Ice cream is a frozen dairy dessert enjoyed worldwide in many different varieties and flavors. While most ice cream is creamy white or pale yellow, some unique ice cream flavors feature stark color contrasts, like the popular black and white ice cream. But what exactly is black and white ice cream? Let’s explore the ingredients, history, and prep that go into this eye-catching frozen treat.
What Makes Black and White Ice Cream Black and White?
As the name suggests, black and white ice cream contains distinct swirls or layers of dark black and bright white ice cream. The striking color contrast makes for an exciting presentation. But how do ice cream makers achieve these dark and light layers?
The white portion of black and white ice cream is typically vanilla flavored and follows a standard ice cream base mixture. The dark black layer gets its color and flavor from activated charcoal powder. This fine black powder is edible and safe to consume. It has a very neutral flavor that doesn’t drastically alter the ice cream’s taste.
Some versions may use a chocolate powder or dark cocoa mixture to achieve a black color. But activated charcoal offers an intense black color that provides the highest visual contrast against the white ice cream. The charcoal and vanilla layers are swirled together once chilled to create beautiful streaks of color in each scoop. Other flavor combinations are also possible, like blackberry and vanilla or chocolate and banana.
The History Behind Black and White Ice Cream
While visually striking, black and white ice cream is a relatively new trend. The earliest origins likely trace back to the soft serve ice cream shops of the 1950s and 60s. During this era, soft serve machines with separate ingredient reservoirs allowed customers to swirl together flavors for a custom dessert. Young customers would love to blend the store’s darkest chocolate ice cream with the whitest vanilla to create their own early versions of black and white swirl cones.
The first modern commercial black and white ice creams didn’t emerge until the early 2000s. Trendsetting ice cream shops on both the east and west coast began offering black and white flavors featuring activated charcoal powder. The visually appealing swirls quickly caught consumer attention on social media, allowing the trend to spread rapidly to major ice cream brands.
Today, black and white varieties are stocked across grocery freezer aisles and ice cream parlors internationally. Major brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Häagen-Dazs, and Breyers have all launched their own black and white concepts. The color contrast allows food photographers, influencers, and everyday customers to showcase the ice cream in social media-friendly photos.
Is Activated Charcoal Safe to Eat in Ice Cream?
With its jet black color, activated charcoal may not seem like a natural or appetizing ice cream ingredient at first glance. But it’s been thoroughly tested and approved as a safe food additive.
Activated charcoal is made from heating common charcoal to very high temperatures. This “activates” the charcoal by increasing its surface area and absorption capabilities. Those traits make it useful for water and air filtration. When finely milled into a powder, activated charcoal maintains its porous properties while turning colorless and flavorless.
In the body, activated charcoal binds to toxins and can reduce their absorption during digestion. This has made it a popular supplement for cleansing and detox programs. But in normal food amounts, activated charcoal is inert and harmless. Multiple food and drug agencies worldwide approve small doses of activated charcoal for use in both cooking and supplements. So indulging in black ice cream is unlikely to cause harm.
Making Your Own Black and White Ice Cream
Want to try making black and white swirl ice cream at home? With just a few core ingredients and supplies, you can churn up this restaurant-worthy dessert from your own kitchen.
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons activated charcoal powder
Supplies
- Ice cream maker
- Mixing bowls
- Spatulas or whisks
- Loaf pan or container with lid
Steps
- Prepare your ice cream maker and freezer bowl per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- In one bowl, mix together the cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt until fully blended.
- In a separate bowl, stir the activated charcoal powder into 1 cup of the ice cream base mixture until fully incorporated.
- Pour the remaining plain base into your ice cream maker and churn according to instructions.
- Once thickened, transfer about half the churned ice cream into a loaf pan or container.
- Pour the black charcoal mixture into the ice cream maker and churn again.
- Layer spoonfuls of the charcoal ice cream over the plain ice cream in your container, creating streaks and swirls as you go.
- Top with the remaining plain ice cream.
- Cover tightly and transfer to the freezer to harden completely before serving.
The charcoal powder blends more smoothly when mixed into a portion of the ice cream base before churning. Feel free to substitute in your favorite ice cream flavors or mix-ins too. Granola, chocolate chips, or swirled chocolate syrup create delicious variations on classic black and white ice cream.
Serving Up Black and White Sundaes
For a dazzling dessert presentation, turn your homemade or store-bought black and white ice cream into eye-catching sundaes. Here are some ingredients to top those scoops with delight:
Sundae Components
- Ice cream: Swirl black and white ice cream or layer scoops side by side.
- Sauce: Drizzle with chocolate, caramel, or strawberry sauce.
- Fruit: Fresh berries, banana slices, or pineapple chunks.
- Crunch: Chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or crispy cookie crumbles.
- Whipped cream: Tower high for an extra touch of white.
- Cherry: Perch one on top for the perfect sundae finishing touch.
Stack your ingredients high in a chilled glass for a mesmerizing showstopper dessert. The bold black and white layers remain visible for a stunning presentation. For parties, serve mini black and white sundaes in shot glasses ormini mason jars for easy snacking.
Fun Desserts Featuring Black and White Ice Cream
A few other sweet ways to enjoy black and white ice cream include:
- Milkshakes – Blend with milk and have black and white swirls in every sip.
- Ice cream sandwiches – Enjoy the color contrast with each bite of a charcoal chocolate cookie sandwich.
- Pies – Swirl into banana cream, chocolate, or coconut cream pies.
- Cakes – Layer sheets or ribbons of black and white ice cream into sheet cakes or layer cakes.
- Floats – Top up a glass of chilled black cherry soda with scoops of black and white ice cream.
However you choose to serve it, black and white ice cream is sure to bring personality, flair, and rich sweet creaminess to any dessert table.
Conclusion
With its eye-catching contrast and intriguing ingredients, black and white swirl ice cream delivers visual excitement along with cool, creamy refreshment. Activated charcoal safely provides the mysterious dark color that sets this dessert apart from everyday flavors. Blending the two tones creates a soft serve-inspired swirl effect that’s fun to dip into. Making your own black and white ice cream at home allows for personalized flavors and mix-ins. Any way it’s served up, this light and dark dessert is a perfect balance of timeless flavors and modern innovation.