There aren’t many things that the whole family can agree on, but chocolate ice cream is often one of them. There is something about the wonderful creamy texture, freshness, sweetness and not forgetting the rich chocolate that works so wonderfully together. Doing it at home only adds to the experience. When you pull out the slices after dinner knowing that everyone had a hand in creating the desert, it seems like it tastes twice as good.
Another great benefit is that you can adjust the ingredients to match your own tastes. Manufactured frozen desserts are highly regulated and while this ensures excellent quality control you usually won’t get a bad experience in the supermarket it means most brands taste very similar – there are many products but very few excellent. At home you are free from these restrictions. You can develop your own touch exactly how you would like.
Using the best quality ingredients you can afford is key. There is a world of difference between cheap milk chocolate and dark chocolate with 70% cocoa solids. Choose the sugar-free variety and you can regulate the flavor. A good starting point is to add the same amount of sugar as the chocolate product. Add a little less for a more mature bitter taste, perfect for adults. For kids, add a little more to make it nice and sweet, just the way kids like it.
For even more richness, you might consider adding a brownie crumble, cookies or chips, or even a liqueur.
You may need to whip this mixture a bit longer than for most recipes, as the cocoa powder can slow down the “whip.” Also remember that a homemade batch will not be as dark as a factory vat filled with flavors and dyes. Although it will taste much better!