Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (2024)

My Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe is an old fashioned, silky, decadent homemade chocolate ice cream. Because the unofficial start to summer just screams for a celebratory ice cream cone, don’t you think?

Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (1)

chocolate frozen custard ice cream is one of those recipes where I shouldn’t need to rely on heavy sales tactics…

There’s a temperature spike in Los Angeles this weekend and I’m pulling out my trusty ice cream maker for the first time this year. You might have frozen custard memories from Coney Island or Atlantic City, but the frozen custard capital of the world is the Midwest. If you’re a fan of Kopp’s, Leon’s, Gilles, Oscar’s, Culver’s, Carvel, or Shake Shack, etc, you’ll love this homemade summer treat.

Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (2)

homemade ice cream brings pure joy into the kitchen…

How many machines can claim that? (I’m looking at you Spiralizer.) If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you need to get one. My base model Cuisinart has lasted me years, probably because there aren’t any electronic parts to malfunction. (It’s got a simple motor that rotates the chilled bucket.) If you break it down to cost per use it’s the deal of a lifetime. And if you’ve got kids or grandkids around this summer, it’s a complete must have. In fact whenever I go to a baby shower, this is what I bring because I can’t think of anything else that will bring such magic and joy to a young family. If it sounds like I’m waxing poetic about a kitchen tool, I am. I heart my ice cream machine.

Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (3)

frozen custard starts with an egg yolk enriched custard

Don’t be afraid of the custard, it’s easy to make, and you can prep it the day before if you like. It should be nice and cold before you add it to your ice cream machine.

Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (4)

my favorite part? the mid-churn taste test!

As your frozen custard (or any ice cream, for that matter) churns away in the machine, it might look slightly grainy…that’s the tiny ice crystals forming. It’s my favorite time to sneak a taste or two.

Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (5)

done in about 20 minutes!

The texture is light and unbelievably silky, almost like frozen mousse. You can eat your custard straightaway, or you can freeze it for a few hours to firm up a bit. Frozen custard is best when you don’t allow it to get super hard in the freezer, so plan to enjoy it within a few hours, if possible.

Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (6)

the difference between ice cream and frozen custard

  • Both ice cream and frozen custard are made with milk and cream, but frozen custard contains more egg yolks.
  • To geek out on it: according to FDA standards, ice cream must contain less than 1.4% egg yolk, while frozen custard must contain more than 1.4%.
  • Frozen custard has a silkier texture, and is typically served softer than ice cream.
  • For the best frozen custard experience, eat it within 4 hours of churning. This is when it’s at its silkiest. After that it will harden, like all ice creams, in your home freezer, which is set at a colder temperature than ideal for ice cream.
  • If your custard hardens too much, let it sit out for a few minutes before serving.
Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (7)

tips and tricks for making homemade ice cream and frozen custard

  • If your machine has a freezer bowl, store it in the freezer during ice cream season so you can make ice cream on a whim.
  • I like to invest in an extra bowl so I can make multiple batches for parties, etc.
  • Your ice cream mixture should always be fully chilled before adding it to your machine. I love to make it the day before.
  • Put your storage container in the freezer while your ice cream churns so you can transfer it with minimal melting.
  • When your ice cream is ready, transfer it from the freezer bowl to your storage container immediately. The ice cream will start to freeze to the sides of the bowl soon after the machine stops turning.
  • Homemade ice cream is generally at its best texture 2-5 hours after you make it. Home freezers are set colder than ideal for storing ice cream, and so it tends to get very hard over time.
  • Cover your ice cream with plastic wrap so it doesn’t pick up freezer odors.

how to make a no churn chocolate frozen custard

  • Make your custard up through step 3 in the recipe.
  • Put your thoroughly chilled mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the balloon whisk attachment (you can do this by hand with electric beaters, but the mixer is best) and whip until the custard becomes lighter and fluffy.
  • Scrape into a freezer container and freeze for several hours until firm enough to scoop.
Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (8)

if you love homemade ice cream, I’ve got more!

  • Coffee Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
  • No Churn Bailey’s Ice Cream
  • Fresh Lemon Ice Cream
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
  • Fresh Mint Chip Ice Cream
  • Maple Walnut Ice Cream
  • Gingerbread Ice Cream

Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (9)

Chocolate Frozen Custard

My Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe is an old fashioned, impossibly silky and utterly decadent chocolate ice cream. Grab your (biggest) spoon and get ready to dig in

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Prep Time:40 minutes minutes

Chilling:4 hours hours

Total Time:4 hours hours 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 quart

Equipment

  • ice cream machine

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a heavy bottom medium sized saucepan, add the yolks, sugar, corn syrup, salt, and cocoa powder. Whisk together to combine. Note: I like to sift the cocoa powder, but you don't have to.

  • Set over medium heat and slowly whisk in the cream and milk, whisking constantly to combine everything. Cook, whisking or stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. You do not want it to come to a boil, so watch carefully. I like to switch between my whisk and a silicone 'spoonula' to be able to scrape the sides and bottom of the pan so nothing scorches. You may need to lower your temperature to medium-low, depending on your stove.

  • When the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon it's done.(For me this whole process took about 12 minutes.) Immediately pour through a mesh seive into a bowl and stir in the vanilla. Cover and chill until cold.

