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The Spruce / Kristina VanniÂ
This version of mint ice cream tastes just like a shamrock shake. The recipe calls for green food coloring for visual appeal, but it can easily be omitted if you are a purist.
Whether you are using an old-fashioned hand-crank ice cream maker surrounded by an ice and salt mixture, a motorized appliance with a freezer bowl, or a high-end counter-top machine with a self-contained freezer bowl, be sure to carefully read and understand the manufacturer's directions and suggestions before starting the process of making homemade ice cream.
Ingredients
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2 cups milk
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2 large eggs
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1 cup sugar
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1/2 cup light corn syrup
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2 cups heavy cream
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1/2 teaspoon mint extract
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24 drops green food color
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Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni -
Place the milk in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Warm the milk just until bubbles begin to form.
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni -
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and light corn syrup.
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni -
Slowly add the egg mixture to the warmed milk, stirring constantly. Cook over the simmering water for 5 minutes while stirring, or until it has thickened and reached a custard consistency.Â
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni -
Remove the custard from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream, mint extract, and green food color. Cool to room temperature.Â
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni -
Pour the custard into an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator at least 8 hours before churning.Â
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni -
When ready to prepare the ice cream, churn according to the manufacturer’s directions.
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni -
Spoon the churned ice cream into a freezer-safe container. Freeze until set, at least 2 to 4 hours.Â
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni -
Scoop the ice cream into serving bowls and garnish with fresh mint, if desired.
Tips
- Most ice cream makers for home use come with bowls that need to be set in the freezer overnight before churning ice cream. These bowls have double-insulated walls with coolants in between. When you are ready to churn the ice cream, the bowl is taken from the freezer and immediately set up with the dasher, locked into place, and the prepared ice cream mixture is added. The motor is then turned on and the churning begins.
- Freezing homemade ice cream is a two-step process: churning and ripening. After the chilled custard base has been churned, it will have a looser, soft-serve texture. To achieve a scoopable consistency, the ice cream now needs to go through a process called ripening. The flavor improves and the product melts more slowly when it has ripened. Spoon the churned ice cream into an airtight freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 2-4 hours or up to overnight. It is worth the wait!
Recipe Variation
- You can also make mint chip ice cream using this recipe. Simply add mini chocolate chips about halfway through the churning process.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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409 | Calories |
24g | Fat |
46g | Carbs |
5g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 409 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 24g | 31% |
Saturated Fat 15g | 74% |
Cholesterol 119mg | 40% |
Sodium 77mg | 3% |
Total Carbohydrate 46g | 17% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
Total Sugars 46g | |
Protein 5g | |
Vitamin C 1mg | 3% |
Calcium 125mg | 10% |
Iron 0mg | 2% |
Potassium 164mg | 3% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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