Red Velvet Ice Cream
Our Red Velvet Ice Cream with cream cheese swirl is absolutely divine!
Don’t be intimidated by this homemade ice cream recipe. I’ll walk you through making it step-by-step.
While most ice cream recipes call for egg yolks, this one is super simple. You do not need to make a custard to start. Instead, grab your blender and we’ll whip up the base in just a few minutes.
In fact, you only need about 10 minutes for the hands-on part of this red velvet ice cream recipe. (Although there’s considerable time needed for chilling and freezing, of course).
🧂 Ingredients
- cream cheese
- heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
- whole milk
- unsalted butter
- powdered sugar
- granulated sugar
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- red liquid food coloring
- vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
- salt
This is meant to be a brief overview of this great recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below or Jump to Recipe.
🔪 Instructions
- Add the cream cheese, heavy cream, milk, sugar, food coloring, cocoa powder, and salt to a high-powered blender and pulse until smooth.
- Pour the ice cream base into a large bowl and chill for at least 2 hours (up to overnight).
- Pour the chilled ice cream mixture into an ice cream maker (follow the instructions for your ice cream machine model).
- In an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese butter, and vanilla extract.
- Beat in the powdered sugar a little bit at a time until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- When the ice cream is ready, pour half into a loaf pan or other freezer-safe container.
- Add a layer of cream cheese swirl on top and use a knife to mix it into the ice cream.
- Add the rest of the ice cream on top and then swirl in the rest of the cream cheese icing.
- Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
🥄Equipment
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Here is what you will need to make this easy recipe:
- Ice Cream Maker and High powered blender or food processor
- Measuring Spoons and Liquid Measuring Cup
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
- Ice Cream Container (optional)
🍨 You’ll find my tools and resources for making homemade ice cream here.
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions (and answers!) readers often ask about this recipe.
Heavy cream and whole milk have a high fat content, which makes it ideal for making ice cream smooth and rich.
Skim milk is fat-free and while you can use it to make ice cream, the result is that the ice cream will not be as rich.
If you prefer not to use red food coloring, try using concentrated beet juice or fruit juice concentrates like cranberry, strawberries, or pomegranate. You can also find natural food coloring online to make your red ice cream.
⭐ Tips
✔️ Allow the ice cream mixture to chill for 2 hours (up to overnight) before you churn the ice cream as this will help the flavors come together.
✔️ For a firmer ice cream, I suggest leaving the churned ice cream in the freezer overnight before serving.
✔️ If you don’t have a special ice cream container, use a bread pan instead.
🍲 Storage
To Store: Store your red velvet ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for 1 month. (These are my favorite airtight containers.)
Be sure to check out my Juggling Act Mama Storefront on Amazon where you’ll find all kinds of great products that will make your life easier! Thanks so much for being a part of Juggling Act Mama ❤
📖 Variations
The first time you try any new recipe we recommend that you make it just as it is written on the recipe card since that is how the recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make our recipe, you might want to try one of these ideas:
- To really take this recipe over-the-top, add 2 cups of red velvet cake cubes to the ice cream mixture along with the cream cheese icing swirl. The pieces of red velvet cake make this a truly extravagant dessert.
- If you love chocolate, add chocolate chips or chocolate chunks into the ice cream.
RELATED: Use this red velvet ice cream to make your own ice cream cupcakes!
🍦Similar Recipes
Next time, try one of these delicious recipes:
- black forest ice cream
- brownie bite ice cream
- strawberry ice cream
- homemade vanilla ice cream
- salted caramel pretzel ice cream
- peanut butter cup oreo ice cream
- cotton candy flavored ice cream
😋More Red Velvet Recipes
If you love every red velvet recipe you’ve tried, check out these other fan favorites:
- red velvet trifle
- easy red velvet truffles
- red velvet cheesecake brownies
- red velvet crinkle cookies
These also make great Valentine’s Day desserts, too!
Not ready to make this Red Velvet Ice Cream yet?
When you do make it, please come back and comment and leave me a 5 star rating below! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Red Velvet Ice Cream
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
Ice Cream Base
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3-4 teaspoons red liquid food coloring
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Swirl
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients for the ice cream base to a high-powered blender and pulse until smooth.8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup whole milk, 3-4 teaspoons red liquid food coloring, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Pour the ice cream base into a large bowl and chill for at least 2 hours (up to overnight).
- Pour the chilled ice cream mixture into an ice cream maker (follow the instructions for your ice cream machine model).
- In an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese butter, and vanilla extract.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 4 ounces cream cheese, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Beat in the powdered sugar a little bit at a time until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- When the ice cream is ready, pour half into a loaf pan or other freezer-safe container.
- Add a layer of cream cheese swirl on top and use a knife to swirl it into the ice cream.
- Add the rest of the ice cream on top and then swirl in the rest of the cream cheese icing.
- Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
