This creamy Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is made easily with seven ingredients, like cream, mint flavoring, and chopped chocolate in your ice cream maker. This is my favorite ice cream flavor.
We are huge ice cream fans, so we make a lot of ice cream, especially in the summer months. Sometimes, we make super easy, no-churn ice creams, and sometimes, we make batches in our electric ice cream maker.
No matter how we make it, ice cream is always a sweet, creamy, delicious summer treat! If you like ice cream as much as we do, try vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, strawberry ice cream, and raspberry ice cream.
Are you craving a cool and refreshing treat? Look no further than this simple and tasty homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream recipe. With just a few ingredients and minimal effort, you’ll have a delicious dessert in no time.
There is nothing better than fresh homemade ice cream. This recipe is one of my favorites, as it takes less than five minutes to prep and put in the ice cream maker. Unlike custard base, this ice cream mixture does not use egg yolks or need to simmer or boil in a saucepan.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Half and half: makes it creamier than milk
- Heavy cream: makes it super creamy
- Granulated sugar: for some sweetness
- Vanilla extract: just a touch to enhance all the flavors
- Mint extract: not peppermint extract. For optimal taste, use mint extract and not peppermint extract. It may be a little harder to find, but it makes a huge difference in mint ice cream. Mint extract is a mixture of spearmint and peppermint, while peppermint extract is just peppermint.
- Salt: to enhance flavor
- Green food coloring: if desired for that bright green color
- Semisweet chocolate: semisweet or milk chocolate. Always use a good-quality chocolate bar. I like to use a combination of very finely chopped semisweet and milk chocolate. Remember to chop it fine so bits of it melt in your mouth.
How to make Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Start by whisking the half and half and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the cream, mint extract, vanilla extract, salt, and a little bit of green food coloring, if desired. Pour the contents into the bowl of your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
After about 20 minutes, add the finely chopped chocolate. Now, churn for another 5-10 minutes. Then, check the ice cream as it is possible to over-churn it. Spoon the ice cream into a freezer container and press plastic wrap right onto the top surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming. Chill in the freezer for several hours.
Preparation Tips
- Don’t cut down on the fat. The fat is what gives ice cream its smooth and creamy texture.
- This ice cream needs to be churned for about 25-35 minutes; however, you need to check on it after 25 minutes because it is possible to over-churn ice cream.
- Use good-quality semisweet, dark, or milk chocolate. Chop it finely so the chocolate melts in your mouth. Big chunks of chocolate are too hard to bite into when frozen.
- Food coloring is not a must, but it gives it that familiar mint color we are accustomed to.
More Sweet Treats
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups half n half
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons mint extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 –5 drops green food coloring
- 3 ounces Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate finely chopped
- 1 ounce dove milk chocolate finely chopped
Instructions
- Whisk together half and half and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Whisk in cream, vanilla extract, mint extract, sea salt, and a little bit of green food coloring if desired.
- Pour the contents into the bowl of your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. After 20 minutes, add the chopped chocolate. Churn for an additional 5-7 minutes before checking the ice cream, as it is possible to over-churn ice cream.
- Spoon the ice cream into an airtight container and press plastic wrap right onto the top surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming. Freeze for several hours.
Notes
- For optimal taste, use mint extract and not peppermint extract. It may be a little harder to find, but it really does make a huge difference. Mint extract is a mixture of spearmint and peppermint, while peppermint extract is just peppermint.
- Don’t cut down on the fat. The fat is what gives ice cream its smooth and creamy texture.
- This ice cream will need to churn for about 25-35 minutes; however, you need to check on it after 25 minutes because it is possible to over-churn ice cream.
- Use good quality semisweet chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate. Chop it finely, so the chocolate melts in your mouth. Big chunks of chocolate are too hard to bite into when frozen.
- Food coloring is not a must, but it does give it that familiar mint color that we are accustomed to.
Nutrition
Are you on the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Mary
This looks so minty and delicious! I’ve never tried making ice cream, and it would be fun to give this a try. I think mint chocolate chip would have to be one of my favorite flavors.
Beth Pierce
You should try it, Mary! It is delicious!
Heather k
Mint chocolate chip is my sister’s favorite ice cream flavor. I made it for her and she loved it. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Beth.
Richard Lowe
Great ice cream recipe. The balance of chocolate and mint was perfect and even better than my favorite ice cream shop.
Debbie
This mint chocolate chip ice cream was delicious. I loved the easy to follow recipe and looking forward to making it again.
Bryan Carey
Here is the interesting thing: I have always loved mint chocolate chip ice cream, but no one else in my family does. They think it’s too much like consuming mouthwash! That’s okay- it means I can make this and eat it all by myself.
Eva
Mint chocolate is the best ice cream flavor ever! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Eva!
Renee
This mint chocolate ice cream is simply delicious! Thanks for the advice on which chocolate to use, too – it really does make a difference, doesn’t it?
Beth Pierce
Yes it really does!
Holley
This is seriously a game changer for me! Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is my favorite and now I can make it at home??!!! Yes, please!!!
Elizabeth
I LOVE mint chip!! This looks so good . . . can’t wait to make a batch for the fam. Thanks for another awesome recipe.
Maayke
This ice cream is delicious! Better than any ice cream shop I have had.
katrina m kroeplin
This is one of my favorite recipes and my favorite ice cream. Thank you for sharing!
Marysa
This looks so delicious. I would love to try my hand at homemade ice cream, and this flavor looks awesome.
Tweenselmom
Mint choco chip is my hubby’s and my kids’ favorite ice cream flavor and they absolutely loved this recipe.
Rosey
Ice cream! Chocolate Chip mint is the favorite flavor of two of my four kids. I always keep a carton in the fridge in case they come to visit (they’re grown).
Alita
Oh, this is perfect for Summer. I love the mint green color. Indeed, there is nothing better than homemade ice cream.
Lesa
I am buying an ice-maker just to try this recipe. You get me at mint chocolate chip! Love it already!