Indulge in Creamy Bliss: The Ultimate Easy Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe
There’s a special kind of magic that happens when you create something delicious from scratch, and for our family, that magic often comes in the form of homemade ice cream. Among all the delightful frozen treats, mint chocolate chip ice cream holds a particularly cherished spot in our hearts, and in our freezer! I vividly remember the excitement when I finally upgraded from my old, manual crank ice cream maker – a true arm workout – to a sleek, motorized version. This incredible transition opened up a world of possibilities, and this very mint chocolate chip recipe was one of the first, and certainly most successful, experiments I embarked on.
Why This Easy Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe Works So Well
Many ice cream recipes require a custard base, which involves cooking eggs and then chilling the mixture for several hours, sometimes overnight. While these can certainly result in a rich and delicious ice cream, they also add extra steps and a significant amount of waiting time. That’s where this homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream recipe truly shines. It’s not just “good”; it’s arguably even better than many store-bought varieties, offering a smooth, refreshing, and intensely satisfying experience without any of the fuss. The secret to its incredible ease and irresistible texture lies in its no-cook, no-egg base.
This recipe eliminates the need for any cooking whatsoever, making it remarkably simple and quick to prepare. You simply mix the ingredients, pour them into your ice cream maker, and let the machine do its work. This means no standing over a stove, no worrying about tempering eggs, and no long chill times in the refrigerator before you can even begin churning. For busy households or impatient dessert lovers (like my kids!), this is a game-changer.
Speaking of my children, this mint chocolate chip ice cream quickly disappeared from our freezer, often within the first couple of nights, just like our equally beloved Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Ice Cream! Its popularity has cemented its status as a tried-and-true family favorite, made countless times over the years for birthdays, holidays, or simply as a well-deserved treat.
My personal preference, and a cornerstone of many recipes on this blog, is ice cream made with a sweetened condensed milk base. This choice isn’t just about ease; it’s about achieving a consistently creamy, luscious texture that’s hard to beat. Because it doesn’t rely on eggs or require cooking, the mixture is ready to churn almost immediately after being combined. This means you get to enjoy your homemade ice cream much faster – often within an hour or two of starting the process, plus freezing time. While I appreciate the craft involved in egg custard bases, and I’m perfectly capable of making them, I’ve found that this condensed milk method delivers outstanding results with significantly less effort and waiting. It’s a method I’ve embraced wholeheartedly, and I’m confident you will too.
Essential Ingredients for Your Mint Chocolate Chip Masterpiece
Creating truly delicious homemade ice cream starts with quality ingredients. For this recipe, we keep things simple, focusing on a few key components that come together to form a perfectly balanced and incredibly creamy mint chocolate chip delight. While the full, precise measurements and detailed instructions are available in the printable recipe card at the end of this post, here’s a look at what you’ll need and why each ingredient plays a vital role in achieving that dreamy texture and refreshing flavor:
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
- 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk: This is the star of our no-cook base. Sweetened condensed milk provides both sweetness and a rich, creamy consistency without the need for eggs. It helps create a smooth, dense ice cream that resists iciness.
- 2 cups heavy cream: Heavy cream is essential for the luxurious richness and airy volume of homemade ice cream. Its high fat content results in a velvety texture that melts beautifully in your mouth.
- 1 cup milk (I use 1%): Regular milk helps to thin the mixture slightly, ensuring it churns properly and isn’t overly dense. You can adjust the fat content based on your preference; I find 1% works perfectly without sacrificing creaminess when combined with heavy cream.
- Large pinch salt: A touch of salt is crucial for enhancing all the other flavors, especially the sweetness and the mint. It balances the profile and prevents the ice cream from tasting one-dimensionally sweet.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: High-quality vanilla extract adds a foundational layer of warmth and complexity that complements the mint and chocolate beautifully, elevating the overall taste.
- 1/2 teaspoon pure mint extract: For that signature refreshing kick! Be sure to use pure mint extract, not peppermint, as mint extract offers a more rounded, authentic mint flavor that pairs perfectly with chocolate. A little goes a long way, so measure carefully.
