Chocolate Mint Ice Cream

Jun 10, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Beans Medium

Two generous scoops of chocolate mint ice cream in a shallow ceramic bowl, softly melting at the edges

This rich chocolate ice cream features real peppermint leaves and pure vanilla bean for fresh, natural mint flavor and creamy depth. Made with a smooth custard base and high-quality cocoa powder for intense chocolate intensity.

Prep 20 min

Cook 10 min

Cooling 5 hr

Total 5 hr 30 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (480.0 ml)whole milk
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)heavy cream
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
¼ tsp (1.5 g)fine sea salt
4.0 large (76.0 g)egg yolks
½ cup (50.0 g)unsweetened cocoa powder
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
½ cup (12.0 g)fresh peppermint leaves, loosely packed
¼ tsp (1.25 ml)pure peppermint extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Combine whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, fine sea salt, and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Split and scrape vanilla bean seeds into the saucepan and add the pod as well. Heat mixture until steamy but not boiling, stirring occasionally to incorporate cocoa and dissolve sugar.
Remove from heat. Add fresh peppermint leaves to the hot mixture, cover, and steep for 30 minutes to infuse mint flavor.
Discard vanilla bean pod and strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove mint leaves.
In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks until smooth.
Gradually pour about 1 cup (240 ml) of the warm chocolate-mint mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly to temper.
Return the yolk mixture to the saucepan with the remaining chocolate-mint base. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens slightly and reaches 170-175°F (77-79°C) to form a custard.
Remove from heat and strain again if needed. Stir in pure peppermint extract.
Cool the custard quickly by placing the saucepan in an ice bath, stirring until chilled. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight until fully chilled.
Churn the custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions, about 30-40 minutes until soft-serve consistency.
Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 1 hour to firm up before serving.

Tips

Use fresh peppermint leaves instead of artificial flavor for a clean, natural mint taste that melds well with chocolate.
Scrape vanilla bean seeds into the base and steep the pod with the cream mixture for maximum vanilla depth.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make chocolate mint ice cream?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 5 hours to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store chocolate mint ice cream?

Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Let soften in the refrigerator 10 minutes before serving for best texture.

Can I make chocolate mint ice cream ahead?

Custard base can be made and chilled the day before churning for convenience.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

256 Calories / serving

16.2g Fat

26.5g Carbs

5.5g Protein

22.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2048 cal · 130g fat · 212g carbs · 44g protein · 183g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 256 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 48 min·2.8 mi·~5600 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 35 min·1.8 mi·~3500 steps
Moderate cycling 26 min·5.2 mi
Swimming laps 36 min
Jogging 25 min·2.1 mi·~4000 steps
Stair climbing 24 min·~2150 steps
Dancing 42 min
Bodyweight circuit training 26 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 59 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.