Peppermint Ice Cream

Peppermint ice cream made with crushed candy canes is a delicious holiday treat that combines the cool and creamy texture of ice cream with the refreshing flavor of peppermint. The crushed candy canes add a delightful crunch and a burst of minty sweetness to each bite.

This festive dessert is perfect for enjoying during the winter months or as a special treat for any peppermint lover.

Homemade ice cream

Peppermint ice cream made with crushed candy canes is a classic holiday treat that never goes out of style. The combination of cool and creamy ice cream with the refreshing flavor of peppermint creates a perfect balance of sweetness and freshness that is sure to delight your taste buds.

To make peppermint ice cream, a vanilla ice cream base is made and infused with peppermint extract for that signature minty flavor. The crushed candy canes are mixed into the ice cream, adding a delightful crunch and an extra burst of peppermint sweetness with each bite.

One of the best things about peppermint ice cream is its versatility. It can be enjoyed on its own as a refreshing dessert after a holiday meal, or it can be used as a delicious topping for other desserts, such as warm chocolate brownies or apple pie. And it's double peppermint when served with candy cane fudge!

Peppermint ice cream is not only delicious, but it also adds a festive touch to any holiday gathering. Whether you're serving it at a Christmas party or enjoying it with your family on a cozy winter evening, peppermint ice cream is sure to bring a smile to everyone's face.

What ingredients do I need?

• Half and Half or heavy cream
• Whole milk
• Egg yolks
• Sugar
• Peppermint extract
• Peppermint candy canes

I often use half and half when making ice cream. You could also use equal parts of heavy cream if you prefer. 

How do I make peppermint ice cream?

• Place half and half and milk in a saucepan.
• Heat over medium heat until milk is just below a simmer.
• In a separate dish, combine egg yolks and sugar.

• When milk is just below a simmer, remove ¼ cup and slowly whisk into the egg mixture. This tempers the eggs so they won't scramble when added to the hot milk.
• Whisk the egg mixture into the saucepan.
• Heat over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the mixture begins to thicken just slightly. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
• Stir the mixture often to avoid scorching.
• Remove from heat and pour into a container. I often use a juice pitcher with a lid.
• Refrigerate mixture until fully chilled - 3-6 hours.
• Add peppermint extract to the milk mixture.
• Pour into a frozen ice cream maker.
• Churn for 20-30 minutes until ice cream is formed.
• Remove from frozen ice cream maker bowl and place in a freezer-safe container.
• The ice cream will be very soft and will melt quickly. 
• Add crushed candy canes and stir into ice cream.

• Place ice cream into a freezer until the ice cream is fully frozen. This can take 1-3 hours.
• If freezing for several hours, remove 10 minutes before serving so the ice cream can be scooped. 

How do I crush the candy canes?

I used candy canes before when making my sugar cookies decorated with candy canes. The method I have used in the past was to unwrap the candy canes and place them in a plastic bag. I would then crush the candy with a rolling pin or a large can from my pantry.

This time, I decided to try a new method. First I broke the candy canes into large pieces and then put them into a food processor. This worked really well and you could process as fine as you wanted. I like to have a few larger pieces along with the finely ground candy.

One word of caution, allow the candy canes to settle down a bit before you open the lid. Otherwise, you will get a smoke cloud full of candy cane dust. 

More delicious Christmas  desserts

• Pecan Bars
• Cranberry Swirl Cookies
• Bow Tie Cookies
• Cranberry Bundt Cake

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my holiday recipes! 

Peppermint Ice Cream

Kathy Berget

Festive ice cream made with crushed candy canes.

5 from 17 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Churn Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8 people

Calories 235 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  Ice Cream Maker
• ▢
  Measuring Cups
• ▢
  Measuring Spoons

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 cups Half and Half
• ▢ 2 cups Whole Milk
• ▢ 2 Egg Yolks
• ▢ ½ cup Sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
• ▢ ½ cup Crushed Peppermint Candies

Instructions

 

• Place half and half and milk in a sauce pan.
  2 cups Half and Half, 2 cups Whole Milk
• Heat over medium heat until milk is just below a simmer.
• In a separate dish, combine egg yolks and sugar.
  2 Egg Yolks, ½ cup Sugar
• When milk is just below a simmer, remove ¼ cup and slowly whisk into egg mixture. This tempures the eggs so they won't scramble when added to the hot milk.
• Whisk egg mixture into the sauce pan.
• Heat over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until mixture begins to thicken just slightly. Do not allow mixture to boil.
• Stir mixture often to avoid scorching.
• Remove from heat and pour into a container. I often use a juice pitcher with a lid.
• Refrigerate mixture until fully chilled - 3-6 hours.
• Add peppermint extract to milk mixture.
  1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
• Pour into a frozen ice cream maker.
• Churn for 20-30 minutes until ice cream is formed.
• Remove from frozen ice cream maker bowl and place in a freezer safe container.
• The ice cream will be very soft and will melt quickly.
• Add crushed candy canes and stir into ice cream.
  ½ cup Crushed Peppermint Candies
• Place ice cream into a freezer  until ice cream is fully frozen. This can take 1-3 hours.
• If freezing for several hours, remove 10 minutes before serving so ice cream can be scooped.

Notes

• May use heavy cream in place of the half and half.
• Make certain bowl for electric ice cream maker is fully frozen.

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 53mgPotassium: 164mgSugar: 26gVitamin A: 378IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 138mgIron: 1mg

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