Black Forest Ice Cream is the creamy delicious treat you didn't know you would fall in love with! We'll show you how to make this easy recipe.
Be sure to try our strawberry shortcake ice cream, too!
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It’s so easy to make your own black forest ice cream at home! Honestly, homemade ice cream isn't that hard. The whole family will love this creamy chocolate ice cream with a decadent fudge swirl and pieces of cherries.
Traditional black forest cake combines cherry sauce or cherry compote with rich chocolate cake. This black forest ice cream recipe mimics that incredible cake.
One of the great things about this recipe is that cherries don't need to be in season for this ice cream recipe so you can use frozen cherries if you like. Black cherries or red cherries will both work, or you can use a combination. I don't recommend sour cherries, however.
🧂 Ingredients
This is meant to be a brief overview of this great recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
🔪 Instructions
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat. Whisk in the milk then set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Slowly add the sugar to the eggs, then blend in the heavy cream, vanilla, and salt.
- Drizzle the chocolate mixture into the bowl and beat to combine.
- Refrigerate the chocolate custard mixture for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
- Pour the ice cream mix into the ice cream machine and process according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Next, gently fold the pitted cherries into the ice cream.
- Transfer the ice cream to a Ice Cream Container or loaf pan, drizzling in the chocolate sauce as you go.
- Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid, at least 5 hours.
🥄Equipment
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Here is what you will need to make this easy recipe:
- Measuring Spoons and Liquid Measuring Cup
- Cherry Pitter for fresh cherries
- Ice Cream Maker
- Stand Mixer or electric hand mixer
- Ice Cream Container or loaf pan
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🍲 Storage
To Store: Store ice cream in the freezer until ready to serve.
✏️ Make Ahead
The chocolate ice cream custard base can be made a day or two ahead of time if you like.
📖 Variations
The first time you try any new recipe we recommend that you make it just as it is written on the recipe card since that is how the recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make our recipe, you might want to try one of these ideas:
- For extra cherry flavor, add a little bit of cherry liqueur to the melted chocolate mixture, or you can toss the cherries in a little bit of cherry liquor before adding them.
- Stir chocolate chunks or chocolate chips into the creamy ice cream base.
- Instead of cocoa powder, this recipe uses rich unsweetened chocolate. The combination of sweet cherries and dark chocolate is such a delicious treat.
- Replace 1 cup of the chopped cherries with cherry pie filling or store-bought cherry compote.
- Make ice cream sandwiches with the ice cream mixture between two chocolate cookies!
Serving Suggestions
This is a great recipe for a hot, sunny, summer day. It is a scrumptious treat for an end of school party, or a lazy day watching movies with the family.
To make black forest sundaes, top scoops of ice cream with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and chocolate fudge sundae or even cherry pie filling.
RELATED: Use this black forest ice cream to make your own ice cream cupcakes topped with cherry or chocolate sauce and sprinkles.
😋 Similar Recipes
Next time, try one of these delicious recipes:
And if you love cherries, try our sweet cherry cobbler. We also have an out-of-this-world cherry BBQ sauce that will knock your socks off. And if you need a snack for the next bake sale or potluck, try this cherry pie bars recipe.
Not ready to make this Black Forest Ice Cream yet?
When you do make it, please come back and comment and leave me a 5-star⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Black Forest Ice Cream
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Ingredients
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 cups pitted cherries, roughly chopped or 16 ounces frozen cherries
- ¾ cup hot fudge sauce
Instructions
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler.4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- Whisk in the milk then set aside to cool.1 cup whole milk
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. (I like to do this with my stand mixer and whisk attachment.)2 large eggs
- Slowly add the sugar to the eggs.1 cup sugar
- Blend in the heavy cream, vanilla, and salt.1 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 pinch salt
- Drizzle the chocolate mixture into the bowl and beat to combine.
- Chill the chocolate custard mixture for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
- Pour the ice cream mix into the ice cream machine and process according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Next, gently fold the cherries into the ice cream.2 cups pitted cherries, roughly chopped
- Transfer the ice cream to an Ice Cream Container or loaf pan, drizzling in the chocolate sauce as you go.¾ cup hot fudge sauce
- Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid, at least 5 hours.
Equipment
- Cherry Pitter for fresh cherries
- Stand Mixer or hand mixer
- Ice Cream Container or loaf pan
Angela Paris says
I'm so glad you enjoyed this black forest ice cream recipe! Happy birthday to your sister!