Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream

Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream 3

This is hands-down the simplest and possibly the best chocolate ice cream you will ever come across.  Several months ago I came across a recipe for a Nutella ice cream on another blog, and I made it several times and absolutely loved it.  I use regular Nutella for this, although the original recipe called for vegan Nutella so you can certainly use that to make a vegan version.  I thought that I had originally found the recipe on a blog called Voracious (which was previously The Voracious Vegan), but on revisiting to link back to it I have been unable to find it.  So if you belong to the original copy of this recipe or know who does - please let me know so that I can link to it.

Most of the time, I make this just plain, but because I had a beautiful big bowl of fresh, fat, cherries to use, and inspired by the idea of Black Forest Gateau (let's face it cherries and chocolate are a marriage made in heaven), I stirred a pile of them into the freshly churned ice cream.

Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream 2


Now I've had chocolate ice cream before with cherries in, and the cherries have always stayed kind of soft - mine kind of froze.  I guess the difference (which I didn't think of at the time) is normally glace cherries would be used, and I'm assuming that because of the high sugar content they don't freeze.   So I realise that next time, if I'm to use fresh cherries, I probably need to poach them first in some sugar syrup.  Nevertheless, by the time the ice cream comes out of the freezer, and sits long enough to be "scoopable" (probably not a real word I know, but you understand what I mean), the cherries have also softened somewhat.

So how do you make this wonderful and simple ice cream?  You are not going to believe this.

Put equal quantities of Nutella (use vegan if that is your preference) and coconut cream - I used 1-1/2 cups of each - into a medium sized bowl and using an electric mixer beat until combined.  Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturers directions.  Once churned, remove to a plastic tub, stir in fruit if using, and put into freezer to firm up.  You could try a variety of different fruits in this - or even add chocolate chips and or nuts.

Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream 1

This post is a contribution to Make it with ... Mondays challenge Nutella - the linky will be open until Monday 14 February, so keep those Nutella posts coming, and don't forget to keep your almond posts coming too - the almond linky is open here and will remain open until Monday 21 February.

Make it with ..... Mondays

I'm also linking this to the Decidedly Healthy or Horridly Decadent Blog Hop.  Although I normally like to try and offer a reasonably healthy entry, it's all out decadence this week and I make no apology for it.

20 comments:

  1. This is so decadent. I wish summer was here to enjoy it along with this beautiful ice cream!

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  2. !Oh my gosh, Sue...YUM! I bet throwing a few toasted hazelnuts in there would be fantastical, too. Thanks so much, I'm pretty sure I'll be making a version of this soon. I actually kind of like frozen cherries...but I know whatcha mean...the cooked ones would be wonderful, too. =)

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  3. Wow.. I got stuck on the bowl of frozen cherries and couldn't even look away :) I adore cherries and chocolate!

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  4. Your ice cream looks delicious! Really wish that cherries are more affordable here! Yes, cherries and chocolates certainly are good together!

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  5. Oh my goodness does this look decadent and delicious! I love how easy this is and how open it is to interpretation. This is a winning recipe, Sue!

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  6. Chocolate, cherries n ice cream, love the three parts of the name itself, so when put together I am sure it will be the most decadent n divine ice cream out there..Thanks for sharing Sue :)

    US Masala

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  7. Wow it looks decadent!!! I must try to make an ice-cream with nutella one day :-).

    I sent you a little thing in the mail today :-)

    ciao

    Alessandra

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  8. It is below freezing here today with ice and snow, but I want this now!!!

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  9. Sue, that has to be the most incredible bowl of ice cream I've ever seen! Seriously, it is gorgeous. And, yes, chocolate and cherries, the perfect match.
    I want to thank you for your kind words about my dad - I truly appreciate it. xo, Louanne

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  10. My daughter would flip over this! My mouth is watering!
    Wonderful idea!
    Cheers~

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  11. I am totally drooling now. How did you know that chocolate and cherries are one of my favorite food combinations? You're the best! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  12. This looks so finger-licking good. Too bad I'm too late to lick the spoon! Amazing photo. This would be an absolute hit in our house.

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  14. Nutella ice cream alone sounds AMAZING but then when you add cherries...so good. I definitely need to make this.

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  15. Why have you done this to me?!

    I have an award for you...
    http://msenplace.blogspot.com/2011/02/ihcc-thats-amore-and-stinky-cheese.html

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  16. Thanks Katerina - actually I eat this all year round.

    Hi girlichef - you're right - toasted hazelnuts would be great in this, chocolate chips too.

    Kim, you could take this in all sorts of different directions, either keeping it plain (well as plain as Nutella ice cream could be) or adding in any number of fruit and or nut combos.

    Thanks for the gift Alessandra - I am now officially in love with those fruit jellies.

    Oh Louanne, I am so thinking of you and your Dad - the time ahead will no doubt be very sad, but also very precious. I hope you find lots of comfort from the many people that I know care for you deeply.

    Miriam - chocolate and cherries are one of my favourite combinations too.

    Joanne - make it - you will totally love it, and nothing could be easier.

    MM - thank you so much for the award - you are so kind :-)

    Sue xo

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  17. Oh Sue I would love a bowl of that right now, sweltering in Auckland and I reckon a large dollop of that choclatey cherry goodness would be perfect.

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  18. My favorite ice cream in the world is Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia. Sue - you don't understand, having this recipe could be my complete undoing! I usually try to save the ice cream maker for sorbets telling myself "they're mostly fruit", ooohhh this recipe looks so incredibly good. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. The ice cream looks wonderful .. the only ice cream i've made at home is mango ice cream ... i wish i could've had some of this ;)

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  20. I'm salivating Sue seeing your ice cream, This is totally exquisite and extremely heavenly, i usually have home made dark chocolate with cheery from Finland, now here in ice cream form with nutella i'm going straight to heaven!

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