This mint mocha chocolate chip ice cream has a dark chocolate mocha base. It's a rich and gloriously smooth ice cream with bits of dark chocolate throughout. It has a lovely, natural mint flavor thanks to steeping fresh mint leaves in the cream prior to churning.
½bunchfresh mint leaves, removed from stalksapproximately 25 thumb-sized leaves
¼ cupcocoa powder
½cupsugar
2tablespooncorn syrup
½teaspoonsalt
2teaspoonespresso powder
8 ozdark chocolate, finely chopped (I used 62% cacao)approximately 1 ⅓ cups, depending on size of chocolate pieces
1 cupmilk
Chocolate chip add-in
2ozdark chocolate, finely choppedapproximately ⅓ cup, depending on size of chocolate pieces
1teaspooncoconut oil (or another neutral oil such as vegetable oil)
Instructions
Measure out 1 cup of heavy cream into a pot or microwave safe container. Heat over stove or in microwave until just simmering. Add mint leaves and make sure they are submerged. Set aside to steep for 2 hours.
Strain the mint/cream mixture into a heavy 2 quart pot, pressing firmly on the leaves with the back of a spoon to extract as much mint flavor as possible.
Add the remaining 1 ½ cups of heavy cream, cocoa powder, sugar, corn syrup, espresso powder and salt. Whisk to combine.
Heat the cream mixture (continue whisking) over medium-low heat until simmering.
Remove from heat and add 8 oz of dark chocolate. Whisk until chocolate has fully melted and mixture is smooth.
Add the milk and whisk again until combined.
Cover mixture and refrigerate until fully cooled - a minimum of 4 hours, or overnight.
Immediately prior to processing the ice cream base in your machine, melt 2 oz of finely chopped dark chocolate with the coconut oil in the microwave in 30 second bursts. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
Pour ice cream mixture into machine and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.
About 2-3 minutes prior to the ice cream being finished, drizzle the melted chocolate directly onto the ice cream while it is churning. Stir with a spoon if needed to break up any large chocolate chunks or keep the ice cream moving through the paddles.
Transfer to a freezer safe container and press plastic wrap tightly on the surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming. Place in freezer for 3-4 hours until firm.
Notes
Notes on mint: this is a recipe that is elevated by using fresh mint. I'm sure it's possible to use extract in its place, but something will be lost. Using fresh mint adds a slightly herbal depth and vibrant flavor that can't be replicated. It's worth the extra effort. Since I don't have fresh mint growing in our garden, I used half of a packaged container of mint - three large sprigs. It was about 25 large leaves that averaged the size of my thumb.Notes on corn syrup: The addition of corn syrup serves to reduce crystallization and helps keep the ice cream from turning rock solid in your freezer. You can read more about this in David Lebovitz' helpful post, Tips for Making Homemade Ice Cream Softer.