Easy Chocolate Ice Cream (no eggs)

By Amy Dong
Published Mar. 29, 2024
Updated Apr. 11, 2024

This 6-Ingredient chocolate ice cream is rich and creamy, without the hassle of tempering eggs. Homemade chocolate ice cream is yours, just the way you like it.

Chocolate ice cream in a clear dish — This easy, creamy chocolate ice cream needs no tempering of eggs.

Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe

Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

The days are long, but the years are short. That’s how it feels when Littles turn into Bigs, and when much-awaited balmy summers come and go. Yet some things stay the same. In a home, tricycles eventually give way to cars, but bowls of creamy chocolate ice cream will always cap off a perfect summer day.

This 6-ingredient homemade chocolate ice cream has been a family favorite for many years, and it still brings joy to family and friends – we think you’ll feel the same.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

No Eggs – There is no need to stand over the stove, fussing with the tempering of egg yolks.
Perfectly Creamy – Despite the fact that there are no egg yolks involved, this chocolate ice cream is deliciously creamy.
6 Ingredients – there are only a handful of simple ingredients you may already have on hand.
Rich Chocolate Flavor – No artificial ingredients are needed to produce a richly chocolate-y flavor the entire family will adore.

homemade chocolate ice cream in a pan — The best chocolate ice cream requires only 6 simple, pure ingredients.

Only 6 ingredients

The day our oldest asked for a sundae bar with chocolate fudge sauce was the day this magnificent chocolate ice cream was born. Egg-based ice creams are typically extra creamy. My favorite homemade vanilla bean ice cream uses tempered eggs. But for ease and simplicity, nothing beats this 6-ingredient chocolate ice cream, without eggs. It’s still super creamy and delightfully delicious.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Dutch process cocoa powder, unsweetened – your favorite popular brand will work fine.
Brown sugar – just be sure it’s fresh and hasn’t lost moisture from sitting in pantry too long
White sugar – granulated sugar, not powdered
Whole milk – use whole milk, to give you the creamiest results. Avoid skim milk or thinner milk alternatives.
Heavy cream – stick with pure heavy cream, for the best texture. We don’t recommend substituting with half & half here.
Vanilla extract – be sure to use pure vanilla extract vs. imitation vanilla flavorings.

Do you Need and Ice Cream Maker?

If you plan on making ice cream more than a couple of times, it’s well worth having an ice cream maker, like the one we’ve owned for years. It’ll easily churn out not only ice cream, but sorbet, gelato, and frozen yogurt as well. We have more than made up for the cost of our trusty ice cream maker with so many delicious flavors.

Easy Step-By-Step Instructions

Chocolate Ice Cream Mixture ingredients in a in Bowl.

In a chilled bowl, combine cocoa and both sugars, whisking. Add cold milk and whisk until sugars are dissolved. Stir in cold heavy cream and vanilla.
Pour mixture into the freezer bowl of ice cream maker. Let run for 25-30 minutes, or until mixture is thick, soft, and creamy.

Chocolate ice cream being scooped out from ice cream maker.

Homemade Chocolate ice cream being scooped out from container.

Transfer to airtight container and freeze at least 2 hours or until ice cream is desired consistency.
Prior to serving, let ice cream sit at room temp for a few minutes just to soften enough for easy scooping.

Add-Ins and Toppings

This chocolate ice cream is delectable straight from the container, but here are some fun ideas for add-ins and toppings:

Add-Ins: Try gently mixing in chocolate chips, roasted chopped nuts, or M&M’s after churning is done.
Toppings: Top ice cream with sprinkles, roasted chopped nuts, crushed Oreos, or your favorite type of crushed chocolate candy bars.
Stabilized Whipped Cream: Top your ice cream with our favorite whipped cream – Stabilized Whipped Cream!
Sauces: Top ice cream with 4-Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce or Hot Fudge Sauce for the ultimate sundae treat! You can also top with a simple strawberry sauce, such as the one we use for our strawberry cheesecake.

Commonly Asked Questions

How is this ice cream so creamy without eggs?

Egg yolks are what typically provides the fat required for a dense and creamy texture. However, tempering eggs on stovetop is somewhat tricky. This chocolate ice cream allows you to achieve a rich and creamy texture with whole milk and heavy cream.

Can I use low-fat or skim milk?

For the creamiest and most flavorful results, we recommend staying with whole milk for your homemade ice cream.

What chocolate is best for ice cream?

We recommend using unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder; your favorite popular brand will work fine.

How do you avoid making ice cream that is too hard?

Be sure to churn the ice cream long enough, so adequate air gets churned in to the mixture, providing a softer texture. A good ice cream maker will do the trick.

What if my ice cream mixture isn’t firming up in the ice cream maker?

Always start with super cold ingredients and be sure the bowl is 100% frozen prior to use. The colder everything is, the better your ice cream will churn.

How long do you churn ice cream for?

About 25-30 minutes is sufficient for many home ice cream makers. It’s important to follow your machine’s manufacturer directions for churning.

Do you have to freeze the ice cream after churning for it to firm up?

Most ice cream makers have manufacturer instructions that recommend putting freshly churned ice cream in the freezer for at least 1-2 hours to further set.

Why is homemade ice cream not as thick and soft as store-bought?

Store-bought ice cream often contains thickeners such as guar gum or xanthan gum. We don’t use those additives in our homemade ice cream. Once your homemade ice cream is thoroughly frozen, you can let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes if needed, and it will be wonderfully scoop-able.

Chocolate ice cream in a dish — This chocolate ice cream will quickly become your family’s favorite.

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!