If you’ve ever fallen under the spell of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream, you understand the magic of sweet and tart cherries mingling with rich dark chocolate in a creamy vanilla base. This beloved flavor, famously named after Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, was the first ice cream flavor ever named after a rock musician. Now you can recreate this iconic treat at home using high-quality, natural ingredients, free from artificial additives.
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Cherry Garcia ice cream recipe straight from the source
I have to confess this recipe is not from me, but rather it is from Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Dessert Book, which is tied in first place for my other favorite ice cream book The Perfect Scoop.
Why This Recipe Works
The genius of Cherry Garcia lies in its perfect balance of flavors and textures. The sweet, creamy vanilla base provides the ideal canvas for tart Bing cherries and rich dark chocolate chunks. This homemade version uses the authentic recipe from Ben and Jerry’s own cookbook, ensuring you get that signature taste with the advantage of controlling every ingredient that goes into your dessert.
What is in Cherry Garcia ice cream?
For the Ice Cream Base:
- Heavy cream – Creates the rich, luxurious texture that defines premium ice cream
- Whole milk – Balances richness with lighter consistency for perfect scoopability
- Sugar – Sweetens the base and helps prevent ice crystals from forming
- Vanilla extract – Provides the classic flavor foundation
For the Mix-ins:
- Dark chocolate – Adds rich, slightly bitter notes that complement the sweet cherries
- Bing cherries – Offer the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness with beautiful color
Where to buy Bing cherries year-round
As you are aware, this recipe features Bing cherries and dark chocolate. You might wonder where you can get Bing cherries year-round. You can find them in the freezer section of the grocery store. I found mine at Kroger, I used their Private Selections brand, and I found them to be of excellent quality.
The best type of chocolate to use
For the chocolate, I always prefer to use Ghirardelli when possible; it is consistently available in the baking aisle of my store. I prefer to use bittersweet chocolate for this because the ice cream base is already nice and sweet, and you don’t need to use a super sweet chocolate.
More homemade ice cream flavors to make
I hope you try making homemade ice cream at home. Please let me know which flavor of ice cream you like the most. You can explore my other homemade ice cream flavors available at CopyKat.com.
- Cold Stone Creamery Cake Batter ice cream
- Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Ice Cream
- Ben and Jerry’s French Vanilla Ice Cream
Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream Easy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate (bitter or semi sweet) chopped into small pieces
- 1/4 cup Bing cherries fresh or frozen, pitted and coarsely chopped
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Place chocolate and chopped cherries into different bowls and place bowls in the freezer. You want to keep all the ingredients nice and cold.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl whisk the eggs in until light and fluffy. Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking until completely blended, Add heavy cream and milk and whisk to blend thoroughly.
- Transfer the mixture to the ice cream maker and freeze following the manufacturer's instructions.
- After the ice cream stiffens (about 2 minutes before it is done), add the chocolate and cherries, then continue freezing until the ice cream is ready.
Remember, You are freezing this ice cream, so any illness from raw eggs is killed, that goes for hot also.
How do you keep the cherries from freezing ice hard?
I didn’t find that they got rock solid.
So much like the real thing!
This is the best ever! I made this with dark chocolate. Yum!
Ben and Jerry’s is so expensive, I am so glad I can make this at home now!
Could you not just cook the Benny and Jerry’s recipe that containers eggs?
I think that would change it to custard. You may want to consider using eggs that are pasteurized.
…please use pasteurized eggs, I am a nurse & have seen salmonella first hand…for those who have eaten eggs raw for a long time, remember, chicken were not always factory raised, they live in extremely crowded conditions, and and the proximity lets illness spread.
…or…
…use a recipe cooking the eggs…
Just tried this a couple of nights ago. The ice cream was OK. I used Ghirardelli bitter sweet chocolate but the texture felt off once the ice cream was done. The chocolate chunks left a powdery taste in the mouth once you bit into them. Kinda like old chocolate. The ice cream itself seemed to get some ice crystals in it. Maybe I’ll pull it out of the machine a little earlier next time.
Try using 2 tablespoons of Amaretto, whiskey or brandy…mouth feel is better, and no ice crystals…
Hi Stephanie
Great website!
I was wondering if you know the recipe for Jack Astors 4 cheese peppercorn chicken rigatoni?
They have taken it off the menu sadly.
My family and I really like it and I would love to surprise my family with it for dinner one night!
Thanks
Heather
I’ve eaten raw eggs for 50+ yrs & have NEVER gotten sick.
That’s because chickens were raised differently
rve used raw eggs in making ice cream for years. No one has gotten sick as yet.
Do you use whole eggs or just the yolks? Thanks.
You use whole eggs. If you are concerned about using raw eggs please buy pasteurized eggs. I believe Safest Choice brand is safe to consume raw. They are sold at many of the major grocery store chains.
Uncooked eggs? I don’t think so. David Libovitz has it right. Ben & Jerry’s book comes in a hugely distant second to The Perfect Scoop. In fact, I own B&J’s book, but I will never make an ice cream with raw eggs. So, it sits all lonely on my shelf.
I have both books as well. I love this chocolate ice cream from that book. The word amazing is an insult. You can use pasteurized eggs, if you feel it is unsafe to consume raw eggs.
I had no idea Ben and Jerry’s had cookbook. Saving this recipe! Thank you.
I highly recommend their ice cream book, it has been in print for years. I have used it so many times.