Do you love Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream? You can make this recipe at home. It is very easy to make, and who wouldn’t love to make an ice cream filled with high-quality ingredients? There is nothing artificial in this recipe, so you can enjoy this one guilt-free.
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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.
If you are just starting to make homemade ice cream I definitely recommend Ben and Jerry’s book. The recipes are simple, and they are perfect for the many ice cream makers that are on the market. This recipe makes 1 quart of ice cream, so it is a nice small batch.
Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia
I fell in love with this ice cream flavor years ago. There is something so perfect about the combination of sweet and tart cherries with rich chocolate. In fact, it quickly became my favorite ice cream combination. That’s why I was so excited to make it at home.
It is the first ice cream flavor named after a rock musician. Cherry Garcia is named after the lead singer of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia.
What happened to cherry Garcia ice cream?
There was recently some chatter and confusion about the possibility that Ben & Jerry’s changed the recipe for Cherry Garcia. This is all rumor and hasn’t been confirmed. But I can tell you that making it at home means you can make it exactly how you want it.
Is cherry Garcia gluten-free?
Yes, cherry Garcia is gluten-free.
How to make cherry Garcia ice cream
When you discover how easy it is to make at home, you’ll never go back to store-bought again. I put the recipe in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
What is in cherry Garcia ice cream?
This is what is in Cherry Garcia ice cream:
- Dark chocolate
- Bing cherries
- Ice cream
I actually made my own ice cream out of sugar, heavy cream, and milk.
Where to buy bing cherries year-round
As you know this recipe contains 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 great quality.
The best type of chocolate to use
For the chocolate I always like to use Ghirardelli when I can, it is always available in the baking aisle of my store. I like to use bittersweet chocolate for this because the ice cream base is nice and sweet, and you don’t need to make it with a chocolate that is super sweet.
Folks always ask me about which ice cream maker I use, I use the Whynter ICM-15LS Ice Cream Maker, Stainless Steel, it is pricier than some models, but this one has the advantage of you not needing to place a bowl in the freezer for up to 48 hours before you want to make the ice cream. I have had about 5 years of use out of my machine, and I have to say I am a fan.
More homemade ice cream flavors to make
I hope you try making homemade ice cream at home. Let me know what flavor of ice cream you like the most. You can check out my other flavors of homemade ice cream 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
Here is how to make this ice cream flavor right at home.
Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
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.
Nellie
Remember, You are freezing this ice cream, so any illness from raw eggs is killed, that goes for hot also.
Lynn
How do you keep the cherries from freezing ice hard?
Stephanie
I didn’t find that they got rock solid.
finley
So much like the real thing!
Lloyd
This is the best ever! I made this with dark chocolate. Yum!
jeannie
Ben and Jerry’s is so expensive, I am so glad I can make this at home now!
Sherry
Could you not just cook the Benny and Jerry’s recipe that containers eggs?
Stephanie
I think that would change it to custard. You may want to consider using eggs that are pasteurized.
Marj
…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…
Gaurav
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.
Marj
Try using 2 tablespoons of Amaretto, whiskey or brandy…mouth feel is better, and no ice crystals…
Heather
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
Theresa
I’ve eaten raw eggs for 50+ yrs & have NEVER gotten sick.
Marj
That’s because chickens were raised differently
Barbara
rve used raw eggs in making ice cream for years. No one has gotten sick as yet.
jJulieulie
Do you use whole eggs or just the yolks? Thanks.
Stephanie
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.
Rick
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.
Stephanie Manley
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.
Michelle De La Cerda-Nash
I had no idea Ben and Jerry’s had cookbook. Saving this recipe! Thank you.
Stephanie Manley
I highly recommend their ice cream book, it has been in print for years. I have used it so many times.