Best Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream
Posted Jun 07, 2020, Updated Aug 04, 2024
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Rich, ultra-creamy, and chocolatey — this is the best homemade chocolate ice cream recipe ever! It’s easy to make with only 7 ingredients (including two forms of chocolate), has a rich chocolate flavor and is just as good as any ice cream shop!
We love making ice cream! It’s a fun and delicious process — and nothing beats homemade! Which is why I am sharing my recipe for the best homemade chocolate ice cream ever!
This chocolate ice cream is irresistibly creamy and made with two forms of chocolate for a deep rich flavor. It’s not overly sweet, and is just as delicious (maybe even more-so) than your favorite ice cream shop! Serve it alongside a slice of favorite chocolate cake, a piece of this giant cookie cake or eat it all by itself!
Chocolate Ice Cream: Ingredient & Substitutions
- Heavy cream. There really isn’t an adequate substitution for heavy cream. It gives the ice cream it’s ultra-creamy texture.
- Cocoa powder. If you’re into very dark chocolate ice cream, try using dark cocoa powder.
- Semisweet chocolate. I use 60% dark chocolate chips to make this recipe. Use whatever percentage you prefer—just know that milk chocolate will result in a sweeter ice cream and the darker the chocolate the more intense the chocolate flavor will be.
- Whole milk. Half and half is an acceptable substitute for whole milk!
- Granulated sugar. There’s really no substitute here! I use organic cane sugar or regular white sugar.
- Egg yolks. Another critical ingredient that contributes to the creaminess, don’t leave them out!
- Vanilla extract. Vanilla beans (seeded) or vanilla bean paste can be used in place of extract.
Equipment
Here is the gear you will need to make this chocolate ice cream recipe!
- Ice Cream Maker (I have this Cuisinart ice cream maker. If I was going to buy a new one, I’d get this ice cream maker).
- Saucepan
- Fine mesh metal strainer
- wire whisk
- Batter bowl with lid
- Freezer-friendly ice cream container
How to Make Chocolate Ice Cream
Making this homemade chocolate ice cream recipe involves a few steps—plus some chilling and freezing—but it’s well worth the time it takes to make the best chocolate ice cream ever! We’ll walk through the process together step-by-step, but don’t forget to watch the video!
The first step in making this recipe is to make the chocolate base. Begin by whisking together the cream and cocoa powder. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and boil/simmer for 30 seconds, whisking constantly.
Then, remove the chocolate/cream mixture from the heat and add chopped chocolate. Whisk until smooth. Add remaining cream and whisk to combine.
Transfer mixture to a large bowl and position a fine mesh strainer over it. This strainer will be used to strain the custard part of the chocolate ice cream recipe. It’s absolutely critical.
What if I don’t have a fine Metal strainer?
A nut milk bag or tea towel would work fine, but a fine mesh metal strainer is a kitchen must-have for sure, I use it almost every day.
Make the Custard
Next we will make the custard component of this chocolate ice cream recipe. To do this, we need to temper the eggs so they don’t cook when they’re added to the warm milk mixture. Begin by whisking the egg yolks together in a medium bowl.
Then, in a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together milk, sugar and sea salt. Once the milk mixture is slightly warm, add ½ cup of warm (not hot) milk to the beaten egg yolks and whisk to combine. Add the milk/egg mixture back into the saucepan, whisking as it’s being added.
Continue to cook the custard over medium heat, and stir the mixture constantly with a spatula until the it thickens and coats the spatula (it does this when it reaches about170 degrees F).
Assemble
Pour the thickened custard through the metal strainer into the other ingredients in the bowl. Stir until combined. Discard any custard residue left on the strainer.
Chill
Add the vanilla and stir to combine. Place a lid on top and let the mixture chill in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
Churn
Once the ice cream mixture is cooled to just below room temperature, churn it in an ice cream maker until thick and frozen (30-40 minutes).
Freeze
Transfer the chocolate ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 6 hours.
Favorite Ice Cream Containers:
Here are some of my favorite storage containers for ice cream:
Serve
Serve this chocolate ice cream on cones, in a dish, drizzled with chocolate sauce or caramel sauce with a dollop of fresh homemade whipped cream, etc.!
Or, use it to stuff between two cookies to make the best homemade chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches (like a chipwhich only so much better).
We also love using it as one of the layers in this homemade ice cream cake or to make this chocolate milkshake recipe.
Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about making homemade chocolate ice cream:
If you do not have an ice cream maker, you can churn this chocolate ice cream recipe by hand. It’s just a lot more work! Here’s how:
Once the ice cream base is made, put it in a freezer-friendly container and put it in the freezer.
After 1 hour, check the ice cream. If is has started to freeze, use a hand-held mixer (or a whisk or spatula) to beat it vigorously.
Continue to mix the mixture with a mixer or by hand every 30 minutes until it is frozen. This should take about 3-6 hours.
This ice cream stays fresh in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Yes, absolutely. Towards the end of the churning process add your preferred mix-ins. I suggest edible cookie dough – yum.
