When deciding on which ice cream flavor to make, I have a hard time choosing anything that isn’t chocolate. This chocolate ice cream recipe is adapted from the book that came with my Cuisinart churn.
Mix together to get rid of the lumps:
1 c. Dutch process cocoa powder (Important! Natural cocoa doesn’t give as good of a flavor here. Hershey’s Special Dark is now 100% Dutch process and you can find it at the regular grocery store.)
2/3 c. sugar
Stir in the remaining ingredients:
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. whole milk
3 1/4 c. heavy cream
1 T. vanilla
Chill the mixture, then churn until you reach soft-serve consistency. You can eat it right away or freeze it for a few hours to get a harder consistency.
Chocolate Peanut Butter
When you’re done churning the chocolate ice cream, layer by thirds:
2/3 c. peanut butter, slightly warmed
Freeze the ice cream for several hours before enjoying.
Rocky Road
Toast in the oven at 350 until fragrant (about 10 minutes):
1/2 c. almonds
Roughly chop the almonds. 5 minutes before churning is done, add the almonds and
1 c. mini marshmallows
Eat as soft-serve or freeze for a few hours until hard.
Almost The Tonight Dough
Technically, The Tonight Dough has caramel and chocolate ice cream bases, but I only make 1 base at a time. The mix-ins are pretty easy, though.
5 minutes before churning is done, add and mix well:
1/4 package chocolate chip cookie dough (about 3/4 c. dough balls)
1/4 package peanut butter cookie dough (about 3/4 c. dough balls)
I get the Pillsbury brand for both of these because it’s marketed as edible and saves me a lot of time.
6 Oreos, crushed
caramel syrup or sauce for topping (optional, but nice)
Chocolate ice cream is a classic for a reason. I love getting creative with mix-ins, but the original is delicious on its own.
Find more delicious ice cream recipes here.


Chocolate Ice Cream (And Variations)
Equipment
- ice cream churn
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dutch process cocoa Hershey's Special Dark
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups milk whole
- 3 1/4 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Chocolate Peanut Butter
- 2/3 cup peanut butter slightly warmed
Rocky Road
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Almost The Tonight Dough
- 3/4 cup chocolate chip cookie dough balls 1/4 package
- 3/4 cup peanut butter cookie dough balls 1/4 package
- 6 Oreos crushed
- caramel sauce or syrup
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the cocoa and sugar together to get rid of lumps.1 cup Dutch process cocoa, 2/3 cup sugar
- Stir in the remaining base ingredients. Chill the mixture, then churn to soft-serve consistency. Add mix-ins as directed.1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 cups milk, 3 1/4 cups heavy cream, 1 tablespoon vanilla
Chocolate Peanut Butter
- When the ice cream is done churning, layer the peanut butter by thirds. Freeze until hard.2/3 cup peanut butter
Rocky Road
- Toast the almonds in the oven at 350 until fragrant (about 10 minutes). Roughly chop them.1/2 cup almonds
- 5 minutes before churning is done, add the almonds and mini marshmallows. Eat as soft-serve or freeze for a few hours until hard.1 cup mini marshmallows
Almost the Tonight Dough
- 5 minutes before churning is done, mix in the cookie doughs and Oreos.3/4 cup chocolate chip cookie dough balls, 3/4 cup peanut butter cookie dough balls, 6 Oreos
- Eat as a soft-serve or freeze until hard. Top with caramel.caramel sauce or syrup