Desserts Ice Cream + Frozen Summer

no-churn coffee ice cream with cacao nibs

Coffee No-Churn Ice Cream with Cacao Nibs

Six years ago this August I was sitting on the Great Wall of China. It’s a significant memory to me: climbing and climbing, leaving the sweltering humidity behind and slowly making my way toward blue sky and high towers. Adam was with me, along with two of his Chinese students, Fran and Jack*.

We spent the day there, walking and climbing, sitting and staring. I remember taking a break on crumbled steps, my mind’s eye sharp and clear. Breathing hard and enchanted by my first journey in the mountains, I was reminded of all the lives I was sitting on: lives given to the endless project of the boundless Wall. Yet here we were, crawling all over the stone, taking pretty pictures for our scrapbooks. My unconscious was shaken with how easily beauty and sorrow dance together. What odd partners they are, and how terrible or joyous when they switch off leading.

Our drive home was silent; we were crazy-tired and soaked with sweat. The subject of dinner came up; we were hungry, too, and while we debated where to stop Fran mentioned in passing the three things she hated most to eat: coffee, dairy, and chocolate.

I was shocked, and all my musings and soon-to-be journal entries flitted away as I thought of life without the better part of my diet. We laughed at our varied food cultures, and I told her when she came to visit I would change her mind.

She never came to us, but I think of her often, climbing the tremendous Wall near me, a faithful friend and guide from our first hello.

I am certain this ice cream would have convinced her to think differently about her three least favorite foods – a deep coffee flavor that is tamed slightly by the cream, and chocolate at it’s purest form: crunchy, bitter cacao nibs subtly mellowed by the sweet milk.

Dear Fran, this is for you. If there is ever a time to eat together, I hope this would persuade you otherwise about my beloved treats. But even if not, I would thank you for your sincere friendship and unassuming kindness that brought beauty and insight to our climb.

*Fran and Jack refused to let us call them by their Chinese names, so I only knew them by their chosen American names.

Coffee No-Churn Ice Cream with Cacao Nibs

Coffee No-Churn Ice Cream with Cacao Nibs

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 6 hours
Coffee is a great ingredient to use in this no-churn ice cream; its bitter flavor is tamed by the milk, but in turn, it helps cut the sweetness.
Sarah Kieffer
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • One 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk [396 g]
  • 1/2 cup strong coffee, room temperature [120 g]
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanila extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature [57 g]
  • 2 cups heavy cream [480 g]
  • 1/3 cup cacao nibs [38 g]

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk the sweetened condensed milk, coffee, vanilla, and salt until completely combined.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk, beat the cream cheese on medium until smooth. Turn the mixer to low and add the heavy cream in a slow steady stream, mixing until combined. Increase the speed to medium-high and whisk until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add half the whipped cream mixture to the sweetened condensed milk mixture and whisk until completely combined. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the remaining whipped cream mixture until no streaks remain. Stir in the cacao nibs. Pour into a 9 in [23 cm] loaf pan or Pullman pan with a lid and freeze until firm, 6 hours or, covered, up to 1 week.

Notes

Pouring a shot of hot espresso over the top of this ice cream after it’s been scooped into a bowl is never a bad idea.
  • Reply
    Olivia
    Monday, August 9, 2021 at 4:36 pm

    Hi! Is there anything to substitute for the cream cheese?? Would love love to try this recipe out. it just not the biggest fan of cream cheese!

  • Reply
    Arla
    Friday, July 16, 2021 at 2:11 pm

    How long can you store this in the freezer?!

  • Reply
    Arla
    Friday, July 16, 2021 at 2:11 pm

    Hi! How long can you keep this stored in the freezer?!

  • Reply
    Sandra Mort
    Monday, June 29, 2015 at 3:14 pm

    I made a batch of this with some alterations.

    – First, I used the seeds from half a vanilla bean because I don’t have any extract. I have to remember to pick up some booze for it.
    – Second, I used mini dark chocolate chips instead of cocoa nibs.
    – Third, I was using semi frozen cream, so it didn’t come to the peaks properly. I was concerned about accidentally making butter, so I just dumped the coffee mixture into the kitchenaid bowl and beat them together. Actually, some of the recipes mixed the stuff together to start with and I think I’ll try that next time to save time.
    – Lastly, I think my cold press was too weak because the final result wasn’t very strongly flavored. I’ll have to remember that for next time.