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
Best Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream divided
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped (or chocolate chips)
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ tsp sea salt
- 3 large egg yolks beaten
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whisk together 1 cup cream and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and boil/simmer for 30 seconds whisking constantly.
- Remove from heat and add chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth. Add remaining 1 cup of cream and whisk to combine.
- Transfer mixture to a large bowl and position a fine mesh strainer over it. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolks.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together milk, sugar and sea salt.
- Once the milk mixture is slightly warm, add ½ cup of warm milk to the beaten egg yolks and whisk to combine. Add the milk/egg mixture back into the saucepan, whisking during the addition.
- Continue to cook the custard over medium heat, and stir the mixture constantly with a spatula until the it thickens and lightly coats the spatula (it does this when it reaches about 170 degrees F).
- Pour the thickened custard through the metal strainer into the other ingredients in the bowl. Stir until combined. Discard any custard residue left on the strainer.
- Add the vanilla and stir to combine.
- Place a lid on top and let the mixture cool in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or overnight. To speed up the cooling process, you can place the container of the chocolate ice cream liquid base into an ice bath and stir it often.
- Once the ice cream mixture is chilled, churn it in an ice cream maker until thick and frozen (30-40 minutes).
- Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for at least 6 hours.
- Serve!
Video
Notes
- Heavy cream. There really isn’t a substitution for heavy cream, it gives the chocolate ice cream it’s ultra-creamy texture.
- Cocoa powder. If you’re into very dark chocolate ice cream, try using dark cocoa powder.
- Semisweet chocolate. I use 60% dark chocolate chips to make this chocolate ice cream. Use whatever percentage you prefer, just know that milk chocolate will result in a sweeter ice cream, and the darker the chocolate used the more intense the chocolate flavor will be.
- Whole milk. Half and half is an acceptable substitute for whole milk!
- Granulated sugar. There’s really no substitute here! I use organic cane sugar or regular white sugar.
- Egg yolks. Another critical ingredient that contributes to the creaminess, don’t leave them out!
- Vanilla extract. Vanilla beans (seeded) or vanilla bean paste can be used in place of extract.
- Once the ice cream base is made, put it in a freezer-friendly container and put it in the freezer.
- After 1 hour, check the ice cream. If is has started to freeze, use a hand-held mixer (or a whisk or spatula) to beat it vigorously.
- Continue to mix the mixture with a mixer or by hand every 30 minutes until it is frozen. This should take 3-6 hours.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Forgot to click on the stars when I comment. I would give it 10 if I could!!!!
This truly is the best chocolate ice cream ever!!! It is just as good as my favorite from the ice cream shop!!!! I used half dark and half semisweet chocolate chips. I will add chopped almonds to mine when I serve it today! Thank you for sharing this scrumptious recipe!!!!
I’m so glad you love it as much as we do, Judy!
Followed each step (using chocolate chips) and it came out perfectly. Better than perfect really. I’m beyond thrilled with the results and this was my very first time every making ice cream from scratch. I used my kitchen aid ice maker attachment and it worked like a charm.
For kicks I added about 1 tsp of espresso powder and I highly recommend. Not overwhelming at all, just a boosted, elevated chocolate flavor. Served with dried cherries and sprinkled with hemp seeds.
Thank you so much for this supreme recipe. Most likely will be a staple around here now.
This is THE best chocolate ice cream recipe, hands down. I’ve been making it for 4th of July for a few years now. My only complaint is that when printing the recipe, the recipe instructions don’t adjust for doubling or tripling or halving ingredients. My old brain doesn’t alway remember I’m doubling! Lol
I just found this recipe and will be making a double batch right off the bat. With me being a Dietary Manager I am used to adjusting recipes for multiple people.
What I do is just re-wright the recipes to feed that amount of people.
And highlight the yield amount.
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THIS WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS. A good rule of thumb is that whenever you’re making something, whatever ingredient is in the name should be the highest quality ingredient you buy. That is the featured flavor in the recipe, and it influences all of the other flavors. So if it’s chocolate ice cream, buy good chocolate for it.
That being said, I bought good-quality chocolate for this and followed the recipe to the letter. It churned in 40 minutes, and the flavor and texture were simply beautiful. I am super pleased with it, and I will definitely be making it again!
This recipe was delicious! I used dark cocoa, and I only had 4 1/2 oz. of dark semi sweet choc chips and still turned out great! Worth 10 stars
How much does this recipe make? I have a 4 quart freezer. Do I need to double the recipe?
Ok I NEVER comment on recipes I make but this ice cream was beyond exceptional. Never mind the kids who absolutely LOVED it (and they’re not easy critics) but I loved it and I’m not a big ice cream person. Thank you!
It really is top tier chocolate ice cream, I used milk chocolate, it would be better if I used dark chocolate as recipe stated. Worth 5 stars.
First time I’ve ever made ice cream and it was fantastic. Only thing I might would change is amount of sugar used, maybe dial it back to 3/4 cup.
The end result is a super smooth and creamy consistency with a nice chocolate flavor that runs circles around any store bought ice cream.