I make ice cream more often than I make any other dessert. There is something about the slow churn, the long chill, the first scoop that is just slightly softer than it should be — it is the kind of cooking that asks you to be patient, and rewards you in the exact way you hope for. My freezer has rarely been without a container of chocolate ice cream in the last decade, and I have come to think of it as one of the great essentials of a working kitchen.
This roundup gathers 17 chocolate ice cream recipes I have churned, scooped, and shared over the years. Custard-based for the purists who want the silky mouthfeel of a French-style glace. No-churn for the impatient days when you want chocolate ice cream and you want it before tomorrow. And a few freezer-friendly shortcuts for the days when company is coming and you need a dessert that you can pull out of the freezer looking like you spent all afternoon on it. There is a recipe here for every kitchen and every schedule.
Before you start: if you are using an ice cream maker, freeze the bowl at least 24 hours in advance. Use the best cocoa you can find — the flavor of the finished ice cream lives and dies by the chocolate you start with. And do not skip the pinch of salt; it does not make the ice cream taste salty, but it does make the chocolate taste like more of itself. A small addition, but a transformative one.
What’s Inside
From fudgy flourless cakes to silky puddings, these 17 chocolate desserts are the classics that never go out of style. Click any link to jump straight to the recipe.
- Chocolate Decadence Ice Cream
- Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
- Coffee Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
- Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Mocha Madness Ice Cream Pie
- Double Dark Chocolate No-Churn Ice Cream
- Fresh Mint and Chocolate Ice Cream
- Chocolate Soy Vegan Ice Cream
- Dark Chocolate Semifreddo
- Double Chocolate Tart with Black Pepper Ice Cream
- Chocolate Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
- Death by Chocolate Bombe
- Chocolate Lava Cake A La Mode
- Chocolate Truffle Cake
- Best Chocolate Ice Cream
- Nesquik No-Churn Ice Cream
- Mudslide No-Churn Ice Cream
The 17 Recipes
These are the chocolate desserts that have graced my family’s table for years — the ones I turn to when I want to feel grounded, when the weather cools, when friends show up unannounced, or when a kid’s birthday calls for a cake that actually tastes like something. Every single one has been tested in a real kitchen, on a real schedule, by real people. I hope they earn a place in yours, too.
Chocolate Decadence Ice Cream
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This chocolate decadence ice cream from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate decadence ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This cookies and cream ice cream from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this cookies and cream ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Coffee Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This coffee chocolate chunk ice cream from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this coffee chocolate chunk ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This chocolate ice cream sandwiches from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate ice cream sandwiches is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Mocha Madness Ice Cream Pie
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This mocha madness ice cream pie from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this mocha madness ice cream pie is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Double Dark Chocolate No-Churn Ice Cream
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This double dark chocolate no-churn ice cream from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this double dark chocolate no-churn ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Fresh Mint and Chocolate Ice Cream
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This fresh mint and chocolate ice cream from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this fresh mint and chocolate ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Chocolate Soy Vegan Ice Cream
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This chocolate soy vegan ice cream from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate soy vegan ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Dark Chocolate Semifreddo
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This dark chocolate semifreddo from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this dark chocolate semifreddo is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Double Chocolate Tart with Black Pepper Ice Cream
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This double chocolate tart with black pepper ice cream from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this double chocolate tart with black pepper ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Chocolate Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This chocolate ice cream cookie sandwiches from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate ice cream cookie sandwiches is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Death by Chocolate Bombe
Recipe from Food.com
This death by chocolate bombe from Food.com is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this death by chocolate bombe is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Chocolate Lava Cake A La Mode
Recipe from Food.com
This chocolate lava cake a la mode from Food.com is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate lava cake a la mode is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Chocolate Truffle Cake
Recipe from Food.com
This chocolate truffle cake from Food.com is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate truffle cake is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Best Chocolate Ice Cream
Recipe from Delish
This best chocolate ice cream from Delish is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this best chocolate ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Nesquik No-Churn Ice Cream
Recipe from Delish
This nesquik no-churn ice cream from Delish is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this nesquik no-churn ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Mudslide No-Churn Ice Cream
Recipe from Delish
This mudslide no-churn ice cream from Delish is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this mudslide no-churn ice cream is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
That’s a Lot of Chocolate (and I Mean That in the Best Way)
If you make one of these, make the Mocha Madness Ice Cream Pie — it is the dessert that gets the most requests from my family, and it freezes beautifully for last-minute company. The Double Dark Chocolate No-Churn Ice Cream is what I make on a weeknight because it requires no special equipment and it is ready in six hours flat. And the Chocolate Decadence Ice Cream from King Arthur is what I make when I want to feel like a proper ice cream maker, custard and all, with the kind of depth that only slow cooking can give.
Let me know which one you churn first — and if you do not have an ice cream maker yet, the no-churn recipes are shockingly good. They have earned a permanent place in my freezer, and I think they will earn a permanent place in yours, too. A scoop of homemade chocolate ice cream is one of the small luxuries that makes a regular weeknight feel like a celebration, and you deserve at least one of those this week.
—Marina Caldwell
Sources & Credits
Every recipe in this roundup was created and photographed by the food writers and home cooks listed below. I’m grateful to each of them for sharing their craft. If a recipe speaks to you, please visit the source link to leave a comment, save the page, or follow the author for more chocolate inspiration.
- Chocolate Decadence Ice Cream — King Arthur Baking
- Cookies and Cream Ice Cream — King Arthur Baking
- Coffee Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream — King Arthur Baking
- Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches — King Arthur Baking
- Mocha Madness Ice Cream Pie — King Arthur Baking
- Double Dark Chocolate No-Churn Ice Cream — Bon Appétit
- Fresh Mint and Chocolate Ice Cream — Bon Appétit
- Chocolate Soy Vegan Ice Cream — Bon Appétit
- Dark Chocolate Semifreddo — Bon Appétit
- Double Chocolate Tart with Black Pepper Ice Cream — Bon Appétit
- Chocolate Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches — Bon Appétit
- Death by Chocolate Bombe — Food.com
- Chocolate Lava Cake A La Mode — Food.com
- Chocolate Truffle Cake — Food.com
- Best Chocolate Ice Cream — Delish
- Nesquik No-Churn Ice Cream — Delish
- Mudslide No-Churn Ice Cream — Delish
