This black charcoal ice cream is sweet, creamy, and just a little bit spooky. Also called black ash ice cream, it gets its dark color from activated charcoal. This no-churn recipe doesn’t require an ice cream maker or anything special at all! So you can make it in your kitchen today.
This ice cream only requires a couple of ingredients and doesn’t require any special equipment. It’s a really budget-friendly way to have some easy summer or holiday fun. This ice cream may look dark and gloomy, but it’s sure to lift your spirits and make you smile. A frosty and tasty treat, this ice cream is the perfect way to cool down in the summer heat, serve up a fun Hallowe’en treat, or add a special twist to a birthday party.
Still too hot in the dog days of summer? I’ve got plenty of recipes that don’t require any cooking at all! For a fun summer drink, make these rainbow ice cubes and pop them into a glass of sparkling water, lemonade, or your favorite cocktail. For a delicious fruit treat that’ll still cool you down, this watermelon shaved ice is a refreshing snack or dessert. Or, if you’re a chocolate lover, look no further than this incredible no-bake chocolate orange cheesecake.
Why You’ll Love Black Charcoal Ice Cream
- No-churn recipe: You don’t need an ice cream maker to make this treat. You can just stir it together.
- Creamy and sweet: This ice cream is creamy and sweet with a hint of vanilla. It’s a cool treat to enjoy in a sundae, ice cream cone, or all by itself.
- Five ingredients: This 5-ingredient ice cream could not be simpler to make. The ingredients are mixed together and frozen in an airtight container in the freezer. It’s much easier than some other fancy vanilla ice cream recipes.
- Unique color: The activated charcoal gives this ice cream an intense black color. It doesn’t affect the flavor, but this black dessert is really stunning, especially topped with colorful sprinkles.
- A fun project: This ice cream can be a fun project to do with a friend and makes a great activity for kids! There are no knives or hot pans involved, so kids of all ages can make some homemade ice cream to enjoy on a hot summer day.
Ingredients for Black Charcoal Ice Cream
- Activated charcoal
- Whipping Cream
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
Helpful Tools
How to Make Black Charcoal Ice Cream
Step 1: Make the ice cream base.
Beat the whipping cream and activated charcoal with an electric mixer until it forms soft peaks.
In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Beat well with an electric mixer until very light in color and it has nearly doubles in volume.
Add half the egg mixture to the whipped cream and whisk together. Add the remaining egg mixture and gently fold the mixture together to combine. Make sure to be gentle and keep the mixture as airy as possible.
Step 2: Freeze the ice cream and serve.
Pour the ice cream into a Tupperware container, and seal it with the lid. Place this in the freezer for 7-8 hours to chill and set.
Serve with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry.
Substitutions for Black Charcoal Ice Cream
This spooky ice cream recipe is difficult to make substitutions for. Each ingredient is necessary for the ice cream to turn out. No-churn ice cream is delicious but requires specific ingredients and techniques to turn out properly.
However, you CAN substitute the Activated Charcoal Powder for black food coloring. This is especially important if you are on medication, as charcoal can prevent the absorption of medication.
Recipe Variations
- For chocolate charcoal ice cream, a few tablespoons of cocoa powder can be added in the first step when beating the activated charcoal and whipping cream.
- For a mint ice cream base, you can also replace the vanilla extract with peppermint extract. Almond extract would also add a nice flavor.
- Any other mix-ins that you like can be added to the ice cream to add texture and flavor. Some ideas could be:
- Crushed Oreos or other cookies you like
- Mini M&Ms
- Chopped candy bars
- Chocolate chips
- Sprinkles
- Chopped nuts
- Chopped fresh fruit
- Breakfast cereal
Tips for Making Perfect Black Charcoal Ice Cream
Be careful when folding the whipped cream into the egg mixture to keep it as airy and fluffy as possible, which will give the final product its creamy and smooth texture. It will also make it scoopable out of the freezer so it doesn’t need to thaw before enjoying.
Serving Suggestions
This ice cream would be wonderful served around Halloween with some purple, green, and orange sprinkles. It would also be great to serve at a birthday party for a kiddo who loves Batman. Serve this black ice cream in a sundae with chocolate sauce, homemade whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Or, put it on a black ice cream cone for extra pizzazz.
Storage Directions
In the freezer – This ice cream can be stored in the freezer for up to a month as long as it is kept in an airtight container.
FAQ
What is activated charcoal?
Edible activated charcoal is often made from coconut husk. It is made by heating the charcoal in the presence of a gas. This gives it lots of pockets where it can trap impurities. Activated charcoal is often used as a remedy for stomach problems as it can absorb medications or other foreign substances that can cause stomach pain. In this recipe, it is used only for its black color.
Can I use food coloring for this recipe?
Food coloring is different than activated charcoal. It takes a lot of food coloring to turn something into a very dark color. Gel food coloring is generally more powerful than liquid food dye. Using too much food coloring can also give a bitter flavor to the ice cream. If you have added dye and cannot get to the dark color you want, try heating the ice cream base on the stove for a few minutes. Heating the food dye can help it reach a true black color.
More Homemade Ice Cream Recipes to Try
Black Charcoal Ice Cream
This black charcoal ice cream is sweet, creamy, and just a little bit spooky. Also called black ash ice cream, it gets its dark color from activated charcoal.
Ingredients
- 400 ml whipping cream
- 2 tbsp activated charcoal powder food grade
- 4 eggs
- 140 g granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Beat the whipping cream and activated charcoal with an electric mixer until it forms a thick ribbon when the whisk is lifted.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and add the sugar and vanilla. Beat well with an electric mixer until the mixture forms a ribbon when the whisk is lifted and the ribbon remains on the surface of the mixture for a few seconds.
- Add half the egg mixture to the whipped cream and whisk together. Add the remaining egg mixture and gently fold the mixture together to combine. Make sure to be gentle and keep the mixture as airy as possible.
- Pour the ice cream into a Tupperware container, and seal with the lid. Place this in the freezer for 7-8 hours to chill and set.
Video
Notes
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http://www.youtube.com/pankobunny
Nutrition
Calories: 247kcalCarbohydrates: 19.2gProtein: 3.9gFat: 17.9gSaturated Fat: 10.5gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 48mgPotassium: 79mgSugar: 17.8gCalcium: 47mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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