Fresh Mint Ice Cream
User Reviews
3.6
Fresh Mint Ice Cream
Description
Fresh Mint Ice Cream begins by steeping fresh mint leaves in warmed cream and half and half, allowing the mint’s oils to flavor the dairy gently and naturally. After steeping for two hours, the hardened leaves are strained out, leaving bright mint-infused cream. This cream is then combined with a mixture of egg yolks and sugar to form a custard base, which is thickened over low-medium heat until it coats the back of a spoon. The finished custard is strained again to ensure smoothness and refrigerated to chill thoroughly before churning.
During churning, melted dark chocolate mixed with a neutral oil is poured in thin streams, producing delicate chocolate ribbons that break up into shards as the ice cream freezes. The final texture is creamy with a pronounced fresh mint flavor and contrasting bittersweet chocolate pieces. This ice cream is a refreshing choice for a cool dessert or a palate cleanser after rich meals.
The recipe is adapted from Serious Eats, emphasizing careful infusion and custard technique to deliver clean mint flavor without artificial extracts. The chocolate swirl is added thoughtfully to avoid clumps and maintain a pleasant texture.
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 mint about 1 cup, lightly packed, large handful, fresh leaves
- 4 egg yolk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 ounces dark chocolate
- 2 teaspoons neutral oil canola, sunflower
Instructions
- Heat the cream and half and half in a saucepan until just simmering.
- Remove from the heat, add the mint leaves, cover and let steep for 2 hours.
- Whisk the egg yolks and the sugar and set aside.
- Strain the mint leaves out of the cream, pour back into the saucepan, and add the egg yolk mixture.
- Place back on the stove and heat over low-medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Strain again to remove any bits of cooked egg yolk, and chill thoroughly (preferably overnight).
- Churn according to your ice cream maker's instructions.
- While the ice cream is churning, melt the dark chocolate with the oil in the microwave or in a double boiler and mix until it is smooth.
- Pour the chocolate in a thin stream over the ice cream when it is almost done churning, you can break up any large pieces of chocolate that form with a spoon.
- Place in a freezer safe container and freeze for at least a few hours before serving.
Notes
- The ice cream benefits from steeping the mint leaves in warm cream for at least two hours to fully release their flavor.
- Chill the custard base thoroughly before churning to improve texture and freezing quality.
- Pour the melted chocolate slowly during churning to create fine chocolate pieces rather than large chunks.
- This recipe adapts techniques from Serious Eats for reliable custard preparation and mint infusion.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings (makes approximately 2 pints)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 351 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 351kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 152mg | 51% |
| Sodium | 52mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 220mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 19g | 38% |
| Vitamin A | 787IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 106mg | 11% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
3.6
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