Ice creams, chocolate
Whole food · Sweets
Photo: Wikipedia
Chocolate ice cream is a rich, frozen dessert made by churning a base of cream, milk, sugar, and cocoa solids into a smooth, creamy texture. Its deep brown color comes from cocoa, offering a classic balance of sweet and slightly bitter notes. Nutritionally, it's an energy-dense treat, providing quick calories primarily from carbohydrates and fat.
Calorie split: 7% protein · 50% carbs · 44% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for the comforting, indulgent combination of cold, creamy texture and the deep, complex flavor of chocolate. Its versatility makes it a beloved base for countless mix-ins, sundaes, and pairings with warm desserts like pie or cake.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its high sugar content can lead to rapid blood sugar spikes, and the saturated fat from cream may be a concern for some. Those with lactose intolerance or milk allergies should avoid it. To enjoy mindfully, practice portion control, pair it with a source of protein or fiber (like nuts or berries) to slow sugar absorption, or look for versions with reduced sugar or added fiber.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates.
- Contains small amounts of minerals like calcium and phosphorus from dairy.
- Can be a source of antioxidants from cocoa.
- Often enjoyed as a mood booster or celebratory treat.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The first known chocolate ice cream recipe appears in a 1693 Italian cookbook, long before chocolate was commonly consumed as a solid bar.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 55.7 g |
| Energy | 216 kcal |
| Energy | 904 kj |
| Protein | 3.8 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 11.0 g |
| Ash | 1.0 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 28.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.2 g |
| Total Sugars | 25.4 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 109 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.93 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 29.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 107 mg |
| Potassium, K | 249 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 76.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.58 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.14 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.14 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 2.5 ug |
| Fluoride, F | 22.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.70 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.04 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.19 mg |
| Niacin | 0.23 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.55 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.06 mg |
| Folate, total | 16.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 16.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 16.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 22.5 mg |
| Betaine | 0.60 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.29 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 118 ug |
| Retinol | 116 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 19.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 416 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.30 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 8.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.30 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 3.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 62.0 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 6.8 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.34 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.20 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.12 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.26 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.29 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 1.1 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 3.1 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.5 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 3.2 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.24 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 3.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.41 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.25 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.15 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 34.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Ice creams, vanilla, rich — USDA does not publish this profile for Ice creams.
| Tryptophan | 0.04 g |
| Threonine | 0.14 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.18 g |
| Leucine | 0.30 g |
| Lysine | 0.25 g |
| Methionine | 0.08 g |
| Cystine | 0.03 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.15 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.14 g |
| Valine | 0.20 g |
| Arginine | 0.14 g |
| Histidine | 0.08 g |
| Alanine | 0.14 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.65 g |
| Glycine | 0.15 g |
| Proline | 0.34 g |
| Serine | 0.17 g |
FAQ
Is chocolate ice cream a good source of protein?
No, it's relatively low in protein (about 3.8g per 100g). Its main macronutrients are carbohydrates (from sugar) and fat (from cream).
Why does chocolate ice cream sometimes have a gritty texture?
This can be due to large ice crystals forming from temperature fluctuations during storage (freezer burn) or from the crystallization of cocoa solids if not properly emulsified.
Can I make a healthier version at home?
Yes. You can blend frozen bananas with cocoa powder for a creamy, no-added-sugar base, or use Greek yogurt and a small amount of sweetener to boost protein and reduce sugar.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 2.16 kcal/g · 7% calories from protein · 1.2 g fiber · 25.4 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.31 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.