Naked Chocolate Ice Cream (with just 5 ingredients)
What’s better than really good ice cream on a hot summer day? Chocolate ice cream has long embodied everything good and true in this world. If you were to look back at pictures of me as a little kid, the photos where I don’t have melted chocolate ice cream (or frosting) all over my face would be the exception, not the rule. Normally I load up my ice cream with tons of toppings, but this ice cream…well, it can definitely hold its own. Plus, I get to refer to it as naked chocolate ice cream, which is so much more fun than plain chocolate ice cream.
Today’s recipe is ridiculously creamy, rich, and intensely chocolatey and it only requires five pantry ingredients. Of course, it’s vegan too. I usually opt for the 365 brand of coconut milk when I make mine, and always full-fat because the texture is the silkiest I’ve found. Another trick is to add about a tablespoon or so of vodka to the mix—the alcohol helps to keep the ice cream from forming ice crystals by lowering the freezing point just a touch. You won’t taste it at all in the finished ice cream, but if you’d prefer, you can skip it or sub in a different alcohol (bourbon is delicious, although the flavor will be more pronounced).
I’ve been making versions of this chocolate ice cream for years now, and even though I felt confident it was perfect, I decided it couldn’t hurt to do a blind taste test with Aaron to be sure. When I was grocery shopping, I bought what I would consider the best chocolate ice creams, then asked him to sample each (a tough job, I know). While most ice creams rely heavily on sugar for flavor, Aaron said my homemade chocolate ice cream was “the most complex and chocolatey” and “just sweet enough.” So, now we know for sure: 1) I make the best ice cream and 2) simple, real, and quality ingredients win every time.
Go make yourself some chocolate ice cream…
*If you can’t resist the toppings, I recommend cacao nibs for texture and extra dark chocolate flavor. (You can still call it “naked” chocolate ice cream, because why not?)
Naked Chocolate Ice Cream (with just 5 ingredients)
Naked Chocolate Ice Cream (with just 5 ingredients)
Serves: about 1 quart
Prep Time: 5 hours
Chocolate lovers, this recipe's for you! This simple vegan chocolate ice cream is extra dark and extra decadent, and you only need 5 basic ingredients to make it.
Cuisine: Gluten Free, Vegan Servings: about 1 quart
Prep Time: 5 hours
Chocolate lovers, this recipe's for you! This simple vegan chocolate ice cream is extra dark and extra decadent, and you only need 5 basic ingredients to make it.
Instructions
- Add the coconut milk, cacao powder, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and salt to a medium saucepan and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat.
- Pour the mixture into a medium mixing bowl. Whisk in the vodka (if using) and allow to cool on the counter for 45 minutes, whisking occasionally to release steam. Refrigerate until cold (about 1 hour).
- Once chilled, pour the mixture into your ice cream maker, and freeze according to your ice cream maker’s instructions until just frozen (about 20 minutes). The texture should resemble soft-serve.
- Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container, laying parchment paper along the top to prevent ice crystals. Allow it to harden in the freezer for 3-4 hours, or until it reaches your desired consistency.
- To serve, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, then scoop and serve.
Notes [3]
The small amount of vodka helps to keep the ice cream from becoming icy and rock hard once frozen because alcohol lowers the freezing point. The flavor is not at all detectable in the finished ice cream, but if you’d prefer, you can skip it or sub in a different alcohol (bourbon is good, although the flavor is more pronounced). No worries if you skip the alcohol—the ice cream will still be delicious!
I use and recommend this (inexpensive) ice cream maker.
Recipe adapted from my Salted Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Ice Cream.
Copyright © 2023 Amanda Maguire for Pickles & Honey
