No Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (Naturally Sweetened)

Easier, Healthier Mint Chip Ice Cream

There is nothing more refreshing – or festive – than mint chocolate chip ice cream. But to kids, it’s just a yummy treat their taste buds crave without regard to the sugar content. Which is one of the reasons why this no churn mint chocolate chip ice cream is so wonderful 🙂

Because not only is this a super easy mint chip ice cream recipe that does not require you to own an ice cream maker. Not only is it a completely effortless recipe. Not only does it take a total of 10 minutes to throw together.

This homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream recipe is also a healthier treat for kids. Sweetened only with raw honey, this ice cream actually has some beneficial attributes for immune and gut health.

So if you are going to give your kids a dessert, isn’t it a brilliant idea to secretly give them a treat that might also have some health benefits? Not to mention avoiding the negative effects that come with using processed sugar.

So we’ve established that this mint chip ice cream is super easy to make. We’ve established that it’s healthier than typical ice cream sweetened with processed sugar. What else is there to discuss?

Oh, of course! We need to talk about how much kids love this naturally sweetened ice cream 😀

Let me just explain to you how I know that this ice cream is a big winner with kids: I have been trying and failing to please my 7-year-old daughter with an ice cream recipe for months now. But this healthy mint chocolate chip ice cream finally won her emphatic approval!

Ever since I made the first batch, both of my kids have been begging for mint chocolate chip ice cream after every lunch (and I may or may not have consumed a few bowls myself). And trust me, that is all the proof you need that this ice cream will appeal to the taste buds even of picky children.

Let’s do a quick recap: This ice cream recipe is incredibly easy and doesn’t require an ice cream maker. It’s also healthier because it’s naturally sweetened. And most importantly, kids love and beg for it.

So what are we waiting for? Let’s whip up a batch 🙂

Perfect Times to Serve This Ice Cream

Personally, I could eat mint chocolate chip ice cream morning, noon and night – and so could my children. But, even though this ice cream is naturally sweetened, it is still a treat and should be consumed in moderation. So here are the times I like to serve this ice cream to my kids.

After Lunch: This is an obvious one, but having a really appealing, minty, creamy, sweet, frozen dessert with chocolate chunks in it is really good motivation for kids to eat a good lunch 😀

I have been known to use this ice cream as a bribe to get my toddler to finish her lunch … on several occasions. And it works! I mean, really. If kids are going to have dessert, why not give it to them naturally sweetened and guilt-free as a reward for eating a healthy and nutritious meal?

After School: My 7-year-old does not particularly like school and often has a hard time going in the morning. But having a treat waiting for her when she gets home is a great way to lift her spirit.

It’s also a great way to give her mood a boost in the morning as she heads to school when I give her a little hint that she can have some mint chocolate chip ice cream when she gets home if she goes to school with a good attitude.

Christmas Treat: I’m not sure how your kids feel about ice cream in the winter, but mine will eat it all year round, no problem. So what better way to eat ice cream during the Christmas holiday season than in peppermint flavor and possibly even with some all natural red food coloring for a candy cane effect?

Perhaps ice cream at Christmas time is not quite as popular with adults, but I promise you, kids do not care what season it is. They will eat ice cream and frozen treats any chance they get!

Ingredients

• Unsweetened Baker’s Chocolate: Baker’s chocolate is the base for making the naturally sweetened chocolate chunks in the ice cream. Make sure to use unsweetened baker’s chocolate.

• Butter: Butter helps with melting the baker’s chocolate for the chocolate chunks. I use Irish grass-fed butter or organic. Unsalted is best, but salted is also okay.

• Raw Honey: Raw, unfiltered honey is the natural sweetening source in the mint ice cream as well as the chocolate chunks. You can get raw honey from Amazon, Trader Joes and sometimes Home Goods.

• Heavy Whipping Cream: Heaving whipping cream is the base of this ice cream recipe. If you can get organic, that is optimal for avoiding growth hormones and antibiotics.

• Peppermint Extract: A generous dose of pure peppermint extract provides that wonderfully minty flavor without being too overpowering.

Instructions

Chocolate Chunks

Step 1

Place candy mold on a small baking sheet or tray to keep it level so chocolate does not spill.

Step 2

To a small pot, add all ingredients.

* See note on recipe card.

Step 3

Heat on low, stirring constantly, until everything is melted and combined. Turn off stove and remove pot from heat.

Step 4

Pour chocolate into the candy mold and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.

Mint Ice Cream

Step 1

While chocolate is freezing, mix up your ice cream. Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl or emersion blender cup. Mix or blend on high until cream becomes fluffy and is no longer liquid.

* See note on recipe card for using food coloring.

Step 2

Transfer ice cream to a round container with a lid.

Step 3

Remove your chocolate from the freezer and use a large, sharp knife to chop it into small chunks.

Step 4

Gently mix the chocolate chunks into your ice cream.

Step 5

With the lid on the container, freeze the ice cream.

For a softer ice cream, freeze for two hours before serving. For a hard ice cream, freeze for four hours before serving.

Substitutions & Tips

• This ice cream is essentially peppermint whipped cream that has been frozen. However, do not stress over how fluffy the whipped cream is. While it should be fluffy, it won’t hurt it to mix it a little after it’s been whipped, such as to mix in coloring or to mix in the chocolate chunks. Remember that it’s going to be frozen and does not have to be perfectly fluffy.

• If you want to make this ice cream look more exciting, you can use natural food coloring (I use plant-based, sugar and dye free food coloring by India Tree) to color it green. Or, if you are making this as Christmas peppermint ice cream, you can color half of the ice cream red and swirl it with the white for a candy cane effect.

• If you don’t want to make your own chocolate chunks, you can use these coconut-sugar-sweetened chocolate chunks by Hu instead.

• This ice cream is soft-serve consistency after it’s been in the freezer for about two hours. However, if you want your ice cream to be fully frozen, leave it in the freezer for at least four hours before serving.

• Keep in mind that if you double the recipe to have a larger batch of ice cream, the freezing time required will increase.