The BEST Peppermint Ice Cream Recipe (Prepped In 5 Minutes)

This peppermint ice cream is perfectly creamy, sweet, and loaded with refreshing peppermint flavor. It combines just a few basic ingredients to create a delicious and deeply satisfying ice cream recipe that the whole family is sure to love during the holiday season. Best of all though, it takes less than 5 minutes of prep time to make this easy homemade peppermint ice cream!

The Best Peppermint Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream is one of those desserts that's surprisingly easy to make, and yet most people rarely do. So if you've never thought about making ice cream from scratch before, this recipe is your sign to try it out!

Now, this peppermint ice cream, in particular, is the perfect holiday recipe. It's wonderfully smooth, rich, and creamy, and it's absolutely loaded with fresh peppermint flavor. It honestly tastes just like Christmas and it's easily one of my favorite ice creams to eat during the winter months.

It's so, so good, and it's also a breeze to put together. You basically just mix all of the ingredients together, add them to your ice cream maker, and wait until it's done and ready to enjoy.

Yup, it's really that simple!

By the way, if you're looking for more recipes that use peppermint candy canes - as this ice cream does - to get you in the holiday spirit, we have a ton of other recipes on the blog that use them. A few of my favorites are this peppermint fudge recipe, this peppermint mocha recipe, and this peppermint brownies recipe. 

Ingredients

As I mentioned earlier, you only need a few super simple ingredients to make this homemade peppermint ice cream recipe. And I can almost guarantee that you have most - or all - of them in your kitchen waiting for you already!

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make this peppermint ice cream:

• 1 ½ cups whole milk
• 1 ½ cup half and half
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. peppermint extract
• 1 cup crushed candy canes

Simple stuff, right?!

By the way, once you make your peppermint stick ice cream, you can use it to make this easy Chic-fil-A peppermint milkshake. So, just in case you're in need of more awesome peppermint recipes, I've got you covered!

How To Make Peppermint Ice Cream

I can not stress enough how easy this homemade ice cream is to make!

Even if you've never made ice cream before, as long as you have the ingredients, a handy ice cream machine, and about 5 minutes, you're more than ready to make this creamy peppermint ice cream.

Anyway, let's stop wasting time and get into the recipe.

Step 1: Mix The Ingredients

First, you'll make the homemade ice cream mixture.

To do that, take out a large bowl and add the whole milk, half and half, heavy whipping cream, sugar, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and some of the crushed candy canes to it. Just make sure to save about ¼ cup of the crushed candy canes for topping off the ice cream later.

Now, give these ingredients a good mix until all of them fully combine to make a smooth mixture.

Step 2: Make The Ice Cream

Next, you can transfer your ice cream mixture into the bowl of your ice cream maker. Then, process the ice cream according to the ice cream maker's directions.

Since this is a churned ice cream, you can serve it immediately if you prefer soft serve ice cream or you can transfer it to an airtight container and put it in the freezer to harden. 

Step 3: Serve

Once your peppermint ice cream is ready, scoop out some of it and put it in a bowl. Then, top it off with the remaining crushed candy canes and enjoy!

How To Store Peppermint Ice Cream

This recipe for peppermint ice cream recipe will make about 4 servings, depending on how large your portions are. Also, depending on the size of the ice cream maker you have, you may be able to make a double or triple batch of this recipe!

Then, if you have leftovers of the ice cream, you can store it in an airtight container - or pint container - and keep it in the freezer for about 2-3 weeks.

Whenever you're ready to enjoy the best ice cream again, either scoop it into a bowl straight out of the freezer or let it thaw at room temperature for a few minutes for soft-serve ice cream.

FAQs About This Peppermint Ice Cream Recipe

Is peppermint ice cream seasonal?

Peppermint ice cream is usually seasonal in stores, but when you make it at home, you don't can enjoy it all year round! Honestly, I think this ice cream is just as delicious and satisfying in the winter as it is in the summer. 

What is peppermint ice cream made of?

This peppermint ice cream is made of a mixture of whole milk, half and half, heavy whipping cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Then, to enhance the peppermint flavor and texture, I like to add some crushed peppermint candy canes to it.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make peppermint ice cream at home!

This seriously is one of the best ice cream recipes, especially during the holiday season! From the rich and creamy ice cream to the fresh peppermint flavor and crunchy crushed peppermints, it honestly doesn't get better than this.

My family likes this recipe better than any store-bought peppermint stick ice cream, and I have a feeling your family will feel the same way. 

Anyway, I hope you like this homemade ice cream recipe as much as I/we do.

If you give it a try, then be sure to leave a comment below and let me know how it went!

More Holiday Recipes

Looking for more easy and delicious desserts to make this holiday season? If so, then you have come to the right place!

Here are some of our most popular recipes:

• Christmas crack
• Fantasy fudge
• Christmas cookie fudge
• Peppermint cheesecake
• No bake Christmas cookies
• Gingerbread cookies without molasses

Also, for even more easy dessert recipes - just like this homemade peppermint ice cream-  don't forget to follow us on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. We post new ones on them every single day.

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