Guinness-Milk Chocolate Ice Cream
My history with the combo of beer and chocolate has been less than memorable, so I haven’t tackled it much on my own. Quite a long time ago I was attending a work conference out in California and had lunch at a place called the Yard House, where the beer list may have actually been longer than The Cheesecake Factory’s menu (quite an astonishing feat). There was a chocolate beer that I naturally thought I would love, since I adore chocolate and am a big beer fan too. However, I couldn’t have been less of a fan. So when brainstorming ideas for St. Patrick’s Day this year, I decided I was going to tackle the combination again with Guinness, in a couple of different ways. This ice cream was my “out there” recipe to try and I wasn’t terribly sure I would like it. However… I LOVE it!
The base of the ice cream is nearly identical to all of the others that I have made from The Perfect Scoop – a custard base made with sugar, milk, cream and egg yolks. Throw in a healthy dose of milk chocolate and some Guinness and you have your recipe! The ice cream is super creamy, has a rich milk chocolate flavor that is highlighted by the Guinness. You can taste it, but not in the beer-type way you would imagine. It’s subtle and actually accents the chocolate in the best possible way. This is definitely perfect for dessert on St. Patrick’s Day! Grab a spoon and dig in!
One year ago: Chewy Brownies
Three years ago: Russian Grandmothers’ Apple Pie-Cake
Four years ago: Texas Sheet Cake
Guinness-Milk Chocolate Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 7 ounces (198.45 g) milk chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 cup (244 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup (238 ml) heavy cream
- ¾ cup (172.5 ml) Guinness Stout
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. Put the chocolate pieces in a large bowl and set a mesh strainer over the top.
- 2. Warm the milk, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
- 3. Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer over the milk chocolate, then stir until the chocolate is melted. Once the mixture is smooth, whisk in the cream, then the Guinness and vanilla. Stir until cool over an ice bath.
- 4. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator (at least 8 hours or overnight), then churn in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
I have made this recipe multiple times and each time it has been delightful. Â So creamy, with the right balance of chocolate and stout. Â I wouldn’t change a thing!
Hello. Your pic actually shows a Guinness draught in the background rather than a stout. Can I use the draught instead?
Yes, that would work.
Can you add more Guinness to make the flavour stronger, or will it not set when churning? So 1 cup instead of 3/4 cup.
Thank you
Could I used Guinness Extra instead? Would i need to add more sugar?
Hi Grace, If it’s more bitter (I’m not familiar with it), then yes, I would up the sugar a bit! Enjoy!
Made this and loved it – even though I’m not a fan of milk chocolate ice cream, this tasted of Maltesers. The left over Guinness went into a chocolate and Guinness cake the following day (recipe by Nigella Lawson – quite a sinful amount of sugar but a great cake which keeps well).
Yum!!! Thank you for sharing this!
So excited to try this. May I ask what brand of milk chocolate did you use?
Hi Ryan, I typically use either Ghiradelli or Valrhona (I don’t remember which one I used for this particular recipe since it was so long ago).
Thanks for getting back to me :-)
My solution to “what to do with half a can of leftover Guinness?”. After making the Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes, I thought I’d give this recipe a go. Uber delish! Couldn’t get over how well a heavy beer and light chocolate pair together. And the ice cream itself is smooth and creamy. Easy to make, hard resist. My fav chocolate ice cream.
I prepped the base of this last night. I left out the chocolate, because I wanted the beer to be the dominant flavour. I also reduced a portion of the beer to intensify it. I used an oatmeal stout from a local micro brewery. The flavour was phenomenal!
May I know do you have video for this recipe ?
No, I don’t have any videos on the site.
Is ok. abt the heavy cream ,nd to whisk until what level?also is it lastly add with beer and vanilla ?
I made this yesterday and it’s delicious. My only change from the above is that I used a double-boiler to make the custard and then added the chocolate over very low heat to get it all fully melted and combined. Then I strained the mixture for a very smooth finish. I’m serving it tonight, it will be a guaranteed hit – thanks!
What to do if you don’t have an ice cream maker? Looks good but need an ice cream maker.. I guess I will have to look at the local thrift shops.. find one for a couple of dollars or so..
Hi Jaime, I have a tutorial here on how to make homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker: https://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/06/21/how-to-make-homemade-ice-cream-without-an-ice-cream-maker/
A nice idea and certainly a little less controversial than those delicious looking Irish cupcakes :-)
*Drool* I love Guiness and ice cream!
Wonderful ice cream! I love that David Lebovitz!
This was DELICIOUS! Thanks for the recipe!
This sounds amazing. I’ve added a bottle of Guinness to my shopping list and I’m looking forward to trying this.
I don’t think I could wait 8+ hours for ice cream…
Innncredible! Love this!
This ice cream makes me want to say, YES, I’ll have another scoop please :D
Wow…two of my favorite things all rolled into one. Perfection! Happy St. Patty’s Day indeed. :) Congrats on Top 9!
