Cool and creamy, deliciously thick chocolatey ice cream! Rich, fudgy, chocolate brownie ice cream is easy to make and even easier to eat! A machine churned gourmet ice cream combined with homemade brownies makes the most decadent ice cream!
We have all bought the expensive pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream and I am here to tell you, that you (yes, YOU!) can make a half gallon of this ice cream for less than you’d buy a pint of Ben & Jerry’s! And dare I say it’s creamier, more delicious, more chocolatey and certainly has a whole lot more fudge brownie bites!
Lover of all things chocolate? Yeah, so is everyone I know! Grab these other reader chocolate favorites! Like this Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream, Copycat Nothing Bundt Cake Chocolate Chip Cake, Easy Chocolate Shortcake, or this Rich Chocolate Zucchini Cake!
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Why You Will Love this Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
Besides being cold, creamy and delicious? It is loaded with good for you cocoa powder, no fake ingredients and it is riddled with gooey, chewy brownie bites. Plus you get to make my famous Old Fashioned Chocolate Ice Cream, one of my most popular summer recipes!
- The gourmet chocolate ice cream itself is only 5 simple ingredients.
- You can easily bake up the brownies ahead of time and use them when you are ready.
- Once finished, you will plenty in the freezer to feed a crowd or your family for a week (at least in our house!)
Ingredients
Simple fresh ingredients, that’s what you need!
- Chocolate Ice Cream | Recipe and ingredients for Chocolate Ice Cream (don’t worry all the details are below)
- Brownies | try these drool worthy brownies, or purchase and make up a pan of your favorite box mix <= (my fave) or even purchase a pan of soft brownies! Use a gluten free brownie mix if keeping GF!
- Freezer pan | I use either a loaf pan or a large rectangular size plastic or glass container with a lid, love these! It should be enough to hold 2 quarts or half gallon = 8 cups.
Ingredients for Chocolate Ice Cream
How to Make Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
Step 1 | Make Fudge Brownies
- Whether you make brownies from the box, homemade (recipe linked above) or purchase already prepared, you will want to have enough time to cool these before adding to the ice cream. Make a day ahead, or let them cool at least 20 minutes on the counter, then pop in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Step 2 | Make the Chocolate Ice Cream Batter
- Grab your batter bowl and whisk (or use a hand mixer) together milk, cocoa powder, vanilla until cocoa powder and sugar are dissolved and combined, for about 2 minutes.
- Pour in heavy cream, whip or whisk well, another 2-3 minutes until thickened and no sugar granules can be seen. Refrigerate ice cream base for 30 minutes or longer, prior to placing it in the ice cream freezer.
- By allowing it to hang out in the fridge, it will help it freeze faster, greatly improve the texture AND allows the cocoa powder to get to know the milk and the cream.
- Before pouring the ice cream base into the ice cream freezer, stir or whisk again one last time — ensure everything is mixed well.
- Then pour into your ice cream freezer and follow the directions on your ice cream machine. Mine takes about 20 minutes.
Step 3 | Make the Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
- Pinch off little pieces of brownies, or cut into little squares, tossing them into your ice cream freezer container.
- Add ⅓ the ice cream and give a gentle stir.
- Repeat until all of the ice cream is used, you probably won’t use all of the brownies, about 1 cup or so, but you can figure out a way to use these brownies I am assuming!
- Smooth and freeze for 4-6 hours until firm, it will still be soft, but doable, if a firm ice cream is desired, then freeze overnight.
Tips
- BAKE THE BROWNIES AHEAD | This will allow them time to cool.
- MAKE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM BATTER AHEAD | You can make the batter for the chocolate fudge brownie ice cream ahead of time too, keep it in the fridge and the flavors will marry and be ready for churning. Whisky before putting in the ice cream machine.
- UNDER-BAKE THE BROWNIES | Since you are freezing the brownies in the ice cream, a softer brownie bite is desired, slightly under-bake the brownies, brownies are better under-baked anyway!
- MAKE 24 HOURS AHEAD | If you want a really frozen for scooping onto ice cream cones, you want to make the ice cream 24 hours before you need it, this will allow it time to get nice and firm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this Gluten Free?
Yes, make or purchase a box of good GF brownie mix and then follow the rest of the instructions. The chocolate ice cream is already gluten free.
Can I use store bought ice cream?
I encourage you to make your own ice cream, you CAN do this! It is so easy and tastes so much better, however we are about making it yours, so yes, buy a half gallon of your favorite chocolate ice cream and allow to sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes to soften, then proceed as directed.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
- Ice Cream Machine | This Cuisinart is my favorite, 20 minutes to creamy, soft serve ice cream (warning, you do need to freeze the container for at least 24 hours for best results)
- BATTER BOWL | I love my Pampered Chef bowl, but this one is a great choice too!
- Silicone Spatulas come in so handy scraping all the yummy goodness from the bowl.
- Storage Container | I love my glass container with snap lid, but a simple loaf pan works great!
- Ice cream scooper is a must!
- This hand mixer is nice if using natural cane sugar it’s nice to mix your ingredients thoroughly, but a whisk will suffice.
Mix-Ins Ideas
- Fudge ripple brownie ice cream | Swirl ribbons of hot fudge sauce (cooled) into the ice cream while layering the brownies. You might want to use a butter knife and gently swirl the ice cream.
