Cherry Coke Ice Cream

Imagine the classic soda shop favorite in frozen form: this Cherry Coke Ice Cream blends sweet cherries, rich cream, and real Coca-Cola for a cool, creamy twist on the beloved drink. No ice cream machine? No problem — instructions for both churn and no-churn included!

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🕒 Prep & Freeze Time

Step	Time
Prep Time	20 minutes
Chill Base	1 hour
Churn Time	20–25 mins
Freeze (firm up)	4–6 hours
Total Time	~6–8 hours

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🧰 Equipment Needed

• Blender or food processor
• Saucepan
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Ice cream maker or hand mixer (for no-churn)
• Loaf pan or freezer-safe container

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🧂 Ingredients

For the Cherry Coke Syrup:

• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cherries (pitted)
• 1 cup Coca-Cola (not diet)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (brightens flavor)

For the Ice Cream Base (Churn or No-Churn):

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk (for no-churn version)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

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📝 Ingredient Notes

• Coke: Use classic Coca-Cola (not Zero or Diet); it reduces better and holds sweetness.
• Cherries: Frozen cherries work great — no need to thaw fully.
• No sweetened condensed milk? Omit for churn version and use a custard or milk/cream base.

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

🍒 Step 1: Make Cherry Coke Syrup

1. In a saucepan, combine cherries, Coca-Cola, sugar, and lemon juice.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes, until thick and syrupy.
3. Let cool, then blend until smooth and chill in the fridge.

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🍦 Step 2: Make the Ice Cream Base

Churn Version:

1. In a bowl, whisk together cream, milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.
2. Stir in the chilled cherry Coke syrup.
3. Chill base for 1 hour, then pour into ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually 20–25 mins).
4. Transfer to container and freeze for 4–6 hours until firm.

No-Churn Version:

1. In a bowl, whip heavy cream to stiff peaks.
2. In another bowl, mix condensed milk, vanilla, salt, and cherry Coke syrup.
3. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cherry mixture.
4. Pour into a loaf pan, swirl with extra cherry syrup if desired, and freeze 6+ hours.

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🍽️ Serving Ideas

• Scoop into waffle cones and top with maraschino cherries
• Drizzle with chocolate syrup or cola reduction
• Make a Cherry Coke float with soda and a scoop on top

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🥗 Nutrition Facts (1 serving, based on 10 servings)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	~260
Fat	17g
Carbs	27g
Sugar	~22g
Protein	2g

Approximate; will vary based on ingredients used

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💡 Tips & Tricks

• Extra cherry swirl: Reserve some syrup to swirl in just before freezing for a ribbon effect.
• Want fizz? Serve with fresh Coke poured over — like a soda float.
• Make it boozy: Add a splash of cherry liqueur (like Luxardo or Amaretto) to the base.
• Soft serve texture? Let thaw 5–10 minutes before scooping.

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🔄 Variations

• Chocolate Cherry Coke Ice Cream: Add mini chocolate chips or fudge ripple.
• Cherry Vanilla Coke: Add extra vanilla and swirl in maraschino cherry juice.
• Float Popsicles: Freeze the mixture in popsicle molds with extra soda for fizz.