Holy goodness in ice cream form. Yet another reason I curse my gluten intolerance. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I used to go to Yard House when I was in Cali for work too! They have so many crazy beer combos – I had one that was a chocolate stout with a raspberry beer (I think called black velvet??) that I thought I’d love but didn’t at all. My favorite was the snake bite – I think its half Harp and half hard pear cider. Yum!
And this Guinness Milk Chocolate ice cream looks so good! I wish I had an ice cream makers!
It’s not green but it is definitely Irish!
Oh Wow, this looks mouthwatering !
Wonderful! I love this idea and your photos are stunning! Congrats on top 9!!!
This is SO genius! I really want to try it!
I would say that this would be the perfect thing for folks here in South Boston, but they’d rather just drink the stuff and not eat this miraculous creation. They’re missing out!
Wow… This looks AMAZING!
I was online reading through blogs looking for some healthy dinner inspiration for this week. Now, I’m just craving some of this ice cream :)
Guiness Chocolate Ice Cream? GUINESS Chocolate Ice Cream. GUINESS CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM!! OMG, looks AMAZE! I seriously have been contemplating buying an ice cream maker purely because of the recipes on your blog!!!
I’ve always really wanted to like chocolate and Guinness together, but it’s never worked out– it’s usually too bitter. But this looks awesome! Can’t wait to try it! You’re right- perfect for St. Patty’s!
Yummy :)
My mom always made a type of shake with Guinness, condensed milk and crushed ice. She would love this ice cream. Thanks for sharing.
Very different St. Paddy’s Day recipe. Nice!
Wow! Looks awesome! I know what I am making this week!
This is very cool! I thought my corn and parmesan recipe was out there – I’m digging this!
what a great idea! Wish I could have some :)
Yum! I want this sandwiched between some bacon chocolate chip cookies!
Sounds delicious! I’d love a bowl on St. Patty’s day.
Wonderful ice cream…you can’t go wrong with David Lebovitz!
I actually made a Guinness Chocolate Ice Cream for a St. Patty’s Day party last year and I agree, the combination is amazing. I made a Guinness chocolate cheesecake a few weeks later – also delicious!
Yum!! I just recently made an ice cream with Southern Tier’s Choklat Stout and it was awesome. So, I’m SURE it must have been fabulous with Guinness, too :)
I love Yard House! Was it the Young’s Chocolate Stout? That one is actually one of the better chocolate beers. This ice cream looks incredible!
Score! My husband is a homebrewer, and his birthday is St Patrick’s day. I’m sooooo making this for him. Thanks!!!
This looks creamy and wonderful :) I love ice cream so much. I finally got an ice cream maker, but haven’t yet taken it for a spin…I’m praying for the warm weather to get here so that I feel like making ice cream!
*swooning* As a California girl, I looooooove the Yardhouse… I also love chocolate AND beer, so this is pretty much a match made in heaven in my book :)
Wow! I’m gonna have to try this sometime… whenever I finally get an ice cream maker.
Ooooh my husband would LOVE this, and I’m sure I would too. Gotta love The Perfect Scoop!
I am all over this! Amazing!
Whoa! Gimmie!
I want a scoop!
Yum! It’s good in cake so I bet it’s wonderful in Ice Cream. Looks delicious!
yum!!
Since the first go at this recipe last year, my fiancée and I have since enjoyed it quite a few times. However, both of us aren’t huge on milk chocolate, so we always sub a mixture of bittersweet and dark, dark, dark chocolate. And while I’m sad to say that Guinness is low on my list of great beers, this more than blew my socks off. Rich, velvety, almost melt-in-your-mouth.
Cheers,
*Heather*
Even though I don’t like Guinness, I’m pretty sure I would love this ice cream. It looks amazing!
Wow- this looks good! A girl after my own heart- beer and chocolate :-)
Great idea! I’m not a fan of Guinness, but think it would add a really neat flavour to ice cream. I’m excited to try!
Is something wrong with me that I’m craving this at 6:45 am? I want this so bad!!
That sounds sooo good Guinness is kind of chocolate-y and smooth on its own so I can see how well this combo would marry. Yum!
I’ve had some fantastic guinness cake but never guinness ice cream. It looks incredible creamy, though so I bet it is amazing!
Oh, wow – this is something my brother would love.
This is awesome! I was struggling with what to bring to a St.Paddy’s party and now I know! :)
Hey Michelle! I actually have this recipe bookmarked in my Perfect Scoop book to make this weekend, as well! :) Question for you, though. The reason I planned on making it is because I have Guinness leftover to use up. But, it is Guinness Draught, not Stout. I noticed Draught is pictured with your ice cream. Is that what you used? Thanks!!
Hi Nikki! I did use the Draught, it was the only bottled Guinness that the local beer shop had.
Thanks, Michelle! Good to know! :)