Chocolate Chili Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

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A rich and intense chocolate chili ice cream that perfectly balances decadent chocolate and the slow spice of chili. The perfect ice cream to impress that special someone <3 (or yourself because why share something so good?)

Ah, Valentine's Day. The day of love ...and intense stress while you try to figure out your plans for the evening. Seriously, it's on the same day each year, yet I have no idea how I keep forgetting to prepare something nice Every. Single. Time. Anyone there with me? Anyone? Anyway, in my opinion, nothing says love like a good home-cooked meal and a quiet evening alone, so my fiancee and I would always spend our Valentine's Day at home. One year, we tried this incredibly rich and spicy cake. I wasn't expecting it, but found the contrast to be exhilarating. Lately I've been on an ice cream craze, so I decided to translate that cake into ice cream form.

What is so great about this chocolate chili ice cream is that it starts off rich and chocolate-y. It has the perfect fudgy texture that keeps you wanting more...and it's not until later that the spice slowly starts to make an entrance. That slow heat is what really sets this ice cream apart. It is so good. So. Good.

I wanted the chocolate chili ice cream to be as rich and chocolate-y as possible, so I had to search for the best chocolate in my area. I found some nice Dutch processed cocoa and 75% dark chocolate. You do not have to go to such lengths though (unless you like the adventure), as I tried this recipe with semi-sweet chocolate chips and regular cocoa powder with equally delicious results. That may be a better option if you do not like dark chocolate (normally, I am not much of a dark chocolate person either, but it just works for me with this recipe).

A couple of notes on the chocolate chili ice cream

For the chili, I was not too sure what I wanted to do, but when I saw dried Aleppo peppers, I thought that they would be a good place to start, as they are more widely available and can be tailored to the heat you desire.When I first made this chocolate chili ice cream, I ground my peppers into a very fine powder and added it to the ice cream. Now, after making a lot of ice cream, I've changed my method to infuse the peppers into the milk. This helps to better permeate the heat throughout the ice cream without risking having any large bits of chili.

Guess what? I didn't use an ice cream maker here! You don't need one to make a delicious ice cream. Here is a quick guide on how to make an ice cream without an ice cream maker.

Don't have time to make this frosty, spicy treat now? Pin it for later!

Recipe Card

Chocolate Chili Ice Cream Recipe (4)

Chocolate Chili Ice Cream Recipe

Amanda Powell

A rich and intense chocolate chili ice cream that perfectly balances decadent chocolate and the slow spice of chili. The perfect ice cream to impress that special someone <3 (or yourself because why share something so good?)

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups 480 mL heavy or whipping cream, divided
  • 1 cup 240 mL whole milk
  • 2 dried chilis split in half, seeds retained
  • 1 cup 200 g sugar, granulated
  • pinch of salt
  • 4 tablespoons Dutch processed cocoa
  • 6 - 7 ounces 180-200 g dark or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • In a medium-sized pot, slowly bring half the cream and cocoa powder to a boil, thoroughly incorporating the cocoa powder.

  • Once the cream has reached a boil, remove from heat.

  • Add the chocolate chips and stir until everything is smooth and creamy. Mix in the remaining cream. Set aside.

  • In another medium pot, mix the sugar, salt, milk, and chilies. Heat to a very low simmer.

  • Put the egg yolks in a small bowl and lightly beat until it is a smooth consistency. Add some of the milk and sugar mixture in the yolk, one cup at a time to slowly raise the temperature of the yolks. After about half of the milk mixture is incorporated in the yolks, add the yolks to the milk mixture, getting as much of the yolk in the pot as possible.

  • Using a wooden spoon, heat the milk and egg mixture on medium heat stirring constantly to create a custard. Occasionally scrap the sides and bottoms of the pot to prevent the custard from sticking. The custard is ready when a thick coat of custard coats the back of the spoon.

  • Place a strainer over the chocolate mix and slowly strain the custard into the chocolate to separate the chili and any egg that may have cooked. Mix until everything is a uniform chocolate color. Add in the vanilla and mix.

