Deep Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Recipes

DEEPLY CHOCOLATE GELATO

Steps:

• Heat the milk, cream, and 1/2 cup sugar in a 2-quart saucepan, until the sugar dissolves and the milk starts to simmer. Add the cocoa powder and chocolate and whisk until smooth. Pour into a heat-proof measuring cup.
• Place the egg yolks and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and very thick. With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the hot chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Pour the egg and chocolate mixture back into the 2-quart saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. A candy thermometer will register about 180 degrees F. Don't allow the mixture to boil!
• Pour the mixture through a sieve into a bowl and stir in the coffee liqueur, vanilla, and salt. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard and chill completely.
• Pour the custard into the bowl of an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's directions. Stir in the roughly chopped chocolate, if using, and freeze in covered containers. Allow the gelato to thaw slightly before serving.

DARK CHOCOLATE AND CINNAMON FROZEN CUSTARD

Steps:

• Whisk cream, milk, sugar, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat until the mixture is thoroughly combined and the sugar has dissolved. Bring almost to a simmer and stir in dark chocolate until melted. Whisk egg yolks into the cream mixture and cook until batter is slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a container, cover, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 6 hours.
• Stir cinnamon into chilled custard batter and freeze in an ice cream machine following manufacturer's instructions. Sprinkle frozen custard with more cinnamon to serve.

DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM WITH CARAMELIZED ALMONDS AND TOASTED MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Place dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and salt in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Mix sugar and milk powder together in a small bowl.
• Place 1 3/4 cups milk and cream in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Whisk the sugar mixture into the pot. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes, whisking to prevent scorching. Remove from heat.
• Mix 2 tablespoons milk and tapioca together into a small bowl. Whisk into the hot dairy mixture.
• Whisk 1/3 of the dairy mixture into the bowl of melted chocolate. Repeat twice more, whisking well until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
• Strain mixture into a bowl and refrigerate for 4 hours, or preferably overnight. Make caramelized almonds and toasted marshmallows before churning the ice cream.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats.
• Toast almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar, milk, and salt in the skillet. Stir until melted together and smooth. Bring to a boil; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in almonds until coated. Pour onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, 7 to 8 minutes. Let cool completely before breaking up into uneven pieces.
• While almonds are cooling, spread marshmallows out on the second baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tops are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Churn ice cream according to manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency, about 20 minutes. Layer ice cream, almonds, and marshmallows in a freezer-safe container. Freeze until firm enough to scoop, at least 4 hours.

DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the whole milk and heavy cream over medium-low heat. With a sharp knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise; use the blunt edge of the knife to scrape out the "seeds" of the vanilla bean.
• Stir the seeds and bean pod into the milk/cream mixture. Simmer the milk/cream mixture over low heat for 30 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean pod and discard it or rinse and reserve for another use.
• Combine the sugar, cocoa, eggs, and egg yolks in a medium bowl; using a hand mixer on medium speed, beat until thickened like mayonnaise.
• Measure out 1 cup of the hot milk/cream mixture. With the mixer on low speed, add the cup of hot milk/cream to the cocoa mixture in a slow, steady stream and mix until completely incorporated. Stir the chopped chocolate into the saucepan with the hot milk/cream. Stir the egg mixture into the hot milk/cream. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and begins to resemble a chocolate pudding. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a bowl and stir in vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap placed directly on the surface of the chocolate mixture, and refrigerate until completely cooled.
• Pour the chilled custard into the freezer bowl, turn the machine on and let mix until thickened, about 25 to 30 minutes. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.

DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Bring whole milk and 1/2 c sugar to 175 degrees in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Meanwhile, use an electric mixer to beat remaining 1/4 c sugar with yolks until mixture turns pale yellow and thickens, about 2 minutes. Beat in cocoa powder until mixture is smooth.
• Slowly beat 1/2 c hot milk from pan into yolk mixture. Pour this mixture back into saucepan. Stirring constantly, cook this mixture over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until custard reaches 175°F on a thermometer and coats the back of a spoon.
• Remove saucepan from heat; strain custard into a plastic bowl with a lid. Add chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate to the hot custard and stir constantly until chocolate melts. (note: I grated my chocolate instead of chopping it so it would combine easier.) Whisk in heavy cream and vanilla.
• Cool custard to room temperature. Seal container and refrigerate until custard is cold, about 4 to 8 hours. (Note: I usually make the ice cream mixture the night before, then chill overnight and make the ice cream in the ice cream maker first thing in the morning, that way I know its cold enough!).
• Pour into an ice cream machine and freeze as directed (I have a cuisinart and it takes 25 minutes).