  • Reply
    jenny
    Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 7:14 am

    i just made it now, with an ice-cream maker, and let me tell you: it’s perfect! for those who wander about using the machine, you simply mix everything — no need to whip the cream — and put it in the ice-cream maker. thanks a LOT for a perfect flavor and texture! will be coming back to this one time and time again…:)

  • Reply
    April
    Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Do you think this would work with coconut milk/cream?

  • Reply
    hermes bag outlet
    Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 9:01 am

    wow. it’s really a good contribution to us guys not good at icecream, you know i did some cakes before but the taste it’s not good, then i quit, so if you have interesting, you can load to coco chanel online

    visit my new make up, give me your advice, Thanks!

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    Monday, November 5, 2012 at 3:31 am

    Im going to make this for my mom she loves coffee so does my dad for this recipe do you have to use cacao nibs for it to work

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    Monday, June 4, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    You need a pintrest button! Just made the ice cream and it tasted good pre-frozen. We’ll see how it turns out in about 6 hours! 🙂

  • Reply
    EagleGreen
    Monday, April 23, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    Hi! First time I’ve visited you/your blog, and WOW! What a gift. Thank you so much. Now, I have to do a hard-climbing, sweaty trek to work off the calories! It’s worth it–I’ll make it again!

  • Reply
    thelittleloaf
    Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    You’re back! I’ve missed your gorgeous recipes 🙂

    I’ve yet to make one of your no churn ice creams as I’m obsessed with my ice cream maker, but I really want to give one a go as they all look so delicious. Plus anything with condensed milk in gets my vote.

    I’m not a coffee drinker, but I love the flavour in ice creams, granita and other desserts so this looks right up my street, plus the crunch of the cacao nibs would be utterly wonderful. Love.

  • Reply
    Russell at Chasing Delicious
    Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    How cool is this recipe! And what a scrumptious recipe. I am definitely making this soon – I love all things coffee.

    • Reply
      vanilla bean blog
      Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 1:54 am

      Thanks Russell! I hope you like it. I’m addicted.

  • Reply
    ilana freddye
    Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 5:31 pm

    I can’t wait to try all this no churn ice cream out when I get home this summer. My dad is going to love love love this coffee one.

  • Reply
    Ladies Holiday
    Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    yay- you’re here! what a lovely story…this looks like it will be fun for hte kids to help with too.

  • Reply
    Sacha
    Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 2:49 am

    The ice cream looks fantastic. I only drink tea. My coffee consumption comes exclusively in the form of ice cream and desserts, which I love! But as good as the ice cream sounds, that story was what drew me in. Just lovely.

    • Reply
      vanilla bean blog
      Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 1:54 am

      Thanks Sacha. I always appreciate your encouragement. It means so much – I love your storytelling, too.

  • Reply
    kale @ tastes good to me!
    Monday, April 2, 2012 at 2:44 am

    Aww, I love the inspiration for this gorgeous ice cream!

  • Reply
    Elaina @ Flavour
    Monday, April 2, 2012 at 2:34 am

    What a beautiful memory to match such a beautiful post….I absolutely love your poetry attached to every post. You are an inspiration….stunning photography as well! xo

  • Reply
    Kaitlin
    Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    Fantastic post! I love recipes inspired by friends. Very sweet of you 🙂

    • Reply
      vanilla bean blog
      Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 1:52 am

      Thanks Kaitlin! I love when friends inspire good things, too.

  • Reply
    Dilovely
    Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    YUM! That sounds like my ideal way to have coffee.

  • Reply
    my little celebration
    Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Love this.

  • Reply
    london bakes
    Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    I’m not a great coffee fan either but I think this could probably turn me too. I love the idea of homemade ice creams but there’s no room in my tiny kitchen for an ice cream maker so I’m really excited to see a delicious looking ice cream that involves minimal effort. Beautiful, as ever.

    • Reply
      vanilla bean blog
      Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 1:52 am

      Thanks Kathryn. I heart this recipe so much – so easy. We are eating too much ice cream here because of it.

  • Reply
    vanillasugarblog
    Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    you know when it’s 1000 degrees out and you want a less-laborious ice cream–this is it.

    • Reply
      vanilla bean blog
      Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 1:51 am

      Yes! I love this easy recipe. It’s all I make now. 🙂

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