- 5 drops green food coloring (optional): This is purely for aesthetics. If you love the classic green hue of mint chocolate chip ice cream, a few drops will achieve it. Otherwise, feel free to omit it – the flavor will be just as fantastic!
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate: We’ll be melting this to create our homemade chocolate chips. Bittersweet chocolate provides a delightful contrast to the sweet mint base, and its high cocoa content ensures a rich, deep chocolate flavor.
How To Make This Refreshing Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Preparing this homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream is surprisingly straightforward, thanks to its no-cook method. The key is to follow a few simple steps to ensure a perfectly creamy base and delightfully crunchy chocolate chips. The process is designed to be enjoyable and rewarding, resulting in a dessert that tastes like it came from a gourmet ice cream parlor.
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. Please scroll down to simply print out the recipe!
- **Prepare the Base:** In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except for the chocolate. This includes the sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, regular milk, a large pinch of salt, vanilla extract, and pure mint extract. If you choose to use green food coloring for that classic vibrant look, add it now. Using a sturdy whisk, vigorously mix all these components until they are thoroughly combined, smooth, and uniformly colored. Ensure there are no streaks and the mixture has a consistent pale green (if colored) or off-white appearance. Once well mixed, carefully pour this delicious base into the frozen bowl of your ice cream maker and begin processing according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Most standard ice cream makers will take about 20-30 minutes to churn the mixture to a soft-serve consistency.
- **Prepare the Chocolate Drizzle (Stracciatella Technique):** Approximately five minutes before your ice cream maker is scheduled to finish churning (or when the ice cream has reached a thick, soft-serve consistency), it’s time to prepare the chocolate. Break the 4 ounces of bittersweet chocolate into smaller pieces and place them in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate on 50% power in your microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until it is smooth and fluid. Be careful not to overheat it. Once melted, slowly and steadily drizzle the warm, melted chocolate into the churning ice cream maker. The continuous motion of the churner, combined with the significant temperature difference between the warm chocolate and the cold ice cream, will create beautiful, thin shards of chocolate throughout the mixture.
- **Witness the Magic of Stracciatella:** This method of adding melted chocolate directly into churning ice cream is known as the “stracciatella” technique, inspired by the Italian gelato flavor. The instant the warm chocolate hits the cold, semi-frozen ice cream, it hardens and shatters into irregular, crisp flakes and delightful bits, creating those wonderful, signature chocolate chips we all love. It’s a much more dynamic and flavorful way to incorporate chocolate compared to simply folding in pre-made chips, as the texture and melt of the chocolate are superior. Continue to let the ice cream maker churn for the remaining five minutes to ensure the chocolate is evenly distributed and the ice cream reaches its final soft-serve consistency.
- **Freeze Until Firm:** Once the churning is complete, the ice cream will have a soft, scoopable texture, similar to a Wendy’s Frosty or thick soft-serve. To achieve a firmer, more traditional ice cream consistency, gently transfer the churned ice cream from the machine into a freezer-safe container. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystal formation, then seal the container tightly with a lid. Place the container in your freezer for several hours, typically 3 to 6 hours, or until it is firm enough to scoop to your liking. The longer it freezes, the harder it will become.
And that’s it! The hardest part is simply waiting for a few hours for it to harden in the freezer. But trust me, the anticipation only makes that first spoonful of incredibly fresh, creamy, and minty chocolate chip ice cream even more rewarding. Get ready to enjoy a dessert that will truly impress everyone who tastes it!
I sincerely hope that you and your loved ones enjoy this wonderfully creamy, refreshingly minty, and utterly delicious homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream as much as our family does. It’s more than just a dessert; it’s a simple pleasure that brings smiles to every face and a burst of cool flavor with every scoop!
See what our readers are saying!
