Our family loves ice cream in just about every flavor, but when it comes to mint we’re picky. The best mint ice cream is homemade, and this is the mint chocolate ice cream recipe I use when I take the time to make it.
This recipe is adapted from The Ultimate Ice Cream Book: Over 500 Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, Drinks, And More
Tonight’s batch was particularly good because instead of using plain chocolate, I used a combination of grated dark chocolate and finely chopped mint UFOs from Trader Joe’s. UFO fans, you know what I’m talking about! They’re the best chocolate mints ever, and I’m generally not a mint fan. Update: Haven’t seen the UFOs in years.
So anyway, this is a good mint ice cream recipe and I hope you try it. Just make sure to use a really good chocolate that will melt in your mouth with the ice cream and grate it or finally chop it.
Update: This recipe works well with fresh mint, too. I’ve included directions for making fresh mint ice cream in the notes. Also, I really wish Trader Joe’s would bring back the Mint UFOs.
Recipe
Favorite Mint Chocolate Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups heavy cream divided use
- 1 3/4 teaspoons peppermint extract not mint — make sure it says peppermint
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 oz or to taste grated dark chocolate or melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chunks (see note)
Instructions
- Mix the sugar, cornstarch and eggs together in a bowl and set it next to the stove.
- In a heavy saucepan set over medium heat, bring the 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of the cream to a simmer. Pour the simmering cream mixture into the egg mixture whisking constantly, then return the mixture to the saucepan. Reduce heat to about medium low and whisk or stir constantly until the mixture thickens – it should not come to a complete boil, but rather thicken just to the consistency of thick gravy and coat the spoon. If you have a candy thermometer, it should read somewhere between 165 and 170. Remove from heat and pour into a large bowl or a large shallow dish (a trick to make it cool faster).
- Pour the remaining 1 cup of cream into the mixture, then stir in the peppermint extract and vanilla. If desired, add a few drops of green food coloring.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill for a few hours or overnight until very cold.
- Following the ice cream maker’s directions, mix the ice cream until thick. During last 5 minutes of ice cream mixing, add the grated chocolate. Spoon into a lidded container and let sit in the freezer to ripen until you are ready to serve it.
- Makes about 4 cups
Kim F
Hi Anna: I got a Christmas gift card and splurged on a Cuisinart Ice Cream maker. I came right to your blog, as I recalled seeing some great looking recipes for ice cream. This was the first recipe we tried and it is so good… very rich. We added mini-Oreos. Thanks for the recipe.
Babs
I’m kind of picky about my mint chocolate chip ice cream too! I don’t mind if it’s not homemade, but it HAS to be green!
Claudia
Anna,
You played an important part (twice!) in my kids’ first day back to school today. I used your sour cream muffin recipe this morning to make a special back-to-school treat. I made a half batch, added fresh raspberries, and baked them into 6 jumbo muffins. They were a hit. Then, I made your mint chocolate ice cream as a special after school surprise, and everyone loved it too. Thanks!
Joanna from Colorado
Yes! That’s the same recipe I use. It is SOOOO good. 🙂
Jenna
Sue,
I have the ice cream attachment for kitchen aid and love it. It is simple to use and clean.
Shelly
Anna,
Tht is correct, most of them are uncooked. But the chocolate ones require cooking (obviously). I am going to purchase the Ulimate Ice cream book based on your recommendation. It has ALOT more recipes than the Ben & Jerrys book does. Tally ho!
Anna
Shelly, I think our library has the Ben & Jerry’s book and I believe I checked it out a long time ago. If I recall, most of the recipes are the uncooked type. I’ll have to re-check the book again or order it.
Shelly
Hello Anna,
I to am a huge mint choc. chip ice cream fan. This looks wonderful and I will give it a try. I have been making Ben & Jerrys, which is wonderful, and no cooking involved! Always a good thing! (if your interested in it, I will be happy to send it to you) To Sue, I use my kitchenaid ice cream attachment and couldn’t be happier. Amazon had them for 50% off recently.
justJENN
mmmm Mint Chip is the BEST!!!!!!!!
