Quick & Refreshing Fresh Mint Ice Cream Recipe for Summer Joy

Fresh mint ice cream whispers cool sophistication through its vibrant green hue and invigorating aroma.

Delicate mint leaves infuse this classic dessert with a natural, garden-fresh essence that dances across your palate.

Smooth cream creates a luxurious backdrop for the herb’s crisp, bright notes, reimagineing an ordinary treat into a sensory experience.

Each spoonful promises a refreshing escape from ordinary sweets, blending creamy richness with botanical brightness.

The subtle mint flavor offers a gentle, sophisticated touch that feels both familiar and exciting.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this dessert bridges rustic charm with culinary elegance.

You’ll find yourself captivated by its remarkable balance of coolness and creaminess.

Fresh Mint Ice Cream: A Refreshing and Creamy Dessert

• Refresh with Minty Coolness: This ice cream delivers a stunning burst of fresh mint flavor that instantly cools and delights your palate, making it perfect for hot summer days.
• Artisan Technique Triumph: The recipe uses sophisticated culinary methods like steeping mint leaves, tempering egg yolks, and creating a beautiful granita, which elevates home cooking into a gourmet experience.
• Textural Symphony: By combining smooth, creamy mint ice cream with icy watermelon granita, the dessert offers an incredible contrast of textures that dance on your tongue – silky meets crystalline in every delightful spoonful.
• Elegant Entertainment Dessert: Layered beautifully and requiring some skill to prepare, this dessert becomes a conversation starter at dinner parties, impressing guests with its sophisticated presentation and complex flavor profile.

Ingredients for Fresh Mint Ice Cream

• Watermelon: Sweet summer fruit providing the base for the refreshing granita.
• Sugar: Essential sweetener balancing the watermelons natural flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Bright citrus that enhances overall taste and prevents browning.

• Milk, Heavy Cream: Rich dairy components creating smooth, creamy texture.
• Egg Yolks: Provides luxurious custard-like consistency and silky mouthfeel.

• Fresh Mint Leaves: Aromatic herb infusing delicate, cooling flavor into the ice cream.
• Sea Salt: Tiny pinch to elevate and balance the sweet granitas taste.

How to Make Creamy Fresh Mint Ice Cream

Step 1: Prepare Watermelon Granita

• Blend watermelon
• Add sugar
• Squeeze lemon juice

Puree all ingredients in a food processor until completely smooth.

Step 2: Freeze Watermelon Mixture

Transfer the mixture to a shallow freezer-safe dish and place in the freezer.

Step 3: Create Ice Crystals

After 30 minutes, use a fork to scrape the edges, moving ice crystals toward the center and breaking large chunks.

Step 4: Continue Freezing

Repeat scraping every 30 minutes until fully frozen, approximately 3-4 hours.

Step 5: Infuse Mint Cream Base

• Milk
• Sugar
• Heavy cream
• Fresh mint leaves

Heat milk, sugar, and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbles appear at the edges. Remove from heat and add mint leaves. Cover and let steep for 1-2 hours.

Step 6: Prepare Egg Yolks

Whisk egg yolks in a bowl until smooth and creamy.

Step 7: Temper Egg Mixture

Reheat the mint-infused cream and slowly drizzle 1/3 of the mixture into the egg yolks while continuously mixing.

Step 8: Thicken Custard

Pour the tempered yolks back into the saucepan and heat gently until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Step 9: Strain and Finish Base

Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, then stir in the remaining heavy cream.

Step 10: Chill and Churn

Thoroughly chill the mixture before churning in an ice cream maker.

Step 11: Assemble and Serve

Alternate layers of watermelon granita and mint ice cream in serving dishes. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the top just before serving. Enjoy immediately!

Tips for the Best Mint Ice Cream

• Steep Strategically: Let mint leaves infuse milk and cream for maximum flavor intensity, allowing herbs to release their essential oils and create a more robust taste.
• Temper Carefully: Slowly add hot cream mixture to egg yolks while whisking constantly to prevent scrambling and ensure a smooth, silky custard base.
• Chill Completely: Refrigerate the mint custard for several hours or overnight before churning to enhance flavor development and improve ice cream texture.
• Strain Thoroughly: Use a fine mesh sieve to remove mint leaves and ensure a luxuriously smooth ice cream without any fibrous texture.
• Layer Creatively: Alternate granita and mint ice cream for a visually stunning and texturally exciting dessert that combines icy and creamy elements.

