chocolate hazelnut ice cream
Chocolate and hazelnut is definitely one of the best food combinations on the planet. I’ve tried it in Nutella, pralines, cakes, tarts and now… ice cream – and I absolutely love it. This ice cream invention of mine was first discovered by complete random. I was making a chocolate hazelnut tart to celebrate my friend visiting me before she left on her travels to Thailand for the month. I made the tart similarly to a raw cheesecake, and moved it into the freezer to speed up its setting time. After leaving it for a couple of hours, I removed it from the freezer, took a taste and instantly realised how perfect it would be as an ice cream! It was definitely one of my favourite foodie discoveries I’ve had all year.
When all of the chocolate tart had been eaten, I read over my recipe notes and decided to transform it into an ice-cream. I simplified down the ingredients, changed some of the quantities and began experimenting. The final recipe is actually really simple. All it requires is some dates, water, rice milk, salt, hazelnut butter and cocoa powder. Then, you just need to blend them all together until smooth, pour the mixture into a container and wait patiently for it to set – and there’s no churning or ice cream maker necessary!!! Hooray!
The only struggle I had when making this was waiting for it to set. I did find myself going in and out of the freezer, taking mini spoonfuls of the mixture and trying it before it was firm.. Oops. It’s creamy ‘Nutella’ flavour is something I really can’t resist, so I ended up continuously going back to the tub for more. For the hazelnut taste, I recommend using a smooth Hazelnut butter like Biona’s, or one you’ve made at home. I always use Biona’s as I love their brand, and their butter has a really smooth and creamy taste.
Also – when I make this recipe, I tend to do it in the evening and leave it overnight to set. But, if you’re making it in the day I suggest you leave it for at least a good 5 hours. Then, when it’s set I like to leave it for a few minutes outside of the freezer to soften up before serving. This makes it easier to scoop – and it’s great if you like the taste of slightly melted/softer ice-cream like I do.
Even though this recipe is no churn and made so differently to regular ice cream, it’s surprising just how similar it is to a traditional version! I really hope you enjoy it!
chocolate hazelnut ice cream
serves about 5-6
ingredients
2/3 cup (130g) pitted dates
1 cup (250ml) rice milk
2/3 cup (160ml) boiling water
1/3 cup (40g) cocoa powder
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp (145g) hazelnut butter
1/4 tsp salt
method
1. Firstly, add the dates, rice milk and water into a blender and blend together until smooth. Then, add in the cocoa powder, hazelnut butter and salt and blend again until completely smooth.
2. When this is done, pour the mixture into a tupperware dish or loaf tin – I just used a standard long plastic lunchbox. Move the ice-cream into the freezer to set for at least 5 hours/overnight. Then, remove it from the freezer, leave for a couple of minutes to soften, scoop and serve.
This is so simple and it looks divine, Harriet! Don’t you just love it when you create a recipe by accident. 🙂
Oh my, this looks incredible! And those photos are gorgeous!!
This looks amazing! Two of my absolute favorites. I need to try this immediately!
Just to make sure that I understood everything right: No ice cream maker needed? I’m in love then 🙂
my mouth is watering looking at this ice cream Harriet! looks so good!!
This looks so yummy!
Yessssss this looks SO good! I could go for a giant bowl of this (especially since it’s supposed to be over 90F here today!). Oh, and I love that spoon, so cute!
This looks TOO good! Love ice cream – especially when it is pretty much guilt free like this one!
Waiting for this bad boy to set…I don’t think so! Hahaha! TOO good!
Give me anything chocolate and I’ll devour it. I can’t believe you created this recipe by accident Harriet. Love it.
Some of my best recipes are the result of accidents too, haha! This looks divine and of course you already know how much I love chocolate AND ice cream!! I’ve been eating my sweet potato chocolate ice cream more than I even care to admit! I also love hazelnuts. I don’t love the taste of them on their own, they are too strong, but they are fantastic mixed with cinnamon and I also make some super fudgy chocolate brownies with hazlenut butter. Great simple recipe Harriet!
I am going to have to try this! Thanks for the great recipe!
Will you just LOOK at that colour! So amazing! This looks truly scrumptious!
This ice cream looks so so good, Harriet! So creamy and chocolate-y! I don’t blame you for picking at it from the freezer. I also love that it doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. What a lovely idea and creation you made here!
This is one of the best vegan ice cream recipes I’ve ever seen, srs! Bravooo!
