Nutella Ice Cream

This homemade Nutella ice cream recipe is candy for your eyes as well as your tastebuds. Notes of milk chocolate and hazelnut combine with punchy blackberry ripple sauce in this divine creation.

This recipe was first published in June 2016 and updated in April 2022 with fresh photos and a frequently asked questions section.

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What do you get if you cross Nutella ice cream with blackberry ripple ice cream? Only one of the best fruit and chocolate combinations around in frozen form.

And the good news is that this spectacular Nutella ice cream recipe can be made with or without an ice cream maker.

This fruit rippled version of homemade Nutella ice cream is fun yet sophisticated, with a flavour no right-minded adult or child could refuse. Treat yourself to a scoop and head to your favourite sunny spot.

Why this Nutella ice cream is so good

What makes this Nutella chocolate ice cream so good is all down to the combination of flavours involved:

• Milk chocolate – using Nutella in place of chocolate means that this ice cream is not too richly flavoured with chocolate. In fact, it’s brazenly easy-going – think of the subtlest, creamiest milk chocolate ice cream and you’ll be on track.
• Hints of hazelnuts – they’re lingering, for your tasting pleasure.
• Fruity – rippled through this lovable chocolate base is a sweet, sharp & vibrant blackberry sauce which really does liven up the base flavour of this homemade Nutella ice cream.
• Creaminess – clotted cream replaces double cream to create an ice cream that is disarmingly rich – and doesn’t clotted cream ice cream with Nutella just sound like a fantastic creation?

Technically, you could leave out the blackberry ripple for a straight Nutella ice cream recipe. But that dark & fruity purple streak adds a blast of tart refreshment and it also makes this ice cream especially easy on the eye.

Ingredients notes

There are only 6 ingredients needed to make this easy Nutella ice cream recipe, so let’s take a wander through them.

Nutella: this is arguably the most well-known chocolate and hazelnut cream around. Conceived by Ferrero in 1964 it’s a seemingly universally popular sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread. Feel free to substitute other chocolate and hazelnut spreads in its place if desired.

Egg yolks: these not only help to thicken the custard base, but they also add richness and smoothness to your ice cream. Generally speaking, the more egg yolks are used, the richer and creamier the ice cream will be.

Milk: always use whole (full fat) milk – this is intentionally a full-on creamy ice cream affair.

Clotted Cream: this has the highest fat content of all creams, at around 55% minimum. This is a decadent, luxury ingredient that lends superior creaminess to this homemade Nutella ice cream. You can use double cream for a slightly less rich version if you prefer (or if you struggle to find clotted cream).

Sugar: this ingredient plays 3 important roles in ice cream making. Of course, it helps to sweeten it, but sugar also adds body and helps to keep the ice cream soft. Use white caster sugar in this ice cream recipe.

Blackberries: these deliciously tangy berries are the ideal partner to the creamy chocolate ice cream in this recipe. You can use fresh or frozen berries.

Confession: I have certain food obsessions stemming from cherished memories – clotted cream is one of them. It always makes me think of a dear friend who I’ve known since I was six years old. She used to take me for days out in Derbyshire, sometimes indulging me in a cream tea. Crazy little thing that I was back then, I’d pass up the tea in favour of a glass of ice-cold milk – heavens!

Step-by-step instructions

There is nothing too complicated about making this Nutella chocolate ice cream but, like all quality ice cream recipes, it takes a few steps and a little time. There are 3 stages:

1. Prepare & chill the blackberry sauce.
2. Make & chill the custard base.
3. Churning.

This Nutella ice cream can be churned using an ice cream machine or by hand. I’m giving instructions for both methods – hurrah.

Make the Blackberry Sauce

1. Put the blackberries and sugar into a small saucepan and cook gently, stirring frequently, until the blackberries begin to break down. Keep on cooking until the fruit looks thick and jammy.
2. Push the sauce through a sieve to remove the seeds. Discard the seeds.
3. Allow the sauce to cool completely, then cover and chill.