  • Cool the chocolate in the refrigerator or in an ice bath. You can make an ice bath by filling a larger pot with ice and cold water. Place the chocolate in the pot without completely immersing the pot.

  • Put the chocolate in your ice cream maker and and follow the manufacturer directions. Take the ice cream out and freeze in an airtight container for another 3 - 4 hours or overnight. If you prefer soft serve ice cream, enjoy immediately.

  • *If you do not have an ice cream maker, put the chilled chocolate in a container and place in the freezer. Mix the ice cream every 30 minutes, breaking up all the frozen pieces. If possible, use a hand mixer or immersion blender. Repeat for 4 hours, then let the ice cream freeze completely for another 4 hours or overnight.

Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram! @acookienameddesire #acookienameddesire

More Ice Cream Recipes

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  • Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
  • Churro Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Sugar Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich

About Amanda Powell

Baker, photographer, and sometimes world traveler behind A Cookie Named Desire. Obsessed with helping people live life sweetly with delicious food to share with the special people in your life and creating lasting memories.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anne says

    This is such a rich and wonderful chocolate ice cream recipe. It was creamy and that heat of chili gave it an exotic feel. I did make a couple small changes though. I added about 1/4 cup of high quality red chili powder to the chocolate mix. Adds a wonderful layer. Also cut up a couple jalapenos to infuse with the red chili in the vanilla pudding. I would recommend this recipe to anyone looking for something different and wonderful. Very easy to follow and you cannot beat the results!Chocolate Chili Ice Cream Recipe (9)

    Reply

  2. Clare says

    There are two mentions of adding REMAINING cream in the instructions. Is it added to the chocolate mixture as stated instruction 3....... OR.... is it added as in instruction 4 ?

    Reply

    • Amanda says

      It is added with the chocolate!

      Reply

  3. christian domingo says

    I have an existing ice cream house here in the philippines ...we are scooping ready made/commercialize ice cream...but some of our costumers were suggesting us to also offer chili ice cream...how can we do it with our existing business? What will we do? Do we need just to mix chilli powder on our ice cream? Any suggestion. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Amanda says

      I use dried chili that I ground myself for different texture and more depth of flavor. I would suggest about 1 tablespoon of chili per quart of ice cream for a medium-hot heat that lasts without burning anyone's tongue!

      Reply

  4. Rex says

    I just tried this recipe and it is so amazing. Love!

    Reply

  5. Alyssa D says

    Hey from Arts & Crackers! Ooh I'm saving this recipe! I love chocolate with a kick. I have an ice cream maker, but I'd rather not grab it out so this is perfect!

    Reply

  6. Tara says

    This looks delicious! And perfect for a spicy Valentine's Day treat. 🙂

    Reply

  7. Zakkiya Hamza says

    Wow . Love the food styling. Though I am a foodie at heart I am absolutely hopeless at cooking. This one looks like a must try though 🙂

    Reply

  8. C.D. Beatrice Clay says

    This looks divine! I need an ice cream maker in my life before summer hits the east coast. So glad I found your blog via SITSgirl today. Now excuse me while I PIN PIN PIN!

    Reply

    • Amanda says

      Believe it or not but I made this without an ice cream maker! It's pretty simple, albeit time consuming.

      Reply

  9. Patty Martinez says

    This sounds amazing! I love spicy food.

    Reply

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Chocolate Chili Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of chocolate is best for chili? ›

It may sound like an odd pairing but dark chocolate actually lends a deep, rich flavor to the spices used in this chili. With Halloween around the corner, this is a great way to put those Hershey's Special Dark miniatures that your kids may not want to good use.

How to make ice cream in 10 minutes? ›

Step 1In a small resealable plastic bag, combine half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla. Push out excess air and seal. Step 2Into a large resealable plastic bag, combine ice and salt. Place small bag inside the bigger bag and shake vigorously, 7 to 10 minutes, until ice cream has hardened.

What is the secret to making ice cream? ›

When it comes to great ice cream, cold temperatures and speed are your friends: the faster you bring your base from liquid to solid, the creamier it'll be. In a 2-quart unit, a typical batch of ice cream will take between 18 and 25 minutes to churn.

