacturer instructions to churn the ice cream.
- Serve or store. Serve immediately (the ice cream will have a soft-serve consistency at this stage) or place in a freezer safe container and freeze until ready to scoop and serve.
Optional Mix-Ins
This homemade chocolate ice cream is a perfectly decadent treat on its own, but you can definitely have some fun by adding in other fun ingredients. Some options include:
- Chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
- Brownie bits
- Cookie dough
- Chocolate fudge swirls
- Toffee pieces
- Praline or chopped nuts
- Crushed Oreos
- Marshmallow fluff
- Crushed cookie bits
Mix-ins are best added in the last minutes of churning or stirred in after the ice cream is churned.
We love making ice cream at home – you truly can’t beat homemade! When recipes are this easy, made with simple ingredients you can pronounce, and taste better than anything bought at the store, why wouldn’t you make your own?
If you love making your own ice cream, be sure to check out my Simple Vanilla Ice Cream recipe, too.
Looking for more summertime treats? You may also like:
Cherry Crumb Bars
Summer Fruit Salad with Fresh Mint
Healthy Peach Crumble Bars
Lemon Zucchini Bread
Mini Blueberry Galettes
Did you love this recipe? Please consider leaving us a comment and a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below.
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Simple Chocolate Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl, add the whole milk, cocoa powder, and sugars. Whisk together for a couple of minutes to help the sugar dissolve.
- Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt to the mixture and stir to combine.
- When you are ready to churn the ice cream, give the ingredients a quick whisk and then add them to the ice cream maker. Follow the manufacturer instructions to churn the ice cream.
- Serve immediately (the ice cream will have a soft-serve consistency at this stage) or place in a freezer safe container and freeze until ready to scoop and serve.
Note: Metric ingredient measurements are provided as a courtesy using a third-party calculator and are rounded to the nearest unit. The recipes provided on this site have not been tested with metric measurements and their accuracy cannot be verified.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is based on third-party calculations and is an estimate only. Accurate nutritional facts will vary based on the particular brands used, portion sizes, measurement accuracy and more.
