How to make chocolate ice cream with the Kitchenaid® ice cream maker attachment

Chocolate ice cream recipe for ice cream maker attachment

While the variations of chocolate ice cream you can create with your stand mixer attachment are nearly endless, there are some common ingredients you’ll find as a starting point for many chocolate ice cream recipes:

Ingredients:

• Heavy whipping cream

• Whole milk

• Egg yolks

• Sugar

• Cocoa powder

• Chopped chocolate (milk, semi-sweet or dark)

Prep time:

The exact time will depend on your recipe and the ingredients you need to prepare. A basic chocolate ice cream recipe should come together in under an hour for soft-serve, and 3-5 hours for harder, scoopable ice cream:

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Churning time: 20-30 minutes

Freeze time: 2-4 hours for hard ice cream

Layer in the flavors: chocolate ice cream add-ins

Make a spoon-worthy version of your malt shop favorite with Chocolate Malt Ice Cream. Simply add some malt powder and vanilla to your mixture. For extra texture you can also chop up some chocolate malted candies to mix in. Or, balance the sweetness with some tart cherries when you make Chocolate Cherry Chip Ice Cream with real cherries and semi-sweet chocolate. Whip up a classic Rocky Road Ice Cream when you add mini marshmallows and toasted walnuts alongside plenty of cocoa powder and chocolate chunks. You can also take your homemade chocolate ice cream recipes to the next level by turning them into ice cream cake! Learn how here.

How to make your ice cream more or less sweet

In general, the higher the cocoa percentage, the more bitter your chocolate will be. Make your ice cream less sweet by using varieties with at least 60% cocoa like dark chocolate or semi-sweet. For the sweet tooth, stick with milk chocolate varieties that have higher sugar content. You can also simply use unsweetened cocoa powder and adjust the added sugar per your preference.

The best part of homemade ice cream is that you can make it just how you like it—an easy task with so many types of chocolate to choose from. You can even substitute certain ingredients to make your recipe vegan friendly. Beyond chocolate, you can add other ingredients to increase or balance out the sweetness of your ice cream. Try adding bitter espresso grounds, salted caramel, or tart fruits to counter sweetness. On the other hand, you can turn up the sweetness with marshmallows, toffee, brownie pieces or nearly any other confection that complements your chocolate base. If you're a chocolate lover and need more, you can also pair homemade brownies along with your ice cream.

Steps for how to make chocolate ice cream with a Kitchenaid® stand mixer ice cream attachment

Now that you’re dreaming of all the chocolate ice cream recipes you can whip up, let’s look at how to make it happen with your KitchenAid^® Ice Cream Maker attachment.

How to make a chocolate ice cream base

Follow the instructions on your chocolate ice cream recipe. In general, you will usually start by combining egg yolks, sugar, cocoa powder and salt together, then slowly adding heated milk. You can also make vegan ice cream using plant-based ingredients to yield a similar result. This mixture is usually thickened on the stovetop after which the chocolate, cream and other flavorings are added. It’s best to chill your ice cream base before adding it to the ice cream maker.

How to set up your ice cream maker attachment

The KitchenAid^® Ice Cream Maker attachment has three main parts: The freeze bowl, dasher and drive adapter. It is compatible with all full-sized tilt-head and bowl-lift KitchenAid® stand mixers with one exception³, but the setup process is slightly different. Learn how to attach the Ice Cream Maker to your stand mixer model with this guide to using the KitchenAid^® Ice Cream Maker attachment. Here’s a general overview of the process:

1. Place the freeze bowl in the freezer for 24 hours before use and leave it in until you’re ready to add your ice cream base.

2. Attach the bowl to the stand mixer base like you would a regular bowl.

3. Place the dasher inside the bowl.

4. Connect the drive adaptor to the stand mixer motor head.

5. Lower the tilt-head or raise the bowl, depending on your model until the drive adaptor engages the dasher.

Putting it all together: how to churn the ice cream

1. Turn the stand mixer to “Stir” before adding your ice cream mixture.

2. Pour your ice cream base into the freeze bowl with the dasher churning.

3. Let run for 20-30 minutes until the desired consistency is reached.

4. Add in any additions like nuts or candies after about 15 minutes of run time.

5. Remove the dasher.

6. Transfer mixture to serving dishes for soft-serve or to an airtight container using a spatula or wooden spoon. For hard ice cream, freeze for 2-4 hours.

^{3. Ice Cream Maker attachment is not compatible with KitchenAid® bowl-lift stand mixer model KPM5 or the mini tilt-head stand mixer models.}

Can you make chocolate ice cream with just a stand mixer?

Yes. Even without the Ice Cream Maker attachment, you can use your stand mixer to thoroughly combine ingredients for your ice cream base using a regular stand mixer bowl and a wire whisk. Once combined, transfer your mixture to a freezer bag and freeze flat. Then, break up the frozen mixture and process in a blender or food processor until smooth.

You can also simply pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container like a glass loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 4-6 hours.

Make the best chocolate ice cream in your own kitchen

While you can use a standalone ice cream maker, KitchenAid® attachments allow you to further expand the capabilities of your already versatile stand mixer.¹ Making ice cream cake? A stand mixer can help you master both the cake and the ice cream portions. Want to make strawberry cheesecake ice cream? Your stand mixer can help every step of the way. Having the Ice Cream Maker attachment on hand lets you quickly and easily make up to 2.0 qts of ice cream, gelato or sorbet in under 30 minutes once the freeze bowl and ingredients are fully prepped.² Your stand mixer even lets you make other frozen treats. Our shave ice attachment lets you make bingsu, raspados, snow cones, Italian ice and other frozen treats using the KitchenAid® shave ice attachment.

^{1. Sold separately. 2. Allow bowl to freeze 24 hours prior to use.}