Oh my goodness! Heaven in a bowl! During quarantine we have rediscovered our ice cream maker. However we’ve been stuck on vanilla because it was so delicious. Today my son asked for mint chocolate chip, my favorite, so I headed online and found your recipe. I adore easy recipes and this one was so simple. The perfect subtle amount of mint. And the melted chips at the end making the crackle? That’s what cinched the deal for me. All of my kids now agree this is the best flavor we’ve made yet! Thank you!
~Melanie
Better than any!!! I used lactose-free half-and-half, now everyone can enjoy this ice cream. I used your same recipe blend, and the lactose free half-and-half, to make chocolate chip, too (omitting the mint extract). Rave reviews and special thanks from my lactose intolerant friends and family. Thank you for sharing!!!
~ Barbara
Discover More Delicious Homemade Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Recipes
Once you’ve experienced the joy of making your own ice cream, a whole new world of frozen delights opens up! If you’re eager to explore more amazing ice cream recipes and whip up an array of delectable frozen treats, you’ve come to the right place. From rich and decadent to light and refreshing, these recipes are sure to become new favorites in your kitchen:
- If you’re looking for more amazing ice cream recipes to whip up, this Mocha Chocolate Chip Ice Cream or Caramel Chocolate Nut Ice Cream are absolute game changers. Each offers a unique blend of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and prove just how incredible homemade ice cream can be.
- Looking for a healthier version of a cool, minty treat? Try our Mint Chocolate Popsicles. They offer all the refreshing flavor you love, but in a lighter, guilt-free format that’s perfect for warm days. You won’t be disappointed!
- Speaking of extremely delicious ice cream bases, we just made my Freakshakes again the other night and oh my! You guys HAVE to try these extreme milkshakes! They’re super fun for birthday parties or any celebration, transforming a simple milkshake into an over-the-top dessert experience. You will never make milkshakes the same way again.
- After making these Butterfinger Ice Cream Sandwiches, now I want to try chocolate mint cookies with this mint ice cream to make the ultimate chocolate mint ice cream sandwiches! Imagine the combination of chewy chocolate cookies and refreshing mint chocolate chip ice cream – pure bliss!
And if you love mint and chocolate as much as we do, a combination that is simply irresistible, be sure to try our peppermint patty brownies. They offer another fantastic way to enjoy this classic flavor pairing in a deliciously fudgy dessert.
More Mint Chocolate Recipes You’ll Adore
For those who can’t get enough of the invigorating combination of mint and chocolate, we’ve curated a collection of additional recipes that highlight this perfect pairing. These treats are ideal for any occasion, from everyday desserts to special holiday gatherings:
- Mint Chocolate Lasagna: A layered dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious, combining creamy mint and rich chocolate.
- Chocolate Mint Brownies: Fudgy brownies infused with mint and topped with a refreshing minty frosting.
- Oreo Thin Mint Shooters: A fun, easy, and decadent dessert in a glass.
- Mint Chocolate Popsicles: A cool, refreshing, and healthier way to enjoy mint chocolate.
- Chocolate Mint Cookies: Soft, chewy cookies packed with chocolate and a hint of mint.
- Grasshopper Pie: A classic, no-bake pie that’s light, fluffy, and full of minty chocolate flavor.
I love to bake and cook and share my recipes with you! I know it’s hard to remember to come back and search, so I’ve made it easy for you with my weekly newsletter! You can subscribe for free and I’ll send you delicious recipes every week right to your email.
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup milk I use 1%
- large pinch salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon pure mint extract
- 5 drops green food coloring
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
Things You’ll Need
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Ice cream maker
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Whisk
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Food coloring
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Measuring cups and spoons
Before You Begin
Instructions
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Combine all ingredients except for the chocolate in a large bowl and whisk until well combined. Pour into your ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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5 minutes before churning is complete, melt the chocolate on 50% power in your microwave. Slowly drizzle the chocolate into the churning ice cream maker.
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The difference in temperature between the ice cream and the meted chocolate will cause the chocolate to harden and crack, creating wonderful chocolate chips. This method is known as straccietella.
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Turn the ice cream out into a freezer container and freeze until hard, usually a few hours or so.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This recipe was originally published on this blog on September 13, 2011.