No-Churn Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

Creamy and silky smooth homemade no-churn dark chocolate ice cream that requires only 3 ingredients and no ice cream maker! Making your own ice cream has never been easier (or more delicious!).

I seriously had no idea how easy it was to make homemade ice cream! I always thought you needed an ice cream maker (and, let's be honest, what average home baker has one of these?!) but you really don't!

I love this recipe for homemade dark chocolate ice cream because:

• It only requires 3 ingredients
• It's no-churn, meaning no ice cream machine required (yay!)
• It's silky smooth, creamy, and bursting with dark chocolate flavor

I have ALWAYS wanted to make my own ice cream from scratch, so what better way to start than with a dark chocolate ice cream?

As many of you know, dark chocolate is my absolute favorite chocolate to work with (as seen with my Simple Dark Chocolate Brownies). So, there's no surprise that this flavor would end up being my first no-churn ice cream recipe on the blog.

I had so much fun making this ice cream from scratch and I hope you do too! Again, there are only 3-ingredients standing in between you and your own bowl of dark chocolate ice cream, so let's begin!

What Does No-Churn Ice Cream Mean?

For the longest time, I did not know what was meant by no-churn ice cream! Typically, ice cream is made in an ice cream maker where the machine "churns" (mixes) the ice cream as it freezes.

No-churn ice cream simply means that the ice cream is not churned, or mixed, as it freezes. Honestly, I didn't think the texture would be up to my standards without the churning process, but this ice cream is so creamy and smooth! It's rather amazing!

Because the ice cream is not churned, that means one less machine in your kitchen cupboards taking up space!

Baking Tips Before Starting:

1. Sifted Dark Cocoa Powder: Before mixing the cocoa powder into the sweetened condensed milk you must sift it. Doing so will remove any lumps the cocoa powder may have and will make the ice cream super smooth.

2. Bread Pan: Use a 9x5-inch bread pan to freeze your ice cream. This works great because the ice cream completely fills up the pan! Also, cover the bread pan with foil before sticking it into the freezer. This helps to reduce freezer burn.

3. Freezing Time: I recommend allowing the ice cream to freeze completely overnight before eating it. But, if you cannot wait or need it sooner, freeze for at least 4 hours.

Ingredients in No-Churn Dark Chocolate Ice Cream:

• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Used for sweetness, as this is the only sweet element in the recipe.
• Dark Cocoa Powder: This is where we get that deep dark chocolate flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Provides creaminess, body, and structure for the ice cream.

How to Make No-Churn Ice Cream:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together (I love this 3-pack of whisks) the sweetened condensed milk and sifted dark cocoa powder

2. Using either an electric stand mixer or a handheld mixer, beat the heavy cream on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form (2-3 minutes).

3. Use a silicone spatula and scoop some of the whipped cream into the bowl with the sweetened condensed milk. Fold together gently. Then add the rest of the whipped cream, folding until smooth and fully combined.

4. Spread into your loaf pan and cover with foil. Freeze for 4-6 hours (overnight is best).

How Long Should I Freeze My Homemade Ice Cream?

I suggest letting it freeze completely overnight before serving it. That way, you have no doubt that it's fully frozen.

I had checked my ice cream after it had been in the freezer for 2 hours and it was still pretty soft. After about 4 hours, it was more solid.

When in doubt, let the ice cream freeze overnight, but if you need it sooner, check it anywhere between 4-6 hours.

Toppings For Your Dark Chocolate Ice Cream:

Some of my favorite toppings to include with chocolate ice cream (especially dark chocolate) are:

• Chocolate syrup
• Fresh strawberries
• Whipped cream
• Crushed peanut butter cups

The topping suggestions are truly endless when it comes to chocolate ice cream! Other suggestions you might like are:

• Caramel sauce
• Bananas
• Sprinkles
• Hot fudge
• Chocolate chips
• Brownie bites
• Crushed peppermint candies

More Chocolate Desserts to Try:

• Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Amazing Chocolate Cake
• Simple Dark Chocolate Brownies
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cakes