How to spice up chocolate ice cream? ›

A survey conducted by OnePoll and Breyers revealed among 2,000 Americans, chocolate chips ranked first at 52%, followed by hot fudge (49%), nuts (40%), whipped cream (37%), and caramel (35%). Other than the toppings mentioned above, you can top your ice cream with fresh or dried fruits.

What happens when you add chocolate to chili? ›

It adds richness, deeper flavor, and umami. In vegetarian or vegan recipes where there is no meat, unsweetened chocolate can be an especially important way to add that depth. The chocolate makes the ground chiles and other spices perk up and taste more like themselves.

What chocolate do chefs use? ›

Valrhona mini blocks and couverture chips are the preferred chocolates for high-end restaurants, confectioners and patisserie schools.

How to make ice cream without ice cream maker in 5 minutes? ›

directions
  1. Pour the milk, sugar and vanilla into the smaller, quart sized bag.
  2. Fill the larger, gallon sized bag 3/4 full of ice, then add the salt to the ice.
  3. Place the smaller bag inside the larger bag and close the seal. ...
  4. Now shake the bag good and hard for 5 minutes.

Can I make ice cream without heavy cream? ›

Mix in almond milk, vanilla extract, sugar, and salt, then transfer the mixture into a freezer-safe container. Put it in the freezer for 3 to 4 hours. Stir the ingredients every 30 minutes with a whisk. Once your ice cream is frozen, spoon it into a bowl and enjoy!

What sugar is best for ice cream? ›

Most home ice cream recipes call for simple table sugar, which is chemically known as sucrose. But in pro kitchens you have more options. Liquid sugars like invert sugar, corn syrup, honey, and glucose syrup all add body, creaminess, and stability to ice cream, and a little goes a long way.

What are the 3 most important ingredients of ice cream? ›

If you have ever made ice cream, you already know what goes into it, ingredients such as milk, cream, and sugar. But there is one main ingredient that you may not have thought about, probably because you can't see it—air.

Who invented chili ice cream? ›

It was invented by the 1st Colonial Grill restaurant in Albay in 2004 and has since become a highly popular flavor. It is associated with and inspired by the regional cuisine of Bicol, which characteristically serves spicy dishes in coconut milk.

What flavors enhance chocolate ice cream? ›

But chocolate can also be enhanced with other flavors, so you have some options. A little espresso powder us good with chocolate. Not enough to make it taste strongly of coffee, just enough to add some interest. Cayenne pepper in small amounts is also nice, as are cinnamon or orange.

What flavor goes well with chocolate ice cream? ›

Pie a-la-mode is a delicious way to combine dessert flavors. Bananas are often paired with chocolate, so a banana cream pie with a scoop of this frozen treat could be a possibility. Another popular flavor to pair with chocolate is peanut butter.

What type of chocolate is best for melting? ›

Chocolate melts faster the higher the percentage of cocoa butter and fat, so dark chocolate melts the fastest. Once melted, it's glossy and has a good viscosity. Good-quality dark chocolate with no less than 70 per cent cocoa solids will leave you with a darker, richer flavour.

What type of chocolate is good for melting? ›

The best chocolate for melting and hardening is couverture chocolate. Couverture chocolate contains a higher cocoa butter content, which makes it ideal for tempering—a crucial process for achieving a glossy finish and hardness. This type of chocolate ensures a smooth texture and excellent flavor.

When should I add chocolate to my chili? ›

In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and cook for 2 minutes. Next, add the onions, chili powder and cumin, and stir together. Add the cocoa, garlic and jalapeños, mix together and cook for 2 minutes. Next, add in the ranch-style beans, cayenne pepper and oregano, and cook for another minute.

Should I put chocolate in my chili? ›

If you're familiar with mole or Mexican hot chocolate, you know the power of chocolate and spice; adding cocoa to your chili boosts the flavors, allowing you to get the most out of minimal spices, without adding a noticeable chocolatey-ness.

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