A decadent Chocolate Mason Jar Ice Cream is just 4 ingredients away. With just a few minutes of prep and a little chill time in the freezer, you can have your dessert ready to eat in just a few hours. You're going to love this no-churn ice cream recipe!
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Chocolate ice cream is such a wonderful classic and with this fabulous mason jar ice cream recipe, you're going to enjoy it well too. You may even enjoy our Peanut Butter Mason Jar Ice Cream and Strawberry Mason Jar Ice Cream.
I love how easy and simple mason jar ice cream recipes are. There are so many wonderful variations but this one is pretty simple, plain, and perfect as-is. How can one possibly improve upon chocolate? The answer- you can't. Chocolate is the perfect flavor for any occasion and mood.
For more chocolate recipes, make sure to check out our Chocolate Crockpot Lava Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Eggs, and Chocolate Pistachio Bundt Cake.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's easy. With just four simple ingredients and about five minutes of hands on prep, this keto chocolate ice cream is ready for the freezer fast. The hardest part is waiting for it to chill.
- Perfect for single servings. No need to make a big batch when you can whip up one serving and be done. It's ideal if you don't eat ice cream very often.
- Kid friendly fun. Grab a few mason jars and let the kids do the shaking. They love helping with these ice creams and coming up with new flavor ideas.
🛒 Ingredients
Heavy cream. Heavy whipping cream gives the ice cream its creamy consistency. Choose one with a higher fat percentage for the best results.
Sugar. Granulated sugar adds sweetness and balances the cocoa flavor.
Cocoa powder. Use unsweetened baking cocoa. Adjust the amount based on how rich and chocolatey you want the ice cream.
For extra fun, try black cocoa like we used in our Halloween Bleeding Cupcakes. It's perfect for a Halloween twist.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Single-serve savings. Making one jar at a time prevents waste and keeps dessert costs low.
Use pantry cocoa. Cocoa powder is inexpensive and lasts for many batches compared to buying chocolate bars.
Store-brand cream works. Generic heavy cream and sugar are just as effective for no-churn ice cream.
🥄 Instructions for Chocolate Mason Jar Ice Cream
Step 1: Pour the heavy whipping cream into your mason jar.
Step 2: Add in the granulated sugar.
Step 3: Add in the vanilla and the cocoa powder.
Step 4: Close the lid to the mason jar tightly and then shake well for about 3-5 minutes.
Step 5: Shake until the liquid thickens and then open the lid.
Step 6: Dip a spoon straight down into the liquid and raise it up. If the liquid clings and has no more than a drip or two, then it's good to go.
Step 7: Place the lid on the jar and freeze for about 3 hours before serving.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Choose the right jar. Use a pint sized mason jar with a fitted lid and rim. Jars that are too large or too small can affect how well the ice cream thickens.
- Shake until thick. Shake the jar until the mixture goes from sloshy to noticeably thicker and less mobile. To test, dip in a spoon. The cream should cling with only a few drops falling back into the jar before freezing.
- Avoid overmixing. Once the mixture thickens, stop shaking. Overmixing can cause separation. If it doesn't cling to the spoon yet, give it a quick shake and check again.
- Adjust cocoa to taste. Cocoa powders vary in strength. Start with a smaller amount, taste, and add more if you want a richer chocolate flavor. Once it tastes right, freeze and enjoy.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Keep the ice cream sealed in the mason jar in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Make Ahead: Prepare and freeze jars in advance so you always have a quick dessert ready.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve this chocolate ice cream on its own, or pair it with fresh berries, sliced bananas, crushed cookies, or a warm brownie for a simple, budget-friendly dessert.
- Valentine Cream PuffsRecipe $14.45 / Serving $0.72
- Single Layer Yellow Cake With Chocolate FrostingRecipe $3.75 / Serving $0.47
- Hershey's Best BrowniesRecipe $3.41 / Serving $0.28
- Chocolate Chip Loaf CakeRecipe $4.72 / Serving $0.48
❓ Recipe FAQs
Nope. This ice cream recipe does not require any eggs making it a non-cooking recipe and one that is perfectly safe to consume as a liquid or as a solid.
You can add various mix-ins like chocolate chips, crushed cookies, or nuts when preparing the ice cream mixture. Experiment with different flavors and textures to create your own unique version.
Heavy cream contributes to the creaminess of the ice cream, but you can use a lighter option like half-and-half or whole milk for a less rich ice cream.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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- Smores Ice Cream PieRecipe $6.89 / Serving $0.86
🐝 If you tried this Chocolate Mason Jar Ice Cream, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Mason Jar Ice Cream
Ingredients
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream - ($0.75)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar - ($0.01)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - ($0.03)
- 1-2 tablespoon cocoa powder - ($0.09)
Instructions
- Add ingredients to jar. Measure the heavy whipping cream into a mason jar. Add the granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder.
- Seal the jar. Secure the lid tightly to prevent leaks.
- Shake to thicken. Shake vigorously for about 3 minutes, until the mixture thickens and clings to a spoon with only minimal dripping.
- Freeze. Place the jar in the freezer and freeze for at least 3 hours before eating.
Notes
- Jar size. Use a properly sized mason jar to allow enough room for shaking and thickening.
- Shaking cue. Stop shaking once the mixture thickens and no longer moves freely.
- Thickness test. Dip a spoon into the mixture. It should cling to the spoon with only a few drops falling back.
- Cocoa strength. Use 1 tablespoon for a lighter chocolate flavor or 2 tablespoons for a richer ice cream.
- Storage. Store sealed in the freezer for up to 6 months. For best texture, avoid refreezing once thawed.
Nutritional Information
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John says
Not bad! Definitely needs some salt to bring out the chocolate flavor, though, so I would recommend that to other visitors! The heavy whipping cream in my region has a higher fat percentage as well, so I needed some extra so that it would even be liquid instead of a paste before I shook it. I think an immersion blender would also give a more homogeneous mixture as well as being faster, and might try that if I do this again!