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Easy Black Forest Ice Cream

Category: Sweet Treats to Satisfy Any Craving

Simple no-churn ice cream with cherry chunks, cake pieces, and shaved chocolate. Prep in 25 minutes, then freeze. Yields 15 servings.
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Barbara Chef
Updated on Sat, 12 Apr 2025 22:04:43 GMT
Rich cherry ice cream topped with cherries and chocolate, inspired by Black Forest flavors. Highlight
Rich cherry ice cream topped with cherries and chocolate, inspired by Black Forest flavors. | cookwithcarla.com

Mix everyday ingredients to make a luxurious no-churn black forest ice cream with smooth vanilla base, ribbons of cherry sauce, and dual chocolate elements. This heavenly dessert captures all the beloved black forest cake tastes in a frozen treat, making an eye-catching dessert with little fuss. Every bite balances creamy vanilla, tart cherry, and rich chocolate notes.

While testing homemade frozen treats, this black forest version stood out as the best combo of easy preparation and total indulgence.

Key Ingredients

  • Fresh cherries: Give bright pop of color and taste
  • Sweetened condensed milk: Brings just the right sweetness
  • Heavy cream: Makes everything light and fluffy
  • Dark chocolate: Adds sophisticated bitter-sweet touch
  • Chocolate cake: Gives that true black forest feel

Making The Magic Happen

Cook Down Your Cherries:
Gently heat cherries with sugar and lemon until they turn soft and juicy.
Get The Right Texture:
Mix in cornstarch mixture and keep cooking until it looks shiny and gets thick.
Beat Your Cream:
Whip very cold cream until it forms gentle peaks for best fluffiness.
Mix With Care:
Slowly blend in the condensed milk without squashing all the air bubbles.
Build In Stages:
Put in bits of chocolate, cake chunks, and cherry sauce step by step.
Make Pretty Patterns:
Pour everything in layers, then swirl for a pretty marbled look.
Wait It Out:
Give it enough freezer time so it scoops up nicely.

My grandma always told me the key to amazing ice cream was getting things just right - making sure each part works with the others without taking over.

No churn cherry ice cream in a bowl, highlighting the rich flavors of Black Forest with cherries. Highlight
No churn cherry ice cream in a bowl, highlighting the rich flavors of Black Forest with cherries. | cookwithcarla.com

Ways To Enjoy

Turn this treat into a fancy dessert party by setting up a black forest sundae station. Dish it up in glass bowls with hot chocolate sauce, extra cherries, and whipped cream on top. You can put out chocolate wafers or rolled cookies too. For birthdays or holidays, smush between chocolate cookies or scoop into chocolate-dipped waffle cones. Top with chocolate curls and fresh cherries to make it look amazing.

Fun Twists

Shake things up with this flexible ice cream while keeping the black forest idea alive. Play around with different chocolates like milk or white for changing how sweet it tastes. Try adding cherries soaked in kirsch for that real German touch, or mix in chocolate-covered cherries for extra wow factor. You can even make it without gluten by using gluten-free cake bits or brownies instead.

Keeping It Fresh

Keep your ice cream tasting perfect by storing it right in the freezer. Use containers that seal tight and put them deep in the freezer where the temperature stays steady. Take it out 10-15 minutes before you want to eat for the best feel. Pack in small containers for easy single servings. Put plastic wrap touching the surface before putting the lid on to stop ice crystals from forming.

A delightful serving of no churn cherry ice cream, showcasing the essence of Black Forest with cherry. Highlight
A delightful serving of no churn cherry ice cream, showcasing the essence of Black Forest with cherry. | cookwithcarla.com

Final Thoughts

This black forest ice cream has turned into my go-to summer party dessert. Though it's not complicated to make, watching your temperatures and handling everything gently leads to amazing results that bring all the wonderful flavors of classic black forest cake. Just remember, waiting for it to freeze properly means you'll get that perfect scoop every time.

Recipe FAQs

→ Is an ice cream maker required?
Nope! Just grab a bowl, whisk, mixer, and a freezer-friendly container.
→ Are frozen cherries okay to use?
Yep, just make sure to thaw and drain them beforehand.
→ What’s the best chocolate cake for this?
Any chocolate cake does the trick—even brownies! Just cut into small chunks.
→ How long will this keep in the freezer?
Store in a sealed container for about two weeks for the best flavor and texture.
→ Can I skip the cake pieces?
Sure! Leave them out if you'd prefer just cherry and chocolate ice cream.

Black Forest Ice Cream

This smooth no-churn ice cream combines cherry sauce, chocolate cake chunks, and chocolate shavings. A sweet nod to the classic Black Forest dessert.

Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
12 min
Total Time
37 min

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: German

Yield: 15 Servings

Dietary Preferences: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Cherry Sauce Components

01 2 teaspoons cornflour (cornstarch in the US)
02 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
03 2 tablespoons white sugar (or as needed)
04 450g fresh cherries, pitted and roughly cut (about 1 pound)

→ Ice Cream Ingredients

05 ¾ cup chocolate cake cut into tiny pieces
06 2½ cups heavy cream (600ml of thickened cream)
07 1 tin sweetened condensed milk (14oz / 395g)
08 1 cup finely shaved dark or milk chocolate
09 2 teaspoons of vanilla

Steps

Step 01

Add cherries, sugar, and lemon juice to a medium pot. Let everything come to a boil on medium heat, then lower heat and cook gently for 10 minutes until the cherries soften up.

Step 02

Mix cornflour with 3 teaspoons of water to make a paste. Gradually add this to the cherry blend while stirring, keeping an eye on the thickness. Turn off heat and let it cool fully.

Step 03

Using a whisk or handheld mixer, beat the cream gently until it forms soft peaks. Avoid overbeating it.

Step 04

Carefully fold half the condensed milk into the whipped cream. Repeat with the rest of the condensed milk and the vanilla extract, handling the mixture gently to keep it airy.

Step 05

Gently mix in most of the shaved chocolate and the small pieces of cake. Add around three-quarters of the cooled cherry sauce, saving a bit for decorating.

Step 06

Pour half of the ice cream mixture into a freezer container. Pour in half of the leftover cherry sauce in random spots, swirl it with a spatula, and scatter some chocolate. Repeat this layering process.

Step 07

Use plastic wrap or a lid to cover the container. Put it in the freezer for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Notes

  1. Tweak the sugar amount based on how sweet or tart your cherries are.
  2. Treat the mix gently when folding, so the mixture stays fluffy.
  3. This method skips using an ice cream maker altogether.

Required Equipment

  • Medium-sized pot
  • Whisk or mixer
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Storage container for freezing with a lid

Allergen Information

Double-check every ingredient for potential allergens and consult a healthcare professional if unsure.
  • Includes dairy ingredients
  • Contains gluten due to cake pieces

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

This data is for informational purposes only and doesn’t replace medical advice.
  • Calories: 333
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Carbs: 31 g
  • Protein: 5 g