Mint Chip Ice Cream

This rich, creamy, and fluffy Mint Chip Ice Cream is flavored with peppermint extract and crunchy minty chocolate pieces.  It’s such a refreshingly decadent, yet simple, warm weather dessert, and it’s made with only 6 ingredients!

Enjoy it in bowls, on cones, or in ice cream sandwiches all summer long! 

My husband has been making this ice cream for us every summer for years, ever since we got our Cuisinart ice cream maker!  For this flavor, he was originally inspired by a few of the base ingredients for their “Simple Vanilla Ice Cream”, then built upon them to create the most delicious homemade mint chip!

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RECIPE NOTES:

Ice Cream Maker: We used this 2-Qt. ice cream maker for this recipe.  If you have a different ice cream maker, adjust the instructions accordingly for your particular machine!

Color: While many mint ice creams are green (from natural or artificial coloring) we didn’t use any green dyes in this recipe!  Don’t let that worry you…The color is, of course, unrelated to the peppermint extract and flavor.  When you leave out added colors, mint ice cream is naturally white!  (If you want to dye yours green, go for it!)

Freezing: The ice cream will be very soft before it goes into the freezer, but transforms into a beautiful thick and soft consistency after freezing.  Feel free to add additional freeze time if needed!

INGREDIENT NOTES:

Whole Milk: Whole milk will make this ice cream rich and smooth!

Cane Sugar: This is the type of granulated sugar we like to use.

Heavy Whipping Cream: Heavy whipping cream is responsible for the thick texture!

Peppermint Extract: Peppermint extract is the source of all the mint flavor.  A little goes a long way!

Vanilla Extract: The vanilla won’t overtake the mint flavor, but it’s a great flavor enhancer!

Crunchy Mint Dark Chocolate Bar: We personally love using this variety as the source of our chopped chocolate in this recipe!  The added mint flavor and crunch adds DELICIOUS extra flavor and texture dimension!  (If you don’t have this chocolate available to you, feel free to experiment with other minty chocolate bars.)

Kitchen Equipment:

• Knife & Cutting Board

• 1 Large Bowl

• A Hand Mixer

• 2-Qt. Ice Cream Maker, or equivalent

• Freezer-Safe Airtight Container (8+ Cup Capacity)

• Ice Cream Scoop

Servings: 8 Cups Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups Whole Milk
• 1 1/8 Cups Cane Sugar
• 3 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 1/2 Tsp Peppermint Extract
• 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 Crunchy Mint Dark Chocolate Bar (60g), or equivalent, finely chopped

Directions:

CHOP THE CHOCOLATE

Finely chop the chocolate bar

(Optional garnish: Feel free to reserve a pinch to sprinkle atop the batch before serving!)

COMBINE THE INGREDIENTS

In a large bowl, beat the milk and sugar together with a hand mixer on low until the sugar has fully dissolved

Add in the heavy whipping cream, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract, and stir together until combined

Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and churn it until it reaches a smooth, thick, creamy consistency (about 25 minutes)

Add the chopped chocolate to the ice cream and churn it more until the chips are evenly mixed throughout (about 3-5 minutes) 

FREEZE

Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for at least 3 hours, or until the ice cream has fully firmed, before serving

SERVE

Scoop and enjoy!