- Cookies & Cream | Mix In Crushed Oreo (regular, Gluten Free or Golden) in place of the brownies for a delicious cookies and cream chocolate ice cream.
- Chocolate Moose Tracks | Stir in mini or chopped up peanut butter cups, a ribbon of fudge sauce and you have fabulous copycat.
- Mocha Almond Fudge | Oh yeah! Stir in 2 tablespoons of espresso powder into the chocolate ice cream batter, then once frozen, swirl in hot fudge (cooled) and ½ cup of chopped dry roasted almonds.
MAKE YOUR OWN HOT FUDGE, EASY & TASTES FAR BETTER THAN STORE BOUGHT!
More Ice Cream Recipes
- Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream | Super Creamy and would make a great substitute for the chocolate ice cream.
- Patriotic No Churn Ice Cream | The basic recipe is for Vanilla No Churn Ice Cream, then go crazy on your add-ins!
- Moose Tracks Ice cream | A no churn vanilla based ice cream with fudge, chunks of chocolate and peanut butter cups.
- Rose Pistachio No Churn Ice Cream | A slightly different, decidedly elegant ice cream.
- Fried Ice Cream Cake | Easy to make Mexican Ice Cream Cake with crunchy corn chip topping and crust.
- Mile High Mud Pie | Requested every birthday is this easy to make Mud Pie Ice Cream Cake!
- Copycat Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade | Cool, creamy, perfect sweet and sour!
- Circus Animal No Churn Ice Cream | A fun twist on the classic pink and white ice cream!
- No Bake Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches | A fun treat for all ages!
Don’t forget to make your own delicious ice cream toppings and sauces!
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Recipe Card
A simple homemade machine churned chocolate ice cream mixed with bits of real brownies, a super easy and fudgy summertime dessert!
Video
Ingredients
Chocolate Ice Cream
- 1 ½ cups whole milk I use organic
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder the good stuff
- 1 cup granulated sugar I use all natural organic cane sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream I use organic
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Fudge Brownies
- 1- 1 ½ cups brownie bites | Make homemade fudge brownies or purchase and make your favorite box mix.
Instructions
- Make brownies and allow to cool completely before adding to frozen ice cream, meanwhile make the chocolate ice cream batter.
- Grab a batter bowl and whisk (or use a hand mixer) together milk, cocoa powder, vanilla until cocoa powder and sugar are dissolved and combined. About 2 minutes. Pour in heavy cream, whip or whisk well, another 2-3 minutes until thickened and no sugar granules can be seen.
- Refrigerate ice cream base for 30 minutes or longer, prior to placing it in the ice cream freezer. By allowing it to hang out in the fridge, it will help it freeze faster, greatly improve the texture AND allows the cocoa powder to get to know the milk and the cream.
- Before pouring your ice cream base into the ice cream freezer, stir it again one last time — stir or whisk to ensure everything is mixed well. Then pour into your ice cream freezer and follow the directions on your ice cream machine. Mine takes about 20 minutes.
- Take cooled brownies and tear or cut small bites and toss into the bottom of the container, smooth ⅓ of the ice cream over the top, then repeat two more times and smooth ice cream, freeze to firm.
- Ice cream straight from the machine is a soft serve texture. For firm, scoopable ice cream, pour soft ice cream into a chilled (I put my container in the freezer while the ice cream maker is on) loaf pan or container. Cover and tuck in the back of your freezer. The longer you let it hang out, the harder it will be, a couple of hours will yield firm edges, soft in the center. Overnight or longer, firm, scoopable ice cream. But who’s kidding who, this stuff is fabulous straight from the machine or days later!
- Makes a full 2 quarts
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Notes
Mix-In Suggestions
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 125mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 474IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make my Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream?Show it off! Share on Instagram, tag @thefreshcooky, and use the hashtag #thefreshcooky!
D_C
Had old brownies left and recycled them into this recipe. Delicious and super easy. Simple ingredients, real cream, cocoa, sugar, milk, and real brownies. Very real tasting. Lol no fluff and no extra stuff. Thank you for sharing.
The perfect use for recycled brownies (love that term!!)
Radha
Sinfully delicious! Rich and chocolatey…yummy!
So glad you loved it Radha!!
Ellen
This will surely be a hit with my teenagers. Me too!
Haha! Can’t help ourselves right!
Rebecca
I’m so excited to try this recipe. Great tips too!
Thanks Rebecca, hope you love it!
Inger@Art of Natural Living
Double chocolate’s okay with me! (So are a few leftover brownies 🙂 )
Haha, yes indeed!!
Jennifer Stewart
Rich, Fudgy and a chocolate lovers dream! Definitely calling my name!
It truly is Jennifer! Thank you!
Michaela Kenkel
Now THIS is MY KIND of ICE CREAM!! Oh my word!! This is perfection in a bowl!
Thank you Michaela, so glad you loved it!
Julie Menghini
I’m a chocolate a’holic and could eat ice cream every day. I had everything that I needed and put this together. We absolutely loved it. It’s so creamy and delicious. I may never buy ice cream again!
Bob
Y Y [Yikes and Yum]…lo cal, right???? ????????????????
Totally lo-cal…okay so maybe not! You would love it Bob!