Mint Ice Cream Recipe - How to Make Fresh Mint Ice Cream (2024)

FAQs

What mint is used in mint ice cream? ›

Most fresh mint sold in grocery stores is spearmint, but you can also use peppermint in this ice cream recipe. In fact, many mint ice creams are made with peppermint rather than spearmint. Just keep in mind that since peppermint has a higher menthol content, you'll want to use a bit less of it.

In some cases the liqueur crème de menthe is used to provide the mint flavor, but in most cases peppermint or spearmint flavoring is used. Food coloring is usually added to make it green, but it may be beige or white in "all natural" or "organic" varieties.

Peppermint extract contains significantly more menthol, which gives it a more intense flavor. For this reason, mint chocolate chip ice cream is traditionally made with plain mint extract. If you do opt for peppermint extract, you will get a stronger punch of mint flavor.

To be clear, "mint" is an overarching term for over a dozen plants, but for our purposes, we will be comparing spearmint (what most people think of as the basic mint) and peppermint. Peppermint is a type of mint with high amounts of menthol — about 30% more than spearmint according to Medical News Today.

The difference in flavor though will mostly just come from variations in the overall ice cream recipe, what kinds of mint are used, how the mint flavor is extracted (if using natural leaves), how much is added, etc. None of that really has to do with color though.

“It's just like two different tastes in one and not everyone has the same taste buds to enjoy that.” Many students compare the taste of mint chocolate ice cream to toothpaste. “I personally don't like it because it feels like I'm eating toothpaste […] Eating chocolate mint anything I'm like, I'm swallowing toothpaste.

The green color in mint ice cream is created by food coloring. We do not use additives like food coloring in our ice cream so the mint flavor ice cream is just mint.

Mint extract is a mixture of spearmint and peppermint, whereas peppermint extract is just that. Mint brings a bright, bold flavor to recipes. On the savory side, spearmint is usually the mint of choice, however when it comes to sweet, peppermint is the herb of choice as it pairs well with chocolate and citrus flavors.

If you want an easy way to add mint flavor to your drinks or desserts, then mint extract is a great choice for fresh or dried mint substitute. Though, you'll have to tread lightly with an extract since it's very concentrated and potent. Start by adding a drop and increase as you taste test for intensity.

Peppermint extract packs a punch with its intense flavor, so you'll want to use it sparingly. When used as a substitute for fresh mint leaves, forget about ratios - add it one drop at a time and test the taste to avoid overpowering the dish.

How much mint extract equals fresh mint? ›

In answer to your question, you can substitute ½ cup fresh mint with 3 tsp (teaspoon) or 1 Tbs (tablespoon) mint or peppermint extract. Extracts come in different concentrations.

Dried mint has a cooling menthol-like aroma and tastes sweet and woody with hints of eucalyptus. It adds a depth and earthiness to dishes that you simply don't get with fresh mint and, as such, should be seen as a completely different ingredient. They're not interchangeable.

You can use dried mint leaves as an alternative to fresh when cooking or baking. Dried leaves are often used in spice rubs for meats and poultry because they release their flavors slowly during cooking time — this helps season food without overpowering it with strong flavors from spices like garlic or onion powder.

For a quicker infusion, you can also boil your mint water for 3–5 minutes before letting it cool. Also, you can enjoy it as a hot mint tea. Making mint water at home is as simple as covering a few sprigs of fresh mint with water and allowing time for its flavor to be absorbed.

Stir milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt together in a large bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Mix in green food coloring. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

Mint extract is a mixture of spearmint and peppermint, whereas peppermint extract is just that. Whether you prefer the subtle flavor of spearmint or the in-your-face flavor of peppermint, we have a recipe to suit your taste. Below, we've shared some of our favorite mint recipes.

Mint chocolate is timeless. But did you know that you can combine several varieties of mint with chocolate? Peppermint is the type we most commonly associate with mint chocolate, especially when it comes to hot chocolate. But spearmint, wintergreen and crème de menthe can all create a vibrant blend.

Fresh spearmint is used more frequently in cooking, because it does not contain menthol, the oil that produces that distinctive “cooling” sensation (peppermint contains menthol in abundance). In general, look for fresh mint with perky leaves and stems, with no black or dried spots or wilted parts.