No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream – Simply Scratch

This No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream is rich and chocolatey and so simple to make! A blend of bittersweet chocolate, unsweetened dutch process and dark cocoa powder, vanilla and a little bit of salt is combined with sweetened condensed milk and folded into freshly whipped cream. Once frozen, scoop and serve and sprinkle with any desired toppings. Yields approximately 10 (½-cup) servings

I love no-churn ice cream!

Since discovering its existence many years ago, I won’t go back to the old fashioned way of making ice cream that includes tempering eggs and using an ice cream maker. Yeah, no thank you. Most no-churn recipes take well under an hour to prepare and you just need to allow it time to freeze and you have incredible ice cream in no time.

And while mint chocolate chip is my most favorite ice cream flavor, next to heavenly hash and cookie butter, chocolate is up there in my top 5. It’s so simple, rich and chocolatey and can be customized by adding your favorite toppings like toasted nuts, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips or marshmallows. Really the options are endless, but scoops of chocolate ice cream in a waffle bowl or cone is my favorite way to enjoy it.

I’m still not great at scooping ice cream (or cutting bars or brownies) but you know what? It is what it is.

To Make This No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream You Will Need:

• bittersweet chocolate – Use bar chocolate instead of bittersweet chocolate chips.
• sweetened condensed milk – Used for sweetening.
• unsweetened dutch process cocoa – This will dissolve smoothly while deepens the color and reduces bitterness in the ice cream.
• unsweetened dark cocoa powder – Like Hershey’s Special Dark or substitute with Guittard’s Cocoa Rouge cocoa powder.
• fine salt – Helps to balance sweetness and flavor.
• pure vanilla extract – Adds warmth and enhances all of the other flavors in this recipe.
• heavy whipping cream – Once whipped, it adds volume, richness and creaminess to the ice cream base.

Chill Your Bowl:

Chill a large mixing bowl. I like to pop a large glass mixing bowl into the freezer for about 30 minutes while I prep the ice cream base. This will help speed up the whipping (cream) process.

MAKE THE ICE CREAM:

Add 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate to a glass (heat safe) mixing bowl that will fit on top of a saucepan. Fill a sauce pan with about an inch of water and bring to a low simmer. Set the bowl on the saucepan – the water should not reach or touch the bottom of the bowl.

Stir until the chocolate has melted. Use oven mitts to remove the bowl to trivet.

To the melted chocolate, add 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Then measure and add 3 tablespoons unsweetened dutch process cocoa, 3 tablespoons unsweetened dark cocoa, 1/4 teaspoon fine salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

WHAT IS DUTCH PROCESS COCOA?

It is the process in which cocoa solids are treated with an alkalizing agent which reduces the natural acidity of the cocoa so it is less bitter.

Stir to incorporate.

And set off to the side.

Remove the chilled bowl and pour in 2 cups heavy whipping cream.

Use a hand mixer with the whip attachment over medium speed.

As the cream thickens, increase the speed, whipping until stiff peaks form.

Add the whipped cream in to the large bowl with the chocolate mixture.

Using a large spatula, gently and carefully fold the two together using big sweeps until combined and no streaks remain.

Be patient with this. This process will take some time and give your arm muscles a workout.

Transfer the ice cream base into a freezer-safe dish and spread evenly.

Cover with a lid or foil and freeze for 8 hours or overnight.

Serve:

When ready to serve, remove from the freezer at least 20 to 30 minutes before serving. Using a ice cream scoop that has heated under running hot water helps too.

Feel free to serve as is or top with toasted almonds, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, sprinkles or any other topping your heart desires.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NO-CHURN ICE CREAM RECIPES!

Enjoy! And if you give this No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!