The Best Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream

This recipe for homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream starts with a custard base that is churned in an ice cream machine for a super rich and creamy result!

From the time my husband bought me my Cuisinart ice cream maker for my birthday, I fell in love with homemade ice cream. It’s ridiculously creamy and rich and I know it’s made with real food like cream and eggs from our chickens!

And experimenting with making all of the different flavors is just so fun! This recipe is probably my kids’ favorite ice cream flavor. It’s fresh and bright and absolutely delicious!

Next time, you’ll have to try making our vanilla bean ice cream too!

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what you need to make homemade Mint chocolate Chip ice cream:

ingredients

• Whole Milk – You can use 2% milk for lower fat, but whole milk will give you the creamiest ice cream.
• Sugar – White granulated sugar.
• Egg Yolks – To make the custard base of this ice cream.
• Heavy Cream – Thick heavy cream is a necessity for a super creamy ice cream.
• Peppermint Extract – The higher quality peppermint extract you use, the better and more “real” the flavor your ice cream will have.
• Chocolate Chips – Mini chocolate chips are best or you could chop chocolate chunks in a food processor to make them smaller and easier to chew frozen.
• Green Food Coloring (optional) – I personally avoid using dyes in my family’s food, but you can definitely add a couple of drops for that typical green color you’re used to mint ice cream having. A small amount goes a long way!

how to make machine churned Mint ice cream:

Prep – Add the 4 egg yolks and 1/2 cup of sugar to a medium saucepan. Whisk until it is well combined and turns a light yellow color.

In another small saucepan, heat 1 cup of milk over medium-low heat until it just starts to simmer.

Combine – Slowly add the warm milk to the pan with the egg and sugar mixture, stirring constantly.

Heat – Return the mixture to medium-low heat until it reaches 165º F. Immediately remove the pan from the heat.

Chill – Pour the custard base into an airtight container with a piece of plastic wrap laid on the surface to keep a “skin” from forming. Refrigerate it for at least 4 hours.

Churn – After the custard has chilled, stir in 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract, 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and a couple of drops of green food coloring (if using). Pour it into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Tips For Success:

To Serve – Enjoy your homemade ice cream straight out of the machine for a soft serve texture or freeze it for at least an hour for a firmer result. To serve after freezing, let the ice cream thaw for a few minutes to make it easier to scoop.

To Store – Store leftovers in a tightly sealed freezer safe container for up to 1 month.

Variations – For a chocolate mint ice cream, add 1/3 cup cocoa powder to the whole milk when you heat it up in step 2.

Substitutions – While you can use 2% instead of whole milk, your ice cream won’t turn out as creamy.

Here’s Why You’ll Love This Ice Cream

• It’s absolutely delicious! Rich, thick and creamy
• This ice cream has a real fresh, peppermint flavor you won’t get with strore-bought mint ice cream
• Homemade just tastes so much better than store-bought
• It’s a great way to use up “extra” eggs if you keep chickens
• It’s much healthier to eat homemade than store-bought ice cream because it’s made with only whole ingredients. No added preservatives, dyes, artificial flavors and sweeteners…

FAQ about this Mint chocolate Chip ice cream recipe

Do I need an ice cream maker?

This recipe is meant to be made in ice cream machine, but if you don’t have one, you can pour the ice cream mixture into a container, freeze for 2 hours. After it’s mostly frozen, take it out and mix it with electric beaters until it’s smooth.

Can I make it without eggs?

This recipe is made from a custard base that relies on eggs to give it the right consistency. Here is an egg-free mint chocolate chip ice cream you might like to try instead.

How long does it take to make ice cream in an electric ice cream maker?

It will vary a little from one brand of machine to another, but typically it takes about 30 minutes for ice cream to freeze to the right consistency.

what happens if you over churn ice cream too long?

Over churning will result in an icier ice cream that isn’t as creamy and smooth.

How long does homemade ice cream last?

Homemade ice cream will last up to 2 months in the freezer if it’s stored in an airtight freezer container, but it’s best enjoyed within 1 month for the best flavor and texture.

Best containers to store homemade ice cream in

You can freeze ice cream in any freezer safe containers. These are some of my favorite containers to use:

• 32 oz. Freezer Containers With Lids
• Set of 2 Quart Sized Ice Cream Containers With Lids
• Glass Rubbermaid Freezer Containers

more homemade Ice cream recipes

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