Black Forest Ice Cream

Homemade Black Forest Ice Cream packed full of sweet cherries and hot fudge. This decadent favorite is an easy-to-make summer treat.

Black Forest Ice Cream is the perfect summer treat! This rich and creamy ice cream is made with fresh or frozen cherries and chocolate fudge, and it’s so easy to make at home.

Just a few simple ingredients and you’ll have a delicious dessert that everyone will love.

If you’re looking for a homemade ice cream recipe that’s sure to please, look no further than Black Forest Ice Cream. This classic flavor is always a hit, and it’s so easy to make.

With just a few simple ingredients, you can have this delicious dessert ready in no time. Black Forest Ice Cream is the perfect summer treat!

Here are some commonly asked questions

I do not have unsweetened chocolate. Can I substitute with semi-sweet chocolate chips instead?

Contrary to what you would initially picture as a good flavoring for ice cream, adding unsweetened chocolate capitalizes on the natural bitterness of the chocolate without over-sweetening the mix. This is key for a black forest ice cream since the black cherries will also be on the tart side. You want these flavors to pair well, requiring you to carefully control just how much sugar you would like to add to the mix.

With this being said, you can absolutely add semi-sweet chocolate to the mix if you do not have unsweetened chocolate available. Just know that you may want to reduce the amount of sugar that you add to the mix in order to compensate for the additional sweetness.

Can I use imitation vanilla for this recipe?

You can use imitation vanilla instead of real vanilla extract in this recipe. Vanilla is in high demand and short supply as of late. This means that the price is going to go up, making imitation vanilla a more economical option.

To save on the cost of real vanilla extract, I make my own vanilla at home. To do this, soak three to five vanilla beans in vodka and store the mix in a mason jar in a cool, dry place. Once the alcohol turns a rich dark brown color, it has extracted much of the vanillin from the beans, adopting its flavor. Use it as you would use ordinary vanilla extract. It does not go bad but should remain in a cool, dry place for the duration of its lifetime.

Is it unsafe to eat the raw eggs used in this recipe?

It is generally unsafe to eat raw eggs due to the presence of salmonella. However, you can enjoy this recipe safely by using pasteurized eggs instead of the normal eggs you would pick up in the store. This reduces your risk of accidentally consuming harmful microorganisms.

Can I make this recipe with other mix-ins too?

Absolutely! When adding mix-ins to this recipe, you are only limited by your imagination. Traditionally, the chocolate base of this ice cream would go great with frozen or fresh raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

Just be careful about the water content in the types of fruit you add to the mix. This could make your ice cream turn out icier than desired. Alternatively, you can also experiment by adding whole chocolate chips or brownie bits to the mix for a more decadent and rich flavor.

I do not have a double boiler to melt the chocolate. Can I still make this recipe?

It is no problem if you do not have a double boiler available in your kitchen arsenal. Keep in mind that the goal of using it would be to keep the chocolate from being exposed to the direct heat that would cause it to separate into its components.

Instead of using a double boiler, you can put some water in the bottom of a saucepan, then place a metal or glass mixing bowl over the top of the pan for you to mix the chocolate in. This would achieve what you are looking for as you melt the chocolate and mix your ingredients.

How long can I store my Black Forest Ice Cream in the freezer?

You can safely store your homemade ice cream in the freezer for up to one month before it is time for you to make a new batch.

Ingredients for Black Forest Ice Cream

• unsweetened chocolate
• whole milk
• large eggs
• sugar
• heavy cream
• vanilla extract
• salt
• frozen cherries – roughly chopped
• hot fudge sauce

Why do I have to refrigerate the mixture before I can freeze it in the ice cream maker?

The name of the game when making good homemade ice cream is freezing your mixture as fast as possible. The reason for this is that the faster you freeze your base, the smaller the ice crystal will be throughout the mix. This will give you a much creamier and more even mixture throughout. This is why many ice cream companies will super freeze their products with liquid nitrogen.

In our case, we do not have any fancy factory machinery or liquid nitrogen on hand. However, we can achieve that creamy texture by cooling our mixture to just above freezing before we place it in the ice cream maker. You will find that though this takes some additional time, the result is well worth it!

How to Make Black Forest Ice Cream

1. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate over hot water until smooth.
2. Slowly add the milk, and whisk to combine.
3. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
4. Beat the eggs with an electric mixer until light and foamy, about 1 minute. Slowly add the sugar and continue mixing until blended.
5. Add the heavy cream, vanilla, and salt, blending until combined.
6. Stir the chocolate mixture into the cream mixture.
7. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
8. Pour the chilled ice cream mix into the ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
9. Fold the frozen cherries into the ice cream.
10. Place the hot fudge sauce into a zip-top freezer bag with the corner snipped.
11. Transfer the soft-serve ice cream to a freezer-safe container, layering it with ribbons of hot fudge.
12. Drag a knife through the fudge to swirl it throughout the ice cream taking care to not over-mix.
13. Freeze the ice cream for 4 to 6 hours before serving.

Why did my ice cream become so icy rather than smooth?

If your ice cream became icy rather than creamy and smooth, this means that the mixture froze too slowly, allowing large ice crystals to form throughout. In the future, you may want to try pre-cooling your ice cream in the refrigerator before attempting to mix it in the ice cream maker.

Products I love when making rocky road ice cream…

This ice cream recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made homemade ice cream before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this frozen treat recipe. (you can also SHOP MY FAVORITES in my store)

• mixer
• ice cream maker
• freezer-safe container
• ice cream scoop
• ice cream bowls

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If you love this easy homemade ice cream recipe, you’re going to love these other frozen treats too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

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