A creamy, dreamy homemade version of Ben & Jerry’s iconic Cherry Garcia ice cream, packed with juicy Bing cherries and rich chocolate chunks. No road trip to Vermont required—just your favorite spoon and an ice cream maker.

homemade copycat cherry garcia ice cream being served

Do you love all of Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavors? Me too! There are some like Cherry Garcia ice cream that I absolutely can not get enough of. And because I love it so much, I'm going to love making what I think is the best homemade ice cream recipe again and again. This has to be my favorite copycat recipe of all time.

I don’t know what it is about cherries that scream summer louder than a cannonball into a community pool, but here we are. Every June, I start eyeing the produce aisle like a fruit thief plotting a heist. And when Bing cherries show up? Game. On.

This homemade Cherry Garcia knockoff has been a staple in my kitchen since long before my ice cream maker earned a permanent spot on the counter. It’s nostalgia in a bowl—creamy, indulgent, a little messy (in the best way), and packed with just the right amount of chocolate and cherry.

I originally posted this recipe years ago, back when I was still figuring out how to photograph melted ice cream without turning my kitchen into a sticky war zone. But it’s just too good not to bring back with a glow-up.

Serve this up in a yummy chocolate ice cream bowl, add some fresh cherries on top, and you've got yourself the perfect addition to any summer dessert spread.

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

Bing cherries — fresh, pitted and halved is best when they're in season; frozen cherries (thawed and patted dry) work well the rest of the year.
Heavy cream & whole milk — the base of the custard; this is what gives homemade ice cream its rich, scoopable texture.
Chocolate chunks — roughly chopped chocolate bar melts into little pockets better than standard chocolate chips, though chips work in a pinch.
Almond extract — a small amount rounds out the cherry flavor the way it does in the original Ben & Jerry's version; vanilla extract works if you'd rather skip it.

Helpful Tips

Besides a few ingredients from the store, all you need to make Cherry Garcia ice cream is an ice-cream maker. Our KitchenAid ice cream maker is amazing. It's easy to use and the ice cream always turns out fantastic.

But if you don't have a KitchenAid mixer already, you can also go with a standalone ice cream maker like this.

Don't be intimidated by the idea of making homemade ice cream. It isn't difficult at all. Mix the ingredients together, and let the ice cream maker do the rest of the work. It's really that easy. Fold the cherries and chocolate chunks in during the last few minutes of churning, once the ice cream has thickened, so they stay distributed instead of sinking to the bottom.

homemade copycat cherry garcia ice cream in a white bowl

Variations

Swap the cherries for chopped fresh strawberries or raspberries for a different fruity twist.
Use mini chocolate chips instead of chunks for chocolate in every bite.
Add a swirl of cherry preserves right before freezing for extra ripples of fruit flavor.
Stir in toasted almonds for some crunch alongside the cherries and chocolate.
No ice cream maker? A no-churn base (whipped cream folded into sweetened condensed milk) can be substituted, though the texture will be a bit denser.

Storing & Freezing

Store the finished ice cream in an airtight, freezer-safe container with a piece of parchment or plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface before sealing the lid — this helps cut down on ice crystals forming. It'll keep well in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Homemade ice cream freezes harder than the store-bought kind since it doesn't contain stabilizers, so let it sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes before scooping to soften up.

More Ice Cream Recipes

And if you love this Cherry Garcia Ice Cream, be sure to check out all of my homemade ice cream recipes! Or whip up these Cherry Crepes for a completely different way to hit that cherry craving.

Recipe

Copycat Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice Cream that you can make at home. This delicious recipe is great as is or just as delicious with your favorite add ins.

4.9 from 14 votes

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Prep Time 20

Freezing Time 6

Total Time 6 20

Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 293 kcal

Equipment

ice cream maker

Ingredients

¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate bars shaved or chopped
¼ cup Bing cherries fresh, halved and pitted
2 eggs large (or equivalent pasteurized liquid eggs)
¾ cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream or whipping cream
1 cup whole milk

Instructions

Prepare two bowls. Place the shaved chocolate flakes in one and the cherries in the other. Cover bowls and place in refrigerator to chill.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs for 1 to 2 minutes, or until light and frothy. Slowly add sugar and whisk until fully dissolved.
Whisk in the heavy cream and milk and stir well to combine.
Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker. Follow your machine's instructions (mine takes about 20-25 minutes to churn).
Just before the ice cream is done churning-when it's thick and soft-serve-like-add in the chilled chocolate and cherries.
Transfer to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze for at least 2 hours, or until scoopable.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 3gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 28mgPotassium: 103mgSugar: 22gVitamin A: 924IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutrition details are an estimate, per serving.