Candy Cane Ice Cream
Our easy homemade Peppermint ice cream recipe is packed with a double dose of candy cane! Cool, creamy & delicious, this easy ice cream is the perfect holiday dessert.
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Servings: 1 Quart Ice Cream
Equipment
- Ice Cream Maker (Make Sure To Freeze In Advance, As Needed!!!)
Ingredients
For Peppermint Ice Cream
- ½ cup Crushed Candy Canes (about 20 mini candy canes)
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar (100 grams)
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
Mix-Ins
- 1/4-1/2 cup Crushed Candy Cane (about 10-20 candy canes)
Instructions
- Dissolve Candy Cane. To start, pour the whole milk into a large liquid measuring cup or a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the crushed candy cane pieces and stir to dissolve until the milk turns a pretty pink color and there are no large pieces of candy cane left. (This can take up to 10 or so minutes!)
- Combine. Then, add sugar, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and salt. Stir to combine until the sugar is dissolved. You don't want any gritty grains left! Pour in the heavy cream and mix through until evenly blended. If your mixture has warmed up to room temperature, make sure to chill until it feels cold to the touch, or it won't churn properly. (I usually don't need to chill mine!)
- Churn Ice Cream. Pour the ice cream base into the ice cream maker and churn according to your manufacturer's instructions until the ice cream reaches a soft serve texture. (For me, that's 20-25 minutes!) Sprinkle in most of the remaining 1/2 cup crushed candy cane (I like to reserve about 1 Tablespoon!)
- Freeze. Transfer ice cream mixture to a freezer-safe container and sprinkle with any remaining candy cane. Freeze at LEAST 6-8 hours on a level surface in the freezer, or until it's firm enough to scoop.
- Store. Leftover ice cream will keep in an airtight container in the freezer up to 2 weeks (though we prefer to enjoy it within 2-3 days, for the best texture!)
Notes
- Consider Pre-Crushed Peppermint Bits! To save time, consider buying crushed peppermint bits or crushed peppermint candy from the store rather than crushing them yourself. I've had good luck with Brach's and Atkinson's brands.
- How to Crush Candy Canes. To crush candy canes or peppermint candy for this creamy candy cane ice cream, I put mini candy canes in a plastic bag, then put the bag on a cutting board. Tap them with a rolling pin or meat mallet to crush them. Or, you can try pulsing them in a food processor, but I find this is noisier and less precise than using a rolling pin/meat mallet.
- Don't rush. Plan ahead to allow plenty of time for this homemade ice cream to freeze. It's worth if for gorgeously scoop-able ice cream!
- Make a Sundae! Try this ice cream with a warm brownie & hot fudge sauce--it's unreal!
Video
Find the recipe:
sweetsandthankyou.com/peppermint-ice-cream/