Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

This smooth and creamy no-churn chocolate ice cream recipe is full of fudgy flavor and easy to make without an ice cream maker. Add chocolate chips for double the chocolate!

Easy Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe

As many of you know, my kids both have severe food allergies. Finding ice cream that’s safe for them to eat is a challenge, but we make the best of it. Case in point: homemade chocolate ice cream! This no-churn ice cream recipe is an easy frozen dessert.

There is no missing out on anything with this rich creamy homemade ice cream. My kids are obsessed with the chocolate flavor. It’s the best taste of summer I can give them! The best part? I don’t have to haul out my ice cream maker. Since I’m slightly lazy in the heat these days, that’s a win-win.  I hope you guys try it and love it! 

If you like the idea of making your own frozen treats, be sure to check out my list of 14 delicious frozen desserts.

Why This Ice Cream Recipe Works

I make this no-churn chocolate ice cream in the same way that I make other homemade favorites like cinnamon ice cream. Without the ice cream maker! Here’s why this no-churn recipe works:

• Only 4 ingredients. You need only 4 ingredients to make this ultra-rich and creamy homemade chocolate ice cream. Heavy whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk form a base that’s ultra-rich and creamy.
• No ice cream maker. You don’t need any special equipment apart from an electric mixer. All it takes is 15 minutes to whip up the chocolate ice cream, then a few hours in the freezer to set.
• Extra chocolatey. This is the ultimate recipe for chocolate ice cream lovers. It’s full of rich, cocoa flavor. I also throw in chocolate chips (because, why not?), but that’s totally up to you.

What You’ll Need

Below, we’ll go over the easy ingredients you’ll need to make this homemade chocolate ice cream. Refer to the printable recipe card below the post for complete instructions and recipe measurements.

• Sweetened Condensed Milk: You’ll find cans of sweetened condensed milk near the baking supplies. Don’t confuse it with evaporated milk, another canned milk product. They are very different and can’t be substituted for each other.
• Heavy Cream: Look for heavy cream with at least 36% milk fat. This is important. Half & half or light whipping cream won’t work as well. Make sure the cream is well chilled, as cold cream whips up more easily.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Often used in baking, cocoa powder is made from crushed cocoa beans that are processed to remove the cocoa butter. It is high in antioxidants and is actually quite good for you. If your cocoa powder has hard lumps in it, sift before using it.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: This extract adds sweet vanilla flavor to the ice cream.
• Mini Chocolate Chips: For double chocolate ice cream, mini chocolate chips are stirred in. Save some and use the extra for topping the ice cream. You can choose to skip the chocolate chips if you like.

How To Make Chocolate Ice Cream

This fudgy, creamy no-churn chocolate ice cream couldn’t be easier to make. Let’s get started:

• Mix the ingredients. Let’s get started! In a small bowl, stir together the sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla. You’ll find that the milk is very thick so it’s fairly easy to blend in the cocoa.
• Whip the cream. Next, in a large bowl, whip the chilled heavy cream with an electric mixer or stand mixer. Beat the cream until it will stand up in stiff peaks. That means they don’t droop over when you lift out the beaters. It will take about three minutes.
• Combine. After, carefully fold in the milk mixture. Use a very light touch; you don’t want your whipped cream to deflate. Mix it in just until combined.
• Fold in the chocolate chips. The whipped cream mixture should be pretty thick so you can safely add all those chocolate chips without worrying about them sinking straight to the bottom of your container. 
• Freeze. Lastly, transfer the mixture to the loaf pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with additional chocolate chips, if desired. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and freeze your ice cream for 6 hours or overnight.

Tips for the best no-churn ice cream

Keep these tips in mind when making chocolate ice cream from scratch:

• Before whipping the cream, chill the bowl and beaters for fifteen minutes or so ahead of time. To colder the tools, the better the cream will whip.
• Stir in the chocolate chips gently. You don’t want to overmix the ice cream base, as this can deflate the air pockets needed for light, creamy ice cream.
• Use the right-sized pan. A loaf tin works well because it’s compact and easy to fit in your freezer, much like a carton of ice cream.

FAQs

How to Store Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

Store your ice cream airtight in the freezer for up to two months. For best results, line the loaf pan with parchment paper before freezing the ice cream. Once frozen solid, lift the ice cream out of the pan with the parchment paper and transfer it to a resealable container. It helps to place a layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper directly on top of the ice cream so that it stays fresh and free from freezer burn.