  • Churn your chilled mixture according to your machine's instructions. Mine takes 20 minutes. You can enjoy the custard right away, or transfer to a container and freeze for up to 4 hours. Frozen custard has a wonderful silky texture that is best enjoyed within 4 hours of making.

Notes

*recipe adapted from Serious Eats

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: chocolate, dessert, frozen custard, ice cream, kids, summer

Nutrition

Calories: 357 kcal · Carbohydrates: 28 g · Protein: 6 g · Fat: 27 g · Saturated Fat: 16 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g · Cholesterol: 217 mg · Sodium: 115 mg · Potassium: 200 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 24 g · Vitamin A: 1119 IU · Vitamin C: 0.4 mg · Calcium: 103 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at @theviewfromgreatisland for a chance to be featured.

Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (10)
Chocolate Frozen Custard Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes frozen custard creamy? ›

Frozen custard is made with a combination of egg yolks, heavy cream, a small amount of milk, and sugar. The eggs give the frozen custard a creamy and rich texture, while the heavy cream provides a smooth and velvety consistency. The sugar is used to sweeten the frozen custard and minimize ice crystals' formation.

Is frozen custard healthier than ice cream? ›

Brands vary, but vanilla ice-cream typically has about 10 per cent more calories than custard, as well as twice the saturated fat, less protein and half the calcium and potassium. However, ice-cream usually has less sugar and salt, too.

Can you freeze chocolate custard? ›

You can eat your custard straightaway, or you can freeze it for a few hours to firm up a bit. Frozen custard is best when you don't allow it to get super hard in the freezer, so plan to enjoy it within a few hours, if possible.

What melts faster custard or ice cream? ›

Frozen custard also tends to be served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream (18 °F vs. 10 °F) because the higher egg yolk content keeps it from melting as quickly as standard ice cream does.

What ingredient makes the custard thicker? ›

Custard is a decadent dessert made with eggs, milk, and sugar. Eggs are responsible for custard's thick and velvety texture, but some recipes (such as this one) call for thickeners such as cornstarch or arrowroot for extra richess.

How do you keep custard creamy? ›

Whisk the pastry cream constantly while it's on the stove.

It requires your full attention to prevent lumps and scorched bits. Whisking constantly also helps the custard thicken evenly. Be sure to whisk all around the saucepan, not just in one spot, so the milk and eggs don't stick to the pot and scorch or scramble.

Is custard bad for cholesterol? ›

Foods with high levels of saturated and trans fats raise the levels of LDL cholesterol in your blood, and should be avoided: These foods include; Full fat: milk, yoghurt, cheese, ice-cream and custard.

Is frozen custard good for you? ›

Frozen Custard

Slower churning makes it dense and creamy and sharply cuts down on air. (Air makes up 30% to 50% of ice cream's total volume.) The eggs bump the fat to approximately 24.5 grams per serving, though. At about 314 calories, 18 grams of sugar, and 23 grams of carbs, consider frozen custard a “special treat.”

Is frozen custard high in cholesterol? ›

Frozen custard is higher in calories because it's not whipped, so less air incorporated. And it's higher in saturated fat, cholesterol and protein because it contains egg yolk.

Can you eat chocolate custard cold? ›

Our chocolate custard tastes great eaten cold, but if you prefer it warm, it takes just a few minutes to heat up on the hob or in the microwave.

How long does chocolate custard last in the fridge? ›

It should be stored in the fridge and eaten within 3 days of making.

How do you revive frozen custard? ›

For every 200 gms of frozen custard, add 15ml of milk and keep it in the microwave for 20 secs. Fill the saucepan halfway with warm milk. Continue whisking the custard for another minute on the stove, until it softens out and comes back together.

Can a diabetic eat custard? ›

You can buy NAS (no added sugar) custard powders, which some may tolerate in small amounts when well-paired. However, for those who want proper custard that is much more tolerable, you could try this recipe for a low-carb homemade REAL custard!

Can I eat custard if I'm lactose intolerant? ›

Products made from cream — like ice cream, cream cheese, custard, or butter — should be avoided due to the high levels of lactose. In addition to some kinds of cheeses, some people with lactose intolerance may be able to eat yogurt in moderation, as the lactose has been partly broken down.

Does frozen custard have eggs? ›

An ice cream maker churns air into it to give it a light mouthfeel. Frozen custard is made from milk, cream, and egg yolks. It is produced in a machine that barely incorporates air into it, which means it's more dense than ice cream.

How does frozen custard get its dense creamy texture? ›

Frozen custard machines use less air and churn the dessert. Most machines run at 15-30% overrun, causing the custard to be more dense, creamy, and free of ice crystals. The feel of the custard is different than ice cream, it's described by many as a silky texture.

Why is frozen custard so smooth? ›

Air is not pumped into the mix, nor is it added as an "ingredient" but gets into the frozen state by the agitation of liquid similar to whisking a meringue. The high percentage of butterfat and egg yolk gives the frozen custard a thick, creamy texture and a smoother consistency than ice cream.

How does custard get its dense creamy texture? ›

Because it is not held in the chamber, there is very little air beaten into the custard, referred to as “overrun.” This low overrun (20-25%) is what gives frozen custard its wonderfully dense and creamy texture, or “mouthfeel.”

Is frozen custard creamy? ›

The two sweet treats are often mistaken for each other, but there are distinct characteristics to each. While ice cream is light, airy, and creamy, frozen custard is way denser and creamier.

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