If you love rich, creamy, old-fashioned chocolate ice cream, this recipe is for you! With simple ingredients and the Ninja Creami, making it at home is easier than ever.
I’ve always been a chocolate ice cream fan. Store-bought versions taste great but have unnecessary ingredients.
This homemade version is decadent and healthier, without gums or fillers. It’s smooth, chocolatey, and packed with rich flavor.
The best part? You control every ingredient, so it’s guilt-free indulgence!
So I hit my 24 hours and blended this and it is soooooooo freaking good I'm gonna bake some brownies to use as a mix in!! Thank you!
-KW
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This?
- 🛒Ingredients
- Substitution and Additions
- How to Make Old-Fashioned Chocolate Ice Cream?
- 🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- Flavor Variations to Try
- How to Store Leftovers
- 👪Serving Size
- 🌀Tools You’ll Need
- Tips for Success
- FAQ: Your Ice Cream Questions Answered
- Related Recipes
- Ninja Creami Old-Fashioned Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
Why You'll Love This?
- No pudding mix, gums, or artificial thickeners!
- Super creamy and rich with real ingredients.
- High in protein, thanks to cottage cheese.
- Easy to make with a blender and Ninja Creami.
- A healthier alternative to store-bought ice cream!
🛒Ingredients
Here’s what you will need: For this recipe, I use:
- Cocoa Powder – Deep, rich chocolate flavor.
- Cottage Cheese – Adds creaminess and protein without extra fat.
- Half and Half – The perfect balance of creaminess.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – Natural sweetness and smooth texture.
- Espresso Instant Coffee – Enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Vanilla – A hint of warmth and depth.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitution and Additions
- Replace Half and Half ➝ Use an equal mix of heavy cream and whole milk. However, be cautious when using heavy cream in the Ninja Creami—over-spinning may cause it to turn into butter.
- Replace Cottage Cheese ➝ Use Greek yogurt for a tangy twist.
- Want a sugar-free option? ➝ Use sugar-free condensed milk.
- Additions: Chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or caramel swirls.
How to Make Old-Fashioned Chocolate Ice Cream?
- Dissolve Cocoa Powder: In a small bowl, mix the cocoa powder with a few tablespoons of hot water until smooth. Let it cool slightly.
- Blend: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Freeze: Pour into a Ninja Creami pint container and freeze for 24 hours.
- Spin: Place in the Ninja Creami machine and select the Ice Cream function.
- Respin if needed: If crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and respin.
- Enjoy: Scoop into a bowl and savor your homemade treat!
🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- 🍪 Crushed Cookies – Crushed Oreos or graham crackers add a delightful crunch to every bite. The cookie pieces soften just a bit in the creamy base, making each spoonful a mix of smooth and crispy goodness.
- 🥜 Peanut Butter Swirl – A generous swirl of peanut butter makes this ice cream extra indulgent. The combination of rich chocolate and nutty peanut butter is simply irresistible, especially for peanut butter lovers.
- 🍫 Chocolate Chunks – Adding chunks of chocolate takes this already rich ice cream to another level. Use dark chocolate for an intense flavor or milk chocolate for a sweeter, creamier touch.
- 🍓 Strawberry Pieces – Fresh or frozen strawberry pieces add a burst of fruity freshness to balance out the deep chocolate flavor. It’s like having a chocolate-covered strawberry in every bite, making this a fun and refreshing option.
Flavor Variations to Try
- 🍫 Rocky Road – Add marshmallows and almonds.
- ☕ Mocha Madness – Extra espresso for a coffee kick.
- 🍌 Choco-Banana – Blend in a ripe banana.
- 🍪 Cookies & Cream – Mix in cookie crumbs.
- 🌶 Mexican Hot Chocolate – Add cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne.
- 🍯 Salted Caramel – Swirl in homemade caramel.
- 🥥 Chocolate Coconut – Add shredded coconut.
- 🍷 Red Wine Chocolate – A boozy adult twist.
How to Store Leftovers
Store in the Ninja Creami pint container with a flat surface on top. This ensures easy respinning without damaging the blade.
👪Serving Size
This recipe is made for the Ninja Creami Deluxe and serves 4 people.
🌀Tools You’ll Need
- Blender: Makes mixing ingredients effortless.
- Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker: Perfect for creating creamy, smooth ice cream.
- Ninja Creami Pint Container: The pint container is essential for freezing and churning your ice cream mix.
So I hit my 24 hours and blended this and it is soooooooo freaking good I'm gonna bake some brownies to use as a mix in!! Thank you!
Tips for Success
- If the ice cream turns out crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and respin.
- Always freeze for a minimum of 24 hours before spinning for the best results.
- For a rich chocolate flavor, use high-quality cocoa powder and dissolve it in hot water first. Blending cocoa powder directly with other ingredients may take longer and create excess bubbles in the mixture.
FAQ: Your Ice Cream Questions Answered
People used simple ingredients like milk, sugar, and flavoring. They would place the mixture in a hand-cranked machine with ice and salt to freeze it. It took a lot of effort, but the result was a delicious homemade treat!
Chocolate ice cream dates back to the 1600s and was inspired by Italian hot chocolate drinks. Early recipes used cocoa and sugar mixed with cream to create a frozen dessert. Over time, it became one of the most popular ice cream flavors worldwide!
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Ninja Creami Old-Fashioned Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
Equipment
- Ninja Creami Deluxe
- Blender
- Ninja Creami Pint Container
Ingredients
- 1½ cup Half and Half
- 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ cup hot water
- ½ cup condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon Espresso Instant Coffee
- ½ cup Cottage Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Dissolve Cocoa Powder: In a small bowl, mix the cocoa powder with a few tablespoons of hot water until smooth. Let it cool slightly.
- Blend: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Freeze: Pour into a Ninja Creami pint container and freeze for 24 hours.
- Spin: Place in the Ninja Creami machine and select the Ice Cream function.
- Respin if needed: If crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and respin.
- Enjoy: Scoop into a bowl and savor your homemade treat!
Notes
- If the ice cream turns out crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and respin.
- Always freeze for a minimum of 24 hours before spinning for the best results.
- For a rich chocolate flavor, use high-quality cocoa powder and dissolve it in hot water first. Blending cocoa powder directly with other ingredients may take longer and create excess bubbles in the mixture.
Rose says
Rich and so chocolatey! It’s like a classic ice cream parlor treat but made right at home! I hope you all enjoy it just as much. Let me know if you try it!