Pistachio Mint Chip Ice Cream.

So you guys, guess what???

Today, for the first time this year, I finally started to see buds on the trees outside my windows. YAY!! They have been bare since the end of September. I swear, I have been waiting for the return of color for far too long. I feel like this might be a sign that maybe these thunder/snow/storms and consistent state of cold and little sunshine may be ending soon.

Like I can feel it. The summer vibes are coming…I hope.

No but really, I am crazy excited about these new buds on my trees. Soon they will be green leaves and I will be so happy.

So I made us a little twist on a summer ice cream classic. As a kid I wasn’t the hugest fan of mint chocolate chip ice cream, but only because there was never enough chocolate chips and the whole mint plus chocolate thing was never my favorite.

I have since learned that I was really just eating lame mint chocolate chip ice cream and that if you eat real deal mint chocolate chip ice cream it is delicious! Real deal meaning actual mint leaves… no green food coloring with a few chocolate chips scattered throughout.

When I decided it was time I make my own mint chocolate chip ice cream, I wanted to do something a little different with it, but still keep those classic flavors intact AND somehow maintain that green color without using green food coloring.

That’s when pistachios came into my mind. I am sure this has been done before, but I have never had it or really even seen it either, so I went with it, which is kind of odd since lately I have been second guessing everything. Actually, I sort of feel like I am in this creativity rut and nothing I do is any good or very creative. I really hope I snap out of it soon because creativity ruts are ZERO fun and way too time consuming. The whole second guessing thing takes too much thought, energy and time.

But this pistachio mint chip ice cream…

It’s super creamy and packed full of minty, pistachio and chocolate flavor. Kind of the perfect combo if you ask me. I used an egg custard base because personally egg custards are my all time favorite. I know some people are really into using a cream cheese base, but I love the texture, creaminess and richness that eggs give the ice cream. I promise, it’s nothing hard, but this recipe does require an ice cream maker and time for the ice cream to sit and chill, so plan ahead.

Other than that, it’s easy peasy.

Oh, and clearly triple scooped and chocolate dipped waffle cones are the only way to go.

Pistachio Mint Chip Ice Cream.

4.29 from 7 votes

1 Quart

by Tieghan Gerard

calories 3970kcal

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Prep25 minutes mins

Cook10 minutes mins

Total35 minutes mins

A little twist on a summer ice cream classic

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 6 large egg yolks
• ▢ 2 tablespoons sugar
• ▢ 2 cup milk, 2% or whole
• ▢ 1 1/4 cups full fat coconut milk or heavy whipping cream, divided, I like using coconut milk
• ▢ 1/2 cup honey, may sub 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 vanilla bean, seed scraped + pods reserved
• ▢ 2 cups fresh mint leaves
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 3/4 cup roasted pistachios, shelled
• ▢ 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, roughly chopped, OR MORE!!
• ▢ 1/3 cup roasted pistachios, roughly chopped (optional)

Instructions 

• Add the milk, 3/4 cup coconut milk (or cream), honey, vanilla bean seeds + pods and mint to a medium size sauce pot and set over medium heat. Bring the mixture to boil, watching very closely to make sure the milk does not boil over. Once the mixture is hot and steaming, remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour to infuse the mint flavor.
• In a blender or food processor, combine 3/4 cups pistachios with the remaining 1/2 cup coconut milk (or cream) and puree until completely smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Once the milk has been infused, strain the milk through a fine-mesh sieve (strainer) and then press down with a spatula strain as much mint flavor and color as possible. Once the flavor is squeezed out, discard the mint and vanilla bean pod.
• In a medium size bowl whisk the egg yolks with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until the yolks are pale yellow.
• Place the minty milk mixture back on the stove and bring to a simmer, immediately remove from the heat and carefully pour about 1/3 cup of the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs. Next, add the milk/egg mixture back into the pot of the remaining hot milk, whisking constantly. Place the pot back on the stove and stir the custard over low heat until thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Place a fine-mesh sieve (strainer) over a large heat proof bowl and immediately strain the custard into the bowl. Stir in the pureed pistachio cream mixture, salt and vanilla and then let custard cool 10 minutes. Cover and place in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight, stirring as often as possible. If needed, the custard can be quickly cooled in the freezer for 1-2 hours, but make sure to stir the custard every 30 minutes to prevent uneven freezing.
• Once the ice cream mixture is well chilled, freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. During the last five minutes add the chopped pistachios and chocolate chips. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container. Freeze for 4-6 hours before serving. Allow to sit on the counter five minutes before serving, scoop and enjoy!

Notes

*Ice Cream base adapted from my [Strawberry Ice Cream | https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/caramelized-strawberry-graham-cracker-crumble-ice-cream/].

 

Nutritional value based on 1 quart

Nutrition

Calories: 3970kcal | Carbohydrates: 333g | Protein: 71g | Fat: 217g | Saturated Fat: 117g | Cholesterol: 1231mg | Sodium: 2096mg | Potassium: 3949mg | Fiber: 31g | Sugar: 262g | Vitamin A: 6645IU | Vitamin C: 37.5mg | Calcium: 1179mg | Iron: 32.5mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

I mean, it’s Friday, live a little.

PS. Sorry for all the random stories this week. Hopefully next week my brain and thoughts will be a little more focused…it’s wishful thinking, but my fingers are crossed!