Oh my gosh chocolate and hazelnut is DEFINITELY one of the best combinations ever. And you weren’t kidding with how simple it is too – bonus points! As if you need more points when talking chocolate and hazelnut 😉
Yum. yum. and yum. I make my own nutella from time to time, but turning it into an ice cream hasn’t occurred to me — brilliant. And love the recipe too. Don’t think I could wait for a nutella ice cream to set that long either 🙂
I’ve been into ice cream making these last few days too {I think I’m on day 5 of different ice creams here — the hot weather is really inspiring me 🙂 Haven’t made nutella, though I did make something quite similar — I can just imagine how good your ice cream is!
Hazelnut and chocolate has to be one my favourite flavour combinations.. so I definitely am craving a good scoop or two of this ice cream right now. It looks super rich, dark, creamy and delicious. Yum.
This looks amazing, Harriet!! I can’t believe that the recipe is this simple. I’ll have to try this!! 🙂
I love how healthy you made this Harriett! And even though the ingredient list is so different to the one for ice cream – these scoops look so tempting!
this ice cream is just gorgeous. . and yes, ice cream always seems to test your patience huh? Esp when it looks like this! wow-za! so beautiful! is the rice milk dairy free?
Why does this remind me of a frozen Rocher? And I absolutely love it. I definitely have to make this when my ice cream maker comes in. This looks delicious.
Kia / House of KTS
http://www.houseofkts.com
Girl, you had my attention at chocolate, haha! I cannot wait to try this recipe, Harriet! It looks so simple and I love the fact that it has wholesome ingredients AND that it’s no-churn! You are a genius! I love chocolate anything and the fact that it tastes like Nutella, but has no dairy is a big win in my book! Thank you so much for sharing all of your yummy creations!!
Chocolate + hazelnut is such a good combo, totally agree! haha I laughed at you not being able to wait for it to set – I have that same problem 🙂 Looks wonderful!!
oh my gosh! I can not believe that’s all there is for ingredients in this! I am definitely going to try this it looks AMAZING! 😉
Chocolate and hazelnut is the ultimate combo! I love that it’s no churn and made with such wholesome ingredients. I wouldn’t be able to resist sneaking spoonfuls of this too! It looks fantastic!
Yeah, it does remind me of Nutella, but I’m sure this ice cream tastes a lot better! Love it! Would love to try it by the end of the summer!
Yumm!! It look so delicious and pretty!!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
I love love love the combination of hazelnut and chocolate!!!! And in no churn ice cream? Done.
That looks insanely good. I don’t think I could stop at just one bowl though 😉
This pretty much sounds like the best ice cream, Harriet! I absolutely love this! I purposely don’t buy Nutella since I end up eating it with just a spoon, but I think I would make an exception with this ice cream. Love the rich color and flavor!
This ice cream looks incredible, Harriet! Chocolate+hazelnut, wow! Love how healthy and heavenly this ice cream is. So full of awesome stuff! Would try this soon!
Your ice cream looks so creamy and divine that I can’t believe it’s even healthy and good for you too.
Best photo ever, Harriet Emily! Oh, does that look amazing. And as a bone fide Nutella fan, I can only imagine how great this ice cream is!
Oh my yes, hazelnuts are bomb! And this ice cream looks seriously divine. That deep rich chocolate color and the hazelnut butter & date combo has me mindblown. Gorgeous job!
This looks amazing and sounds so simple to make. I like the use of dates instead of sugar. Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://www.mintnotion.com
I am so in love with it! Another shot of my no churn chocolate hazelnut ice cream!
Thank you for looking out for those of us who don’t have ice-cream makers! 😛 This looks sooo good. I’ll have to drizzle mine with some Nutella for a little boost 😉 -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
Yuuuuummmm, I would just die to eat this.
xo Sheree
http://poshclassymom.com
IG: @poshclassymom
Nutella in the form of ice cream, what’s not to love! 😀 I like that you used dates to sweeten. Definitely need to try this 🙂
Wow, the ingredients are really completely different from what I imagine ice cream to be made of! Beautiful photos as well. Btw I also do this nip eating until the ice cream, chocolate or whatever it is what I have in the fridge is empty. Sweet stuff in my flat doesn’t last long 😀
I just want to clarify the instructions- you put HOT water into the blender? Thanks, this recipe sounds divine, and I cant wait to try it.
Hi Dana, yes I did put hot water in there 🙂 I hope you enjoy the recipe! Thank you!
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