Make the Custard

4. Heat the milk in a medium-sized pan to just below boiling.
5. Meanwhile beat the sugar and egg yolks with an electric beater until pale and thick (about 3 minutes).
6. Gradually pour the hot milk onto the egg mixture, beating constantly.
7. Pour the custard into the saucepan and cook on a low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. It is vital to heat slowly and stir constantly to avoid the custard splitting.
8. Once the mixture coats the back of a spoon, take off the heat and beat in the Nutella.
9. Cover with a layer of clingfilm (to stop a skin forming), let cool, then chill for 4 hours (or overnight).
10. Beat in the clotted cream (or double cream) until relatively smooth – a few small lumps don’t matter (you can sieve the liquid to remove any lumps if desired).

Churning by Machine

If you are lucky enough to own an ice cream maker, follow the method that follows. If you intend to make it by hand, fear not, this is also possible. Scroll to the next section for your relevant instructions.

• Pour the custard into the ice cream maker and churn until the ice cream is the consistency of soft serve.
• Working quickly, transfer ⅓ of the ice cream into a freezer-proof container and spoon ⅓ of the blackberry sauce on top. Add another ⅓ of the custard & blackberry sauce and then a final layer.
• Use a skewer or a blunt knife to swirl the ice cream and sauce together to achieve a rippled effect.
• Cover with clingfilm and freeze until set.
• Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.

Churning by Hand

• Pour the ice cream into a suitable freezer-proof bowl, cover and put it in the freezer for 1-1 ½ hours. The sides should be beginning to freeze, but the centre will be soft and slushy.
• Remove from the freezer and, working quickly, use electric beaters to beat the ice cream until the ice crystals are uniform. Cover and place back in the freezer.
• Repeat this process 4-6 more time at ¾ – 1 hour intervals. Once the ice cream has reached the soft-serve consistency you are ready to swirl through the blackberry sauce.
• Spoon ⅓ of the ice cream into a clean container and dollop ⅓ of the blackberry sauce on top. Add another ⅓ of custard followed by another ⅓ blackberry sauce and then a final layer.
• Using a skewer or a blunt knife swirl the ice cream and sauce together to achieve a rippled effect.
• Cover with clingfilm and freeze until set.
• Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.

Expert tips

• Making the components one day and churning them the next day is my favourite way to make any ice cream. That way I can be sure that everything is well chilled before it goes into the ice cream machine.
• And don’t forget to freeze the ice cream machine bowl sufficiently if your make of machine requires this step. Check your manual for the recommended time – the bowl from my churner needs to be in the freezer for a minimum of 24 hours before it’s ready to use.
• Turn on the motor of the ice cream churner before pouring in the liquid. The bowl is extremely cold so any liquid that comes into contact with it and doesn’t get agitated immediately will freeze firm.
• If you are churning your homemade Nutella ice cream by hand then set a timer to ensure you don’t forget about it and don’t skimp on the amount of times you beat it. Regular attention will ensure your ice cream is as creamy as expected. Simply leaving it to freeze with minimal beating will lead to an icy texture that will not be pleasant to eat.
• Don’t take too long when layering up the ice cream and blackberry ripple – the ice cream will soon turn very soft, so working at a speedy pace is essential.
• A layer of greaseproof paper over the top of the ice cream, once it’s ready for the freezer, helps protect the top from freezer burn and ice crystals.
• To make a version suitable for nut-allergy sufferers swap the Nutella spread for a straight chocolate spread made without nuts.
• This ice cream is vegetarian and gluten-free. It is not, however suitable for a vegan diet.

Frequently asked questions

Variations

Should you ever find your senses tiring of the dizzy wonder that is this homemade Nutella ice cream recipe try the following suggestions for livening things up:

• Raspberries: swap the blackberries for raspberries – just make a like-for-like substitution.
• Omit the fruit: leave it out to create a gorgeously smooth and creamy Nutella chocolate ice cream.
• Ferrero Rocher: chop up 8-10 Ferrero Rocher chocolates and layer them in to make a chunky version of this Nutella chocolate ice cream.
• Kinder Bueno: or go really child friendly with the addition of Kinder Bueno instead.
• Hazelnuts: add in 60g of finely chopped hazelnuts for more grown-up palates.

More sumptuous ice cream recipes to try:

If you have tried this easy Nutella ice cream recipe please give it a rating or leave a comment – I love to hear how my readers get along with my creations.

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