Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Recipe

If you’re ready to experience pure joy in a scoop, it’s time to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream at home. Imagine luscious, ultra-creamy vanilla ice cream generously studded with chewy, buttery cookie dough bites and ribbons of melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. The flavors dance between sweet, creamy, and chocolaty, with pockets of biscuit-like goodness that truly feel like a celebration in every bite. And the best part? You can recreate this classic frozen dessert right in your own kitchen, with no fancy equipment or advanced skills required. It’s a crowd-pleaser that comes together easily, making it the perfect treat to whip up for those hectic weeknights, spontaneous get-togethers, or anytime you want to indulge your inner child.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a rundown of what you need, including why each ingredient has an important role in making this ice cream reach legendary status.

For the Ice Cream Base

• Whole Milk: Lays down a creamy, smooth foundation.
• Heavy Cream: Adds indulgent richness and that scoopable texture you want in every ice cream.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the base and helps with a silky consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings in warm, aromatic flavor—never skip the real stuff if you can help it.
• Egg Yolks: These are the secret to a custard base, creating an ultra-luxurious, creamy result.
• Semisweet Chocolate: Used for chocolate flakes that add snap and flavor contrast. Choose high-quality chocolate for best results.
• Canola Oil: Mixed with melted chocolate for easy drizzling, creating thin, crackly chocolate ribbons.

For the Cookie Dough

• Unsalted Butter: Provides melt-in-your-mouth texture; use room temperature for easy mixing.
• Light Brown Sugar: Delivers caramel-like flavor, making each bite taste just like classic cookie dough.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances the sweetness and improves texture.
• Heavy Cream: Gives moisture and helps create a creamy dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Essential for authentic cookie dough flavor.
• Salt: Rounds out the flavors, ensuring the dough isn’t overly sweet.
• All-purpose Flour: Use heat-treated flour if you prefer to eat raw dough worry-free.
• Mini Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Ideal size for snacking and mixing, giving those unmistakable bursts of chocolate.

Variations

There’s no wrong way to enjoy cookie dough ice cream. If you love to improvise, here are some easy swaps and creative twists:

• Chocolate Swaps: Use dark, milk, or even white chocolate in the drizzle or the dough.
• Add Nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts in the dough add crunch.
• Flavored Bases: Stir in a spoonful of instant espresso, caramel extract, or almond essence to the custard for a new dimension.
• Gluten-Free: Substitute your favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free flour in the dough.
• Dairy-Free: Go with plant-based milks and coconut cream, plus vegan butter, to keep it creamy for everyone.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Step 1: Make the Ice Cream Custard

Set a medium mixing bowl over an ice bath (this is key for quick cooling). In a saucepan, heat the milk, cream, and most of the sugar until steamy—not boiling. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and remaining sugar. Temper the yolks by slowly adding some hot milk, whisking continuously, then pour it all back into the pot.

Cook gently, stirring, until the mix thickens slightly—just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat immediately and transfer to your prepared bowl over ice. Cool for about 10 minutes, then stir in the vanilla. Pop it into the fridge, covered, and chill until completely cold—at least 4 hours or overnight is ideal.

Step 2: Prepare the Cookie Dough

In a mixer, cream together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in the heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Gradually add in the flour (heat-treated, if desired), mix just to combine, then fold in the mini chocolate chips. Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes. Once set, roll or scoop into small, bite-sized balls. Freeze these, so they hold their shape when stirred into the ice cream.

Step 3: Melt the Chocolate

Just before you’re ready to churn, melt the semisweet chocolate over simmering water. Add the canola oil and stir until smooth. Pour into a zip-top bag and set aside.

Step 4: Churn and Assemble

Churn your custard base in your ice cream maker until it’s the consistency of thick whipped cream. With the machine running, snip a small hole in the chocolate bag and drizzle it in, creating delicate chocolate ribbons.

Once the ice cream resembles soft serve, gently fold in the frozen cookie dough balls. Transfer everything to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze until firm—about 3 hours.

How to Serve

Serve this ice cream in a bowl, a cone, or—if you’re living your best life—topped with extra cookie dough bites and a drizzle of warm chocolate sauce. It pairs deliciously with brownies, sandwiched between cookies, or enjoyed straight from the container (no judgment). Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a gourmet touch, or pile on whipped cream for an all-out treat.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover ice cream tightly covered in the freezer, where it will keep for up to two weeks. The cookie dough chunks stay soft, and the chocolate ribbons remain snappy—no sad, icy leftovers here.

Freezing

For best results, freeze freshly made ice cream for at least 3 hours (or overnight) before scooping. If planning ahead, prepare the cookie dough up to two days in advance and keep it frozen until ready to use.

Reheating

Well, you won’t really “reheat” ice cream, but if it’s too hard straight from the freezer, leave it on the counter for 5–10 minutes to soften just enough for perfect scooping.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about a scoop of homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream—the way it balances creamy vanilla, bits of sweet, raw-ish dough, and crackling chocolate flecks is pure happiness. Not only is it simple and quick enough for a weeknight, but it’s sure to bring a smile to anyone lucky enough to get a scoop. Give this recipe a try; there’s every chance it will become your favorite family tradition for years to come. Enjoy every decadent, blissful bite!

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