What Makes Ice Cream Iconic?
As New England is being hit by another snowstorm this weekend, I’m watching the snowfall and reminding myself that spring is only 16 days away. That means that longer days, hearing the crickets at night, and your local ice cream store opening its shutters are in sight. If your heart fluttered at the thought of ice cream, I’m right there with you. Ice cream seems to have cast a spell on our hearts, especially when the ice cream truck song floats through a neighborhood. But as magical as a swirly cone may be, sometimes, even a dessert classic can use a glow-up. Today, I’m offering an adult ice cream that will be a summer game-changer. Let me introduce you to Baileys mint ice cream.
Oh yes, Baileys Mint Ice Cream!
It’s time that Irish cream is highlighted beyond coffee and espresso martinis! And with warmer weather approaching, Baileys mint ice cream is the perfect recipe to try at home. Featuring Irish Cream and Andes Mints, this frozen treat turns dessert into a cocktail hour. The flavor is similar to mint chip ice cream but is taken to the next level with Irish cream. The taste is a knockout by the spoonful, but it’s even better served with coffee cake or sandwiched between two cookies. Because this recipe does contain alcohol, the ice cream will be slightly softer than other varieties, which I love. It’s not quite a soft serve but stays slightly soft even after freezing. It took a few attempts to find the optimal ratio between milk and Baileys®, but I struck ice cream gold once that was found. You’ll need seven simple ingredients and an ice cream churner to make this recipe.
The Flavors Inside Baileys Mint Ice Cream
This recipe is a Philly-style ice cream, so you won’t need egg yolks to make a custard! To create Baileys® mint ice cream at home, you will need the following:
- A blend of heavy cream and whole milk forms the base of this ice cream. Make sure that you use only heavy cream and whole milk. Half and half, light cream, and skim milk don’t have enough fat content and won’t produce as creamy a texture.
- Baileys® Irish Cream and Andes® Mints create the ice cream’s flavoring. You can add a half teaspoon of vanilla extract if you’d like, but I prefer to leave it out.
- Sugar is added to sweeten the cream, and salt balances the sweetness. It may feel wrong to add salt, but it counters the sweetness and enhances the flavor.
- Powdered milk helps to create a silky and creamy texture. If you don’t have powdered milk, instant milk will work too. The two have subtle differences but not enough to alter this recipe.
Baileys Mint Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¾ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup Baileys
® Irish Cream - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp. powdered milk
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 18 Andes
® Mints
Instructions
Combine the heavy cream, whole milk, Baileys® Irish Cream, sugar, powdered milk, and salt in a medium bowl. - Chill the bowl in a fridge for at least 10 minutes.
- Once chilled, whisk the mixture until evenly mixed and transfer to an ice cream churner. Follow the manufacturers' instructions for the churning time.
- While the ice cream churns, chop the Andes
® Mints. Add the chopped mints to the churner during the last ten minutes. - Churn until the mixture reaches the soft serve stage or desired consistency.
- Serve immediately as soft serve, or transfer to an air-tight container and freeze for at least 4 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
Baileys Mint Ice Cream Tips and Variations
Churning Tips
- Mix the ingredients in a separate bowl and pour into the churner once evenly mixed for the best consistency. You may be tempted to use the ice cream churner as a mixing bowl, but once liquids come in contact with the sides, they will freeze almost immediately. If not mixed before adding to the churner, ingredients won’t evenly mix.
- When packaging ice cream, select a freezer-safe container with as small an air gap as possible between the ice cream and the lid. Less air helps prevent ice crystals from forming on the surface and preserves the flavor.
- When serving ice cream, keep it at room temperature for as little as possible. This ice cream does melt more quickly because of the alcohol, and once melted, the chance of crystals forming increases when freezing again. You can divide the ice cream batch into smaller single-serve containers to prevent melting and re-freezing.
Recipe Inspirations
- Add a teaspoon or two of espresso powder for a frozen version of an Irish coffee, depending on the desired strength level. Add the espresso along with the Baileys® before churning.
- The next time you make mudslides at home, add a scoop of Baileys mint ice cream! Including ice cream helps create a smoother mudslide and a better flavor. To prevent a higher alcohol content, you can slightly reduce the pour of vodka or coffee liquor added.
- For an adult ice cream sandwich, add a scoop between two of your favorite chocolate chip cookies! They’re perfect for having as a dessert, especially in the summer.