Chocolate Chili Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Amanda Powell · This post may contain affiliate links.

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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

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 1 (ish) quart

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

  • Donut Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 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 does adding cocoa powder to chili do? ›

What does cocoa powder do for chili? Cocoa powder adds a rich depth of flavor to chili. There isn't a prominent chocolate taste, just extra deliciousness from something that you can't quite pinpoint. Use unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder so it doesn't make the finished dish sweet.

What is the secret to good ice cream? ›

It's the fat. The milk fat in ice cream is mostly what gives ice cream that creamy rich taste and feeling in your mouth. The creamiest ice creams have about 16% fat and the least creamy have about 10% fat.

What does adding dark chocolate to chili do? ›

Cocoa Powder and Chili Go Very Well Together

Both chili peppers and chocolate are native to Mexico and Central America — and they were often combined, as they are in Mexican mole sauce. Adding chocolate to chili lends depth and richness to the spicy dish, making it both more savory and more satisfying.

What does cinnamon do to chili? ›

Cinnamon. The beauty of ground cinnamon is that it brings a warmth to your chili, without being spicy. It works well with other flavors commonly found in chili (like tomato, cumin and chile powder) so you only need a little bit to achieve the desired balance.

How much cocoa powder should you add to your chili? ›

The trick is to add only enough cocoa to make the chili taste better, not so much that it overwhelms the other ingredients or turns the chili into chocolate soup. You'll only need up to a tablespoon for a flavor boost.

Is chocolate or cocoa powder better in chili? ›

You may associate chocolate with dessert, but rest assured, adding cocoa powder won't make your chili sickeningly sweet. Instead, it'll contribute a layer of richness and balance out the spiciness.

What is the best sugar for homemade 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.

When should you add chocolate to chili? ›

Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook the chilli on low for 8 hours. About 15 minutes before you are ready to eat, break the chocolate into squares and stir through. Add a splash of water if the chilli looks a little dry.

Why do people put chocolate in chili? ›

Basically, dark or semi-sweet chocolate can be used to balance out the flavors of the chili, especially if you are using tomatoes. The richness of the chocolate can help cancel out the acidity of the tomatoes or peppers that you might be using. It also gives the chili a deeper color and fuller body.

What is a substitute for dark chocolate in chili? ›

I add unsweetened cocoa powder to my chili because the bitterness balances out the acidity of the canned tomatoes, and I like the flavor combinations you get.

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.

What gives chili the most flavor? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

Do you put cocoa in chili yes or no? ›

"Cocoa in chili? Yes, indeed. It lends a deep, rich flavor to the chili and will leave your guests wondering what the secret ingredient was.

What does cocoa powder do in cooking? ›

Cocoa powder is the fine ground brown powder obtained from the partially or completely defatted portion of cocoa liquor or mass of fermented cocoa beans. Commonly used in baking, cocoa powder adds chocolate flavor and a brownish to red color. Commercially, it's available as regular, alkaline or dutch cocoa.

What does cocoa powder do in a recipe? ›

Cocoa powder, an unsweetened chocolate product, adds deep chocolate flavor to desserts and beverages. Cocoa powder occurs when the fat, called cocoa butter, gets removed from the cacao beans during processing. The leftover dried solids get ground into the product sold as cocoa powder.

What happens if you add more cocoa powder? ›

That means that too much of it also means a dry-baked good. So to avoid your baked goods from coming out dry, either reduce the amount of flour (by the same amount of cocoa) or increase the amount of liquid in your formula, about 1/4-1/3 cup of liquids per 1/2 cup of powder.

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