Katrina
The ice cream is great! Everyone loved it for their snack tonight. I just finished a post about it!
Anna
Claudia, I hope you like it. I can’t remember how many different base recipes there are in The Ultimate Ice Cream book, but I like this one because it uses the whole egg and not just the yolks.
Sally, hello in Ireland! You probably have great mint flavorings there, so use whatever you like. Here in Texas, most of the major grocery stores sell one brand’s mint extract which is actually a blend of spearmint and peppermint. I used it in ice cream once and it reminded me of mint chewing gum or toothpaste. You should be able to tell just by smelling whether or not you’ll like it in ice cream.
Also, I once saw a lady order a big green spearmint sno-cone at the sno-cone stand. She thoroughly enjoyed it, so maybe it’s just a matter of personal preference. Go with what you like.
Claudia
I can’t wait to try this. I’ve made ice cream several times this summer, and the family had just suggested I try to make mint chocolate chip. I was going to adapt my favorite base (which it looks like this recipe uses too), but now I can use yours!
Emily
Amaaazing! I want some! This looks great.
Katrina
Well, good. Before waiting for your reply, I went with the peppermint. It’s not super thick, but just like you said, was like gravy. I thought it turned to a perfect consistency. It’s chillin’.
(whistle…..noo ne noo noo noo.)
Anna
Hi Katrina,
I’m so happy to hear you made it! Also, the custard is not too thick. I’ve been making a lot of cream pies lately and forgot how thin the custard for ice cream can be, but generally this type thickens up as it sits in the refrigerator.
For the extract I’d go with the one that says peppermint. I’ve had really bad experiences with plain mint. It also tastes like spearmint. I’m sure there are brands of plain mint that are actually more like peppermint or at least less like spearmint, but you can’t go wrong with peppermint.
Katrina
I just made the custard. It’s cooling slightly. Mine came to temp(about 175 degrees F)/thickened in only about 3 1/2 minutes. I used a thermometer. But it thickened quickly, so I did the back of the wooden spoon trick (finger left a track).
I only have imitation peppermint and real mint extract. Would you suggest one over the other?
Katy
Sue, I have the KA ice cream maker attachment. We LOVE it. It works really well and is so convenient!
vanillasugar
I LOVE using grated chocolate or shaved chocolate in ice cream it just melts in the mouth better you know?
Sue
Sue, I purchased the ice cream maker attachment for the Kitchen Aid as a gift for my husband last year. It works very, very well. We’ve enjoyed it more than we should if you know what I mean!!
We’ve never made mint!! I wonder why!? I’ll have to show this recipe to my hubby and see if it interests him. For the most part I leave the ice cream making to him.
Katrina
And I like that it doesn’t have like 8 egg yolks. I never make those recipes.
Katrina
She made ice cream!!!
One of our favorite flavors, too. I’ve made mint cc a few times, now I’ll have to make your favorite. Maybe even today.
Anna
Brenda and C, I did use some food coloring. It’s optional, but I like it to have a very light green hue to it. It only takes a few drops.
Sue, mine is very old and very simple. It’s basically a platform with a motor in it, a freezer container, stirrer and cover. You pour the custard mixture in and ice cream is done in about 30 minutes. Mine’s a Cuisinart, but I’m sure there are lots of great brands out there now.
Brenda
Perfect timing! I ordered an ice cream maker recently and it should be here any day. I can’t wait to try this recipe out as mint chip is our favourite. And I’m curious too, did you add food colouring and if so, how much? It’s just a perfect colour of green.
c
wow, does it get green! is there food coloring included in the extract? this looks delicious, and the UFO tip is great 🙂
sue
Hi Anna,
What kind of ice cream freezer do you recommend? I would love to buy one, but I’d hate to invest in something super expensive. I do have a 20 year old KA mixer. Have you heard anything about the adapter for that?
I Love your site! Thanks for all the good advice!