If you have a soft spot for the cool, refreshing burst of flavor that only mint combined with chocolate chips can bring, you are going to adore this Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe. It’s a delightful treat that balances creamy, sweet, and minty in every bite, and best of all, you get to craft it yourself at home using simple ingredients and a straightforward process. Making this ice cream from scratch means you control every aspect—the intensity of mint, the type of chocolate, and how fresh it tastes. Once you try making this, you might never want store-bought again.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe is carefully chosen to create that perfect creamy texture, vibrant mint flavor, and those irresistible chocolate swirls. The simplicity of these ingredients belies the delicious results you’ll get.
- Milk: Provides the creamy base and balances the richness of the heavy cream.
- Heavy cream: Gives the ice cream its luscious, smooth texture and richness you crave.
- Sugar: Sweetens just enough without overpowering the minty freshness.
- Peppermint extract: The hero ingredient that delivers the iconic minty flavor in every spoonful.
- Chocolate bar (frozen): Using a frozen bar makes it easier to grate chocolate chips that mix evenly and stay delightfully crunchy.
- Green food dye (optional): Just a few drops add that classic mint green hue that makes this ice cream so visually inviting.
How to Make Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe
Step 1: Mix Your Creamy Base
Begin by whisking together the milk, heavy cream, sugar, peppermint extract, and green food dye if you’re using it. Take your time to whisk until all the sugar is fully dissolved, ensuring that each bite is perfectly sweet and minty without any graininess. This simple mixture is the foundation of your ice cream’s creamy texture and fresh flavor.
Step 2: Set Your Ice Cream Machine to Work
Pour your minty cream mixture into your ice cream maker and turn it on according to your machine’s instructions. Most machines will take around 30 minutes to churn this mixture into soft-serve perfection. The churning process is vital because it incorporates air to keep the texture light and creamy.
Step 3: Prepare the Chocolate Chips
While your ice cream is churning, take your chocolate bar—Hershey’s milk chocolate bar works beautifully—and grate it into fine shavings. Freezing the chocolate bar beforehand makes this much easier, especially on warm days, preventing it from melting as you grate.
Step 4: Add Chocolate Shavings into the Ice Cream
In the last few minutes of the churning process, sprinkle the freshly grated chocolate into the ice cream machine. This timing is perfect because it allows the chocolate pieces to evenly disperse throughout without sinking or melting completely.
Step 5: Freeze and Firm Up the Ice Cream
Transfer your freshly churned ice cream into a freezer-safe container and let it freeze for at least 3 to 4 hours to develop that perfect scoopable texture. If you’re craving a soft, spoonable treat right away, dig in immediately—both ways are delicious!
How to Serve Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe
Garnishes
Adding simple garnishes can elevate the experience of this classic flavor. Try topping your ice cream with a sprig of fresh mint to highlight the minty notes, or sprinkle on some extra chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips for extra texture and indulgence.
Side Dishes
This ice cream tastes fantastic paired with desserts like warm brownies or chocolate chip cookies, whose warmth contrasts beautifully with the cold, minty ice cream. A crisp waffle cone or a buttery shortbread cookie on the side can also make the experience even more delightful.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, serve your mint chocolate chip ice cream in hollowed-out mint chocolate cupcakes or use it to make ice cream sandwiches with chocolate wafers. You can also swirl it into milkshakes for a refreshing take on an old favorite.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer to keep it fresh. Proper sealing prevents ice crystals from forming and keeps your ice cream tasting freshly made for days.
Freezing
After churning and adding your chocolate, giving your ice cream that extra time in the freezer firm up the texture so it scoops easily. Make sure to press a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap on the surface before sealing the container to minimize ice crystals.
Reheating
Ice cream is best enjoyed cold, so reheating is generally not recommended. However, if your ice cream becomes too hard, simply let it sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before scooping to bring it to the ideal consistency.
FAQs
Can I use fresh mint leaves instead of peppermint extract?
While fresh mint leaves provide a lovely flavor, peppermint extract is more concentrated and offers the classic cooling mint taste crucial for the recipe. You could steep fresh mint in the cream to infuse flavor, but results may vary.
What if I don’t have an ice cream maker?
You can still make this recipe by placing the mixture in a shallow container and freezing it. Stir vigorously every 30 minutes to break up ice crystals until the ice cream is smooth and creamy.
Can I substitute the chocolate bar with chocolate chips?
Absolutely! Chocolate chips can be used instead of a chocolate bar. Just add them in during the last few minutes of churning to distribute evenly.
Is the green food dye necessary?
The green food dye is completely optional. It gives the ice cream that classic minty green color, but the flavor and texture remain perfect without it.
How long will the ice cream keep in the freezer?
Stored properly in an airtight container, homemade ice cream is best enjoyed within two weeks for optimal flavor and texture, but it can last up to a month.
Final Thoughts
This Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe is truly a joy to make and share, bringing the perfect blend of refreshing mint and rich chocolate right to your kitchen. Give it a try—it’s easier than you think and endlessly rewarding. Trust me, once you taste this homemade version, you’ll wonder how you ever settled for less!
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Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Churning (Ice Cream Maker)
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream is a creamy, refreshing treat made with fresh ingredients and an easy-to-follow recipe. With a perfect peppermint flavor and crunchy chocolate shavings folded in during churning, this ice cream is a delicious and customizable dessert ideal for warm days or any time you crave a cool indulgence.
Ingredients
Ice Cream Base
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 10 drops green food dye (optional)
Mix-In
- 1 1.55 oz chocolate bar, frozen (Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar recommended)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, sugar, peppermint extract, and green food dye if using, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
- Churn Ice Cream: Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions, typically about 30 minutes, until the mixture thickens to soft-serve consistency.
- Prepare Chocolate: While the ice cream is churning, grate the frozen chocolate bar. Freezing the chocolate beforehand makes it easier to grate into fine shavings suitable for mixing in.
- Add Chocolate Shavings: In the last few minutes of churning, slowly add the chocolate shavings to the ice cream machine so they incorporate evenly throughout the mixture.
- Freeze and Serve: Transfer the churned ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 3 to 4 hours to firm up. Alternatively, serve immediately for a softer texture. Enjoy in a bowl or on a cone.
Notes
- Freezing the chocolate bar before grating makes it easier to create fine shavings and prevents melting.
- Use peppermint extract carefully to adjust the mint flavor to your preference.
- The green food dye is optional and mainly for aesthetic appeal.
- If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can pour the mixture into a shallow container and freeze, stirring every 30 minutes to break up ice crystals for a similar effect.
- This recipe yields about 6 servings.
