Red Velvet Ice Cream

Name: Red Velvet Ice Cream
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 550 min
Ingredients: 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; 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature); 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature); 2 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

If you love red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing, you're going to love this decadent homemade red velvet ice cream with cream cheese frosting swirl. It's so rich and creamy!

Total Time 9 hours 10 minutes

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Our Red Velvet Ice Cream with cream cheese swirl is absolutely divine!

Close up of Red Velvet Ice Cream in a square dish. — *The whole family will love this creamy ice cream with the incredible red velvet flavor.*

Jump to:

🧂 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
🥄Equipment
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
⭐ Tips
🍲 Storage
📖 Variations
🍦Similar Recipes
😋More Red Velvet Recipes
Red Velvet Ice Cream

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.

Step-by-step collage image of How to Make Red Velvet Ice Cream.

🥄Equipment

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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.

Can I use skim milk instead of whole milk?

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.

What can I use instead of red food coloring?

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.

*This red velvet ice cream is a sweet dessert anytime but can be an especially great treat for Valentine's Day.*

🍲 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.)

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📖 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 extravagent dessert.
If you love chocolate, add chocolate chips or chocolate chunks into the ice cream.

🍦Similar Recipes

Next time, try one of these delicious recipes:

😋More Red Velvet Recipes

If you love every red velvet recipe you've tried, check out these other fan favorites:

These also make great Valentine's Day desserts, too!

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Not ready to make this Red Velvet Ice Cream yet?

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