Black Forest Ice Cream

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This rich, indulgent black forest ice cream is the perfect summer treat. An irresistible combination of dark chocolate and roasted cherries!

Four scoops of black forest ice cream in a glass bowl topped with a cherry.

Chocolate cherry ice cream is an all-time favorite in my family! I often make it when cherries are in season.

Since chocolate is the predominant flavor in traditional black forest cake, I wanted to create a similar flavor combination in an ice cream, so I developed this amazing black forest ice cream!

This no-churn dark forest ice cream recipe is a must-try for anyone who loves desserts with fruit. Its unique combination of sweet, tart, caramelized cherries makes it stand out from other traditional ice cream flavors.

If you like cherries and chocolate together, like in my cherry chocolate brownies, you'll also love this ice cream!

Jump to:

What is black forest ice cream?
Why you'll love this black forest ice cream
What does this black forest ice cream taste like?
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
Ingredients for black forest ice cream
Equipment you'll need
HOW TO MAKE BLACK FOREST ICE CREAM
Step-by-step Instructions
RECIPE NOTES
Storage & Freezing Tips
Variations
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
FAQs
MORE ICE CREAM RECIPES TO TRY
Pairing
Recipe

What is black forest ice cream?

Black forest ice cream usually consists of cherries, cherry syrup and dark chocolate. The flavor is similar to black forest cake, but my version has roasted cherries.

Why you'll love this black forest ice cream

No ice cream maker required. This is a no-churn recipe, so you don't need an ice cream maker.

It's easy. Making no churn ice cream is so simple! The hardest part about this recipe is waiting for it to freeze!

It has a unique flavor. The cherries are roasted, which makes them slightly caramelized. Together with the bold flavor of dark chocolate, this ice cream has an amazing flavor combination!

What does this black forest ice cream taste like?

The delicious, smooth chocolate ice cream combines the rich flavors of chocolate and ripe cherries. Roasting the cherries definitely brings out their natural sweetness while caramelizing them at the same time.

It also makes the cherries slightly chewy, which I love. The texture is also velvety smooth and creamy.

This ice cream is to die for! I always serve it with fresh cherries and shaved chocolate!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

Ingredients for black forest ice cream

Cherries. I use whatever I can find in season, but you could use frozen cherries if you prefer. Sour cherries would also be a great choice.
Sugar. I use a bit of light brown sugar to caramelize the cherries.
Cognac. This really helps prevent ice crystals from forming and adds flavor without tasting boozy. You could use brandy or kirsch liqueur, instead, or omit it if you don't want any alcohol.
Heavy cream. You'll need heavy whipping cream.
Sweetened condensed milk. You'll need a whole can for this recipe.
Chocolate. I use semisweet chocolate. I melt some for the base and finely chop the rest for some texture in the ice cream. You could use mini chocolate chips, instead.
Cocoa Powder. I love using unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder as it adds a rich chocolate flavor and creates a lovely deeper color.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.

Equipment you'll need

hand mixer or stand mixer
mixing bowls
baking sheet
parchment paper
freezer-safe container

HOW TO MAKE BLACK FOREST ICE CREAM

Step-by-step Instructions

First, roast the cherries.

Fresh pitted cherries sprinkled with light brown sugar on a tray lined with parchment paper.

Spread the cherries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with the sugar.

Roasted, caramelized cherries on a tray lined with parchment paper.

Roast the cherries until they soften and become slightly wilted and caramelized.

Mixing melted chocolate, cognac, and sweetened condensed milk in a metal bowl with a hand mixer.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cocoa powder, the melted and cooled chocolate, the sweetened condensed milk and cognac.

In another bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks.

Folding roasted cherries and chopped chocolate into ice cream base.

Fold the whipped cream, roasted cherries and chopped chocolate into the milk mixture.

A metal cake pan filled with black forest ice cream mixture before freezing.

Transfer the mixture to a freezer-safe container. I used an 8 inch cake pan.

Then cover with plastic wrap, ensuring that it touches the surface well so as to prevent ice crystals from forming. Then cover with foil and freeze.

RECIPE NOTES

Storage & Freezing Tips

This ice cream can be stored in the freezer for up to about 2 ½ weeks. Make sure it's covered well.

Black forest ice cream in a metal container with an ice cream scoop next to ice cream cones and cherries.

Variations

This ice cream is great on it's own, but you can also try different flavor variations. Here are a few ideas:

Try different alcohol. Use Kahlua, vodka, kirsch liqueur or brandy instead of cognac.
Make it alcohol-free. Add some cherry syrup to the base or just omit the cognac altogether.
Add a touch of almond flavor. Simply add 1-2 teaspoons of almond extract to the base.
Make chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. Simply cut up some brownies into bite-sized chunks and add it to base. Or make this ice cream with cake chunks if you have any leftover cake. I think my chocolate walnut cake would be delicious with this recipe!
Make it nutty. Serve this ice cream with your favorite nuts. Almonds pair really well with cherries and chocolate.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Use high-quality ingredients - Try to use the best ingredients you can afford. High-quality chocolate and fresh cherries, will make a world of difference.

Whip the heavy cream faster - Put the mixing bowl in the freezer for a few minutes before whipping the cream. The cold bowl will help the cream whip up faster.

Roasting the cherries - Give the pan a shake every 5 minutes while the cherries are roasting. This will prevent them from getting burnt.

Roasting the cherries helps remove excess moisture which can create a lot of ice crystals when frozen.

Melting the chocolate - The safest way to avoid scorching the chocolate is by melting it over a pan of simmering water over medium heat. Alternatively, melt it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time.

Create a more intense cherry flavor - Add extra chopped cherries or some cherry syrup or cherry jam swirled into the filling before freezing. You could also use Maraschino cherries, but keep in mind that the ice cream will be sweeter.

Black forest ice cream topped with cherries in a black bowl on a wooden surface next to cherries and chocolate pieces.

FAQs

Can I use frozen cherries to make black forest ice cream?

Yes, and you don't need to thaw them! They may take a bit longer in the oven when you roast them, though.

How long does black forest ice cream stay fresh in the freezer?

This ice cream will last for about 2 ½ weeks in the freezer, as long as it's properly stored in an air-tight freezer-safe container.

Enjoy!

Let me know how this black forest ice cream turns out for you in the comments below! I'd love to hear from you!