This matcha mint chocolate chunk ice cream is made with coconut milk for a creamy, dairy and gluten free dessert. A refreshing treat for the warmer weather!
I’ve tried for years, YEARS! to like green tea. No matter how you slice or dice it though, I’m sorry, it tastes like bitter grass.
I know a big issue is steeping it too long, something I’ve learned really makes the bitterness come out, but even when steeped appropriately, I still just can’t handle it.
It makes my mouth feel disgusting (like spinach does) and I pretty much gag upon the first gulp (twss? too far, sorry).
However, I have figured out that when it’s blended or baked with other things like in these matcha shortbread cookies or this matcha bread I can deal with it.
Due to this aversion, I avoided matcha like the plague for years.
Then, on a trip (in a house that shall not be named so I don’t offend someone) with no other tea options one night, I gave in. Guess what? It was every bit as gross as I had imagined it to be. Grassy, green tea-y, amazing for me and horrible tasting.
Gag.
But! I swear everywhere I turn, all I hear about is how great this stuff is for you.
And then an idea popped into my head.
If I like it with mint in tea form, how could I not like it with mint, coconut, chocolate and of course, sugar in ice cream form?
So I walked my butt into the nearest hipster tea shop by me, proceeded to drop my jaw on the floor when I saw the price tag of the tiniest container of this stuff, decided to buy a smaller amount from their loose bulk bins instead and checked out with the teal-haired cashier so I could be on my merry way to make matcha my bitch.
Check out this roasted strawberry mint ice cream for another dairy free option!
A few hours later, some prayers over the ice cream attachment as it churned (why does that part always make me so nervous?!) and an impatient wait while it set up in the freezer, I finally dished out a small scoop to see where matcha and I stood.
Verdict? Worth the $10 for 1/2 an ounce.
I think I finally found a way to enjoy this stuff. Ice cream > tea.
I love the bright green color it gives to the ice cream too, makes it great for a St. Patrick’s Day treat (or you can give this Baileys ice cream a try for that too!).
Love this Matcha Mint Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream recipe?
Try other matcha recipes like my Matcha Bread and Chocolate Drizzled Matcha Shortbread Cookies.
Matcha Mint Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 15 ounces canned full fat coconut milk
- 5-7 mint leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- splash vodka, *optional
- 1/3 cup sugar, can substitute coconut sugar for paleo
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 teaspoons matcha
- 2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- Place coconut milk and mint leaves in a small sauce pot and steep over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Once cool, remove mint leaves and transfer coconut milk to a bowl.
- Add the extracts, vodka if using (just helps with texture when freezing), sugar, maple syrup and matcha. Whisk well until combined then chill mixture for 1-2 hours.
- Strain chilled mixture to get rid of any clumps in the matcha then pour mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturers directions.
- Add chopped chocolate 1 minute before the end of churning until just incorporated.
- Transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
- If freezing longer than 4 hours, remove ice cream from freezer and let sit for 10 minutes before scooping to soften.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi’s Gluten Free. The opinions and text are all mine.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
This ice cream is genius! I never even tried matcha before, but I know I’d definitely prefer it in ice cream than tea form!
Coconut milk? OHHH, so that’s how you do it. I’ve seen plenty of homemade ice creams that usually use heavy cream, but since I’m no expert on ice cream, this is all fairly new to me. Mint chip was actually my favorite growing up, and I’m obsessed with matcha now, so this is the perfect match!!
Lucky me! I had a hard time downing green tea as well and was looking for something like this. I’ve been trying some gluten-free desserts from this book https://eatwellsimple.com/paleo-grubs-book-review/ and they didn’t have anything like this recipe. Going to try this one tonight!
There is nothing more refreshing than mint chocolate ice cream. LOVE the matcha addition!
Hey girl, I’m not a green tea fan either. But I want all those health benefits too. Your recipe is one delicious way to have your cake (ice cream in this case) and eat it too! Woot woot!
I’ve been trying to find ways to enjoy matcha too, and putting it into my favorite dessert sounds like a great idea!
I have to say I’m not a big fan of matcha either and have been trying to figure out what to do with the large bag of it in my pantry. This sounds perfect. I love mint!
Same here. I’ve been always mixing matcha in the smoothies and stuff like that however results were generally awkward. I think this recipe is perfect for giving barley grass powder another chance as well.
Haha YES ice cream>tea any day! And I am so glad you finally made matcha your bitch in this delightful -yet GOOD FOR YOU- ice cream! Fantastic job of blending matcha, mint, coconut, and chocolate!
This sounds delicious, I can’t wait to try it!
I love matcha and finding new ways to use it always makes me happy! This looks sooo delicious and I love how you explain the benefits of matcha: this makes it feel a bit less like a guilty pleasure.