This Paleo Death By Chocolate Ice Cream is luxuriously rich, creamy, and irresistibly chocolatey. With just seven ingredients and a little hands-on time, you get a dessert that tastes indulgent while remaining dairy-free, naturally sweetened, and gluten-free.
This recipe started as a request from my sister and quickly became one of her favorites. It features three forms of chocolate—cacao powder, chopped dark chocolate, and chocolate chips—so every bite is intensely chocolatey. The texture is smooth and creamy, and the flavor reminds me of a fudgesicle: familiar, comforting, and just a little nostalgic.
The sweetness is balanced—not overly sugary or cloying—so a serving is satisfying without being overwhelming. It’s easy to enjoy a full bowl, and it’s just as lovely straight from the ice cream maker in a soft-serve consistency as it is fully frozen.
Eggs for a creamy ice cream
I used egg yolks in this version to create a velvety texture. If you usually make egg-free ice creams, don’t worry—tempering the yolks is straightforward. Warm the milk mixture, whisk a few spoonfuls into the yolks to temper them, then slowly add the yolks back into the pan. Heat just until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon so the eggs are fully cooked and safe to eat.
After cooling and chilling, churn the base. My favorite moment is the soft-serve stage right out of the ice cream maker—creamy, scoopable, and impossible to resist.
Coconut free option
Many readers ask for coconut-free recipes. Coconut milk and cream make excellent ice cream because of their fat content, but this recipe uses high-fat almond milk for a coconut-free, dairy-free base. Use a rich almond milk (not the very watery, low-calorie varieties) to avoid icy texture. If you prefer or tolerate coconut, full-fat canned coconut milk will work and will likely yield an even creamier result.
Dairy-free chocolate choices
Use dairy-free dark chocolate and chips to keep the recipe fully dairy-free. Many brands offer excellent options—chopped dark chocolate or dairy-free mini chips both melt and mix into the base beautifully, adding texture and pockets of intense chocolate throughout the ice cream.
If you enjoy this recipe, you might also like other dairy-free paleo ice creams such as Paleo Chocolate Almond Butter Ice Cream, Paleo Pumpkin Ice Cream, and Paleo Strawberry Ice Cream. This recipe is straightforward, delicious, and a great way to satisfy chocolate cravings without dairy or gluten.
Paleo Death By Chocolate Ice Cream
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Ingredients
- 4 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 3 ½ cups almond milk (use a high-fat variety)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2.5 oz chopped dark chocolate*
- ½ cup dairy-free mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Make sure your ice cream maker bowl has been frozen for at least 24 hours before starting.
- Place egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk; set aside.
- In a medium saucepan combine almond milk, maple syrup, and cacao powder. Whisk over medium heat until fully combined. Stir constantly and heat until the mixture is almost boiling, about 5 minutes.
- Temper the yolks: while whisking the yolks, add spoonfuls of the warm milk mixture (about 1 cup) to the yolks to raise their temperature gradually. Then slowly pour the tempered yolks back into the saucepan, whisking continuously. Cook until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and chopped chocolate until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until well chilled, at least 3 hours.
- Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Churning may take about 10–15 minutes. Stir in the mini chips at the end if using.
- Prepare a loaf pan lined with parchment paper while the ice cream churns. Transfer churned ice cream to the pan and freeze until firm—overnight is best. Or enjoy immediately as soft serve. If fully frozen, allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before scooping.
Notes:
Nutrition Information
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