Chocolate ice cream is a perennial favorite of young and old alike, but what if you have already made it a few times recently? Well, make it several more times trying these crowd-pleasing variations! You probably have the ingredients in your pantry already, and most are GAPS compliant. So many flavors combine beautifully with chocolate, yet make it almost a whole new flavor. Try them all! (One at a time…)
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As popular as chocolate ice cream is, it has never been my favorite. I love chocolate, and I love ice cream. I like chocolate ice cream, but it can be less alluring than other flavors. Maybe the chocolate is too diluted?
If you get tired of plain, classic chocolate, dive into combinations of chocolate with other favorites! It is amazing how many flavors taste wonderful with chocolate. You will not get tired of the same old chocolate ice cream with these varieties to call upon.
Start with my recipe for cultured chocolate ice cream, or any similar recipe you like, really. My recipe is GAPS compliant (minus the chocolate, which you may include at some point on your GAPS adventure). I included variations for people not on GAPS as well. Really, the GAPS version is good even if you aren’t on GAPS, and has health benefits to boot!
Where to start? So many flavors are lovely with chocolate… Let’s start with a very easy one– mocha. There could be other ways to make a chocolate and coffee ice cream, but I have chosen a super easy one. Of course! Easy and delicious is the goal.
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Mocha
- start making my cultured chocolate ice cream. While you have the kefir (or milk) in your blender with the chocolate and honey, add a tablespoon of instant coffee granules. Some are definitely better than others– you might not want to use your grandparents’ favorite. I like to use this instant coffee from Thrive Market. Blend well. (If the granules don’t quite dissolve right away, let it stand for a few minutes and try again.)
- Finish by blending in your cultured cream, and process in your ice cream maker as usual. (This mocha flavor is gorgeous, especially if you add chocolate shavings, but it is the least GAPS friendly option due to the instant coffee. Read on for GAPS-ier flavors!)
Level up (any of these chocolate ice creams) by adding in some chocolate shavings. Choose whatever chocolate bar you like that fits your diet, grate it on a box grater, and fold the result into your ice cream after taking it out of the ice cream maker and before putting it in the freezer. You can even use totally unsweetened chocolate, as I did!
The shavings are small enough to avoid breaking a tooth, and the sweetness of the ice cream covers the lack of sugar in the chocolate! Grated chocolate works better than commercial chocolate chips in ice cream. The chips freeze too hard to taste. Not good! You can taste the chocolate shavings and don’t have to chew them.
Mint Chocolate
- Add 1-2 teaspoons of peppermint extract to your chocolate and cream mixture. I suggest starting with one teaspoon, trying it, and adding more if you want it stronger. I like it with 2 teaspoons! So simple!
- I added chocolate shavings to this one as well. I can’t seem to help myself…
Mexican Inspired
- Add 1 tablespoon cinnamon to your chocolate and cream mixture. You could increase your vanilla, and maybe look for Mexican vanilla. This mimics Mexican hot cocoa, a wintertime favorite. So easy, and so good!
- This recipe is a good candidate for chocolate shavings or even toasted bits of almond. If you are adventurous, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few drops of Tabasco for a hint of warmth!
Peanut Butter Chocolate
- While mixing the chocolate and honey with your kefir or milk, add 1/4 cup peanut butter of your choice. Taste it and add more if you want the peanut butter taste to be stronger. Be careful to mix until very smooth before adding the cream.
- You can’t go wrong by adding chocolate shavings, or you could add chopped peanuts if you like. Bananas on the side are great, too.
Chocolate Strawberry
- Replace 1 cup of the kefir/milk or the cream with 1 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries. Purée with the kefir or milk. You can add more chopped strawberries after processing, but you will taste the strawberry flavor either way.
- This would work well with raspberries or cherries also!
There you have it! Five easy ways to transform a basic chocolate ice cream into a whole new cold and creamy treat. We could keep going… how about adding toasted coconut and chopped, toasted almonds? Or marshmallow pieces and peanuts?
What is your favorite flavor to combine with chocolate? And can you pick just one?
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