Storing Your Fresh Mint Ice Cream for Maximum Freshness

• Refrigeration: Transfer the mint ice cream and watermelon granita to airtight containers with tight-fitting lids. Seal carefully to prevent freezer burn and maintain fresh flavors. Store in the coldest part of your freezer for up to 1 week.
• Thawing: Remove the dessert from the freezer 5-10 minutes before serving. Let it sit at room temperature to soften slightly, which helps restore its creamy texture. Avoid microwaving, as this can cause uneven melting and compromise the delicate consistency.
• Reserving: Scoop the partially thawed ice cream into serving dishes. Give a quick stir to redistribute any separated ingredients. Top with fresh mint leaves or a sprinkle of sea salt for a refreshed presentation that makes leftovers feel like a brand new treat.

Pairing Mint Ice Cream with Chocolate Desserts

• Pair Refreshing Watermelon Granita with Cool Mint Ice Cream: The bright, crisp watermelon granita complements the smooth, herbaceous mint ice cream perfectly, creating a harmonious summer dessert that balances sweet and cool flavors.
• Match with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio enhances the light, fresh qualities of both the granita and mint ice cream, cutting through the sweetness with its zesty, acidic notes.
• Serve Alongside Almond Shortbread Cookies: The buttery, nutty crunch of delicate almond cookies provides a delightful textural contrast to the icy granita and creamy ice cream, elevating the entire dessert experience.
• Garnish with Fresh Berries: Scattered raspberries or strawberries add a burst of tartness and color, bringing additional complexity and brightness to the dessert's already vibrant flavor profile.

Fun Twists to Try with Mint Ice Cream

• Cool Watermelon Mint Swirl: Blend pureed watermelon granita with mint ice cream for a refreshing summer treat that combines icy crunch and creamy smoothness.
• Herbal Infusion Twist: Replace mint leaves with lavender or basil to create an unexpected botanical ice cream with complex herbal undertones.
• Mediterranean Citrus Version: Add orange zest and a splash of orange blossom water to the mint ice cream base for a bright, aromatic Mediterranean-inspired dessert that transports taste buds to sunny coastal regions.
• Spiced Mint Sensation: Incorporate a pinch of ground cardamom or ginger during the milk steeping process to introduce warm, subtle spice notes that complement the cool mint flavor.

Fresh Mint Ice Cream Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy fresh mint ice cream showcases summer’s coolest dessert with pure, garden-picked mint leaves. Smooth, refreshing scoops deliver pure herbal sweetness that delights you with each cool, elegant bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh mint leaves
• 5 egg yolks
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream

Sweeteners:

• ¾ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup sugar

Fruits and Additions:

• 3 cups diced watermelon
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon flaked sea salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Craft a smooth watermelon granita by blending ripe watermelon chunks, granulated sugar, and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a food processor until completely liquefied.
2. Pour the vibrant crimson mixture into a shallow, freezer-safe container, ensuring an even distribution.
3. Allow the mixture to partially freeze for 30 minutes, then use a fork to disrupt ice crystal formation by scraping the edges toward the center.
4. Repeat the scraping process every half hour, breaking down larger frozen sections and promoting uniform crystallization, approximately 3 to 4 hours total.
5. Prepare a decadent mint ice cream base by gently heating whole milk, granulated sugar, and 8 fluid ounces (240 milliliters) of heavy cream in a medium saucepan over moderate heat until tiny bubbles emerge around the edges.
6. Remove the heated dairy mixture from the stovetop and incorporate fresh mint leaves, covering the pan to allow robust flavor infusion for 1 to 2 hours.
7. Whisk egg yolks in a separate mixing bowl until they transform into a smooth, pale yellow consistency.
8. Carefully rewarm the mint-infused dairy mixture and gradually temper the egg yolks by slowly streaming approximately one-third of the hot liquid while continuously whisking.
9. Transfer the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan, cooking gently until the custard thickens sufficiently to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
10. Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl, incorporating the remaining heavy cream to create a silky base.
11. Thoroughly chill the mint ice cream base in the refrigerator before churning according to your ice cream maker’s instructions.
12. Create an elegant dessert by alternating layers of watermelon granita and mint ice cream in serving dishes, finishing with a delicate sprinkle of sea salt over the granita.
13. Serve immediately, allowing the contrasting textures and temperatures to delight your palate.

Notes

• Chill the mint mixture completely to intensify the refreshing flavor profile.
• Layer granita and mint ice cream artfully for a stunning dessert presentation.
• Steep fresh mint leaves in warm milk and cream to extract maximum herbal essence.
• Temper egg yolks carefully by slowly incorporating hot liquid to prevent scrambling.
• Scrape granita edges consistently to create smooth, icy crystal texture.
• Sprinkle sea salt just before serving to enhance overall taste complexity.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 420 kcal
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 720mg
• Fat: 25g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 35mg