Date Sweetened Ice Cream Cherry Chocolate Chunk

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Creamy black cherry chocolate chunk ice cream is a date sweetened ice cream made with sweet cherries, chunks of dark or milk chocolate, date syrup, and heavy cream. It’s beautiful, delicious and will make all your summer dreams come true!

hand holding ice cream cone

We are in the middle of summer as I write this, and I am just loving this season! Yes, there are some really hot days here in Eastern Washington when I just want to hunker down inside and stay cool. But there is so much to love about the sunshine and heat because it means it’s growing season.

I’ve been busy harvesting and dehydrating herbs from my garden. I’ve also been busy freezing and canning fruit from our local farmers. I mentioned in this post that we enjoy picking blueberries every summer, usually multiple times each season.

I also love to buy already-picked fruit from local farms. Right now, I’m working through 40 pounds of sweet Bing cherries. I canned 32 pints the other day and froze a couple of trays for chocolate cherry smoothie bowls.

But part of the magic of the summer season is enjoying the fruit when it’s fresh off the tree. With boxes of sweet cherries on my counter, I was inspired to create an ice cream recipe my husband would approve of. He’s a huge fan of chocolate cherry ice cream, chocolate-covered-cherries, maraschino cherries…pretty much all the sweet cherry creations you can think of.

Why I Like Date Sweetened Ice Cream:

This ice cream is sweetened using date syrup. I have another ice cream recipe which is sweetened by making a homemade date paste using pitted dates and a few other ingredients . Date syrup is definitely less time-intensive. I love using natural sweeteners whenever possible in my recipes. From dates to raw honey, pure maple syrup to molasses, bananas to pumpkin puree, there are many pure sweeteners to be found.

Are natural sweeteners better?

Natural sweeteners are healthier than conventional sugar and artificial sweeteners because they contain some nutritional benefits such as vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and certain minerals. Honey is even a superfood. Artificial sweeteners on the other hand may have side effects ranging from headaches to mood disorders. Refined sugar isn’t healthy either and eating too much can cause a multitude of health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Tips for Black Cherry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream:

  • Place the ice cream maker bowl into the freezer to chill at least 24 hours before making ice cream.
  • If you don’t have a blender, you can mix the ice cream base with a whisk, stand mixer, or beaters.
  • Add an additional two hours after churning the ice cream to let it freeze if you would like a harder, scoopable ice cream.
  • For a healthier, lower sugar option, use darker chocolate and look for chocolate bars sweetened with stevia or other natural sugar.

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Ingredients:

Fresh or frozen sweet cherries, such as the Bing variety

Date syrup

Lemon juice

Heavy cream

Half and half

Vanilla extract

Sea salt

Chocolate chunks

Tools You May Need:

Ice Cream Maker

Blender

Fine mesh strainer

3 ice cream cones with date sweetened black cherry chocolate chunk ice cream

How to Make Date Sweetened Ice Cream:

Freeze bowl

Place the ice cream maker bowl into the freezer to chill at least 24 hours before making ice cream.

Cherry sauce

Add the 2 cups whole cherries, date syrup, and lemon juice to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower temperature to medium-low so it remains at a low simmer. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring often so it doesn’t burn, or until the cherries soften and the sauce begins to thicken.

Separate the cherry sauce from the cooked cherries using a fine mesh strainer. Save both the cherry sauce and the cherries in separate bowls. Set cherry sauce aside to cool for 10 minutes. Place cherries in the refrigerator for later in the process.

Ice cream base

In a blender, combine the cherry sauce, heavy cream, half and half, vanilla, and salt. Blend on high until completely mixed and smooth. Place the blender jar into the refrigerator and let chill for at least 2 hours.

Churn ice cream

Add the chilled ice cream mixture to the chilled ice cream maker bowl. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to churn the ice cream. During the last 5 minutes of churning, add the cooked cherries, fresh cherries, and chocolate chunks to the bowl. Let mix in completely. The ice cream will be soft and creamy when ready. 

Freeze (optional)

If you would like a firmer ice cream that can be scooped, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for about 2 hours.

black cherry chocolate chunk ice cream cone

More Summer Inspired Recipes:

If you make this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars!

Black Cherry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Black Cherry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes

Creamy black cherry chocolate chunk ice cream is a date sweetened ice cream made with sweet cherries, chunks of dark or milk chocolate, date syrup, and heavy cream. It's beautiful, delicious and will make all your summer dreams come true!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cherries, pitted & whole
  • ⅔ cup date syrup
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chunks or chips
  • ½ cup fresh cherries, pitted and chopped

Instructions

    1. Place the ice cream maker bowl into the freezer to chill at least 24 hours before making ice cream.

    2. Add the 2 cups whole cherries, date syrup, and lemon juice to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower temperature to medium-low so it remains at a low simmer. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring often so it doesn’t burn, or until the cherries soften and the sauce begins to thicken.

    3. Separate the cherry sauce from the cooked cherries using a fine mesh strainer. Save both the cherry sauce and the cherries in separate bowls. Set cherry sauce aside to cool for 10 minutes. Place cherries in the refrigerator for later in the process.

    4. In a blender, combine the cherry sauce, heavy cream, half and half, vanilla, and salt. Blend on high until completely mixed and smooth. Place the blender jar into the refrigerator and let chill for at least 2 hours.

    5. Add the chilled ice cream mixture to the chilled ice cream maker bowl. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to churn the ice cream. During the last 5 minutes of churning, add the cooked cherries, fresh cherries, and chocolate chunks to the bowl. Let mix in completely. The ice cream will be soft and creamy when ready. 

    6. If you would like a firmer ice cream that can be scooped, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for about 2 hours.

Notes

  • Place the ice cream maker bowl into the freezer to chill at least 24 hours before making ice cream.
  • If you don't have a blender, you can mix the ice cream base with a whisk, stand mixer, or beaters.

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