Neapolitan Ice Cream

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/5/23
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Neapolitan Ice Cream

The Spruce/Bahareh Niati
Prep: 35 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Freeze: 6 hrs
Total: 6 hrs 35 mins
Servings: 12 to 14 servings
Yield: 9 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
284 Calories
20g Fat
24g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 14
Amount per serving
Calories 284
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 13g 64%
Cholesterol 63mg 21%
Sodium 31mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 75mg 6%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 102mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Neapolitan ice cream is a classic favorite composed of three separate flavors, typically vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, layered in the same container.

The name comes from the dessert's presumed origins, in Naples Italy. Immigrants from this region brought their expertise for frozen desserts to the United states and spumoni might have been the first Neapolitan-style ice cream here in the US.

Other variations might have been composed of flavors in three layers representing the green, white, and red colors of Italian flag. Today it is likely that the chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavored layers became the standard because they are the three most popular ice cream flavors in the US.

"The Neapolitan ice cream is delicious, and the recipe is easy to prepare and freeze. Mine needed about 6 to 7 hours to freeze solid, so it's best to make this early in the morning or a day in advance. I used an 11.75-ounce jar of strawberry ice cream topping for the strawberry layer." —Diana Rattray

Neapolitan Ice Cream/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk

  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

  • 3 cups heavy cream

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1 cup strawberry ice cream topping, such as Smuckers

  • 1 teaspoon food coloring, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients to make Neapolitan ice cream

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  2. In a medium bowl, combine the milk and sugar. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.

    milk and sugar in a bowl

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  3. Whisk in the heavy cream and the vanilla extract.

    heavy cream and the vanilla extract in a bowl

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  4. Churn according to manufacturer’s directions, about 20 to 25 minutes.

    ice cream mixture in an ice cream machine

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  5. Spoon 1/3 of the churned vanilla ice cream into an airtight freezer-safe container. Spread in an even layer, cover, and transfer to the freezer.

    vanilla ice cream in a rectangular container

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  6. Spoon 1/3 of the churned ice cream into a large bowl. Add the cocoa powder. Stir to combine.

    chocolate ice cream in a bowl

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  7. Spoon the chocolate layer over the vanilla layer and spread evenly. Return to the freezer.

    chocolate ice cream in a rectangular container

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  8. Spoon the remaining churned ice cream into a large bowl. Add the strawberry ice cream topping. Stir to combine. If a deeper pink hue is desired, add a few drops of red food coloring.

    strawberry ice cream in a bowl

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  9. Spread the strawberry layer evenly over the chocolate layer. 

    strawberry ice cream in a rectangular container

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

  10. Cover and freeze for at least 2 hours to firm. Then, scoop and enjoy!

    Neapolitan Ice Cream

    The Spruce/Bahareh Niati

Neapolitan Ice Cream Tips

  • When making homemade ice cream, it is always important to work quickly and get the churned product into the freezer as soon as possible. When mixing in the cocoa powder and the strawberry ice cream topping to create the chocolate and strawberry layers, it is helpful to use metal bowls that have been placed in the freezer for a few minutes to chill. That way the churned ice cream can stay as cold as possible during this quick mixing process. Then quickly form the layers and cover and place in the freezer immediately to set.
  • Be sure to use strawberry topping, not syrup. If you can't find strawberry topping, you can substitute strawberry jam. Your strawberry ice cream will have more texture using jam, but if you coarsely chop it before adding it to the vanilla ice cream, you'll avoid having large pieces of fruit in the ice cream.
  • It can take from 20 minutes to 1 hour to churn ice cream, depending on the maker. Check your ice cream maker manual for specific times.

Neapolitan Ice Cream Variations

It is also possible to layer the vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream in a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap. Then, to serve, you can simply lift the plastic wrap from the loaf pan and cut into vertical slices to serve.

Neapolitan Ice Cream Storage

Homemade ice cream can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 to 3 months. A piece of plastic wrap pressed firmly on the surface of the ice cream will prevent ice crystals from forming.

What kind of cocoa powder should I use for the chocolate ice cream?

Dutch-processed is excellent in this recipe, but either Dutch-processed or natural will work just fine.