Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

To any family members reading this, I apologize in advance that this ice cream may not make it to Thanksgiving, as promised. It is that good and in the name of being transparent about my selfishness I may need to keep it all to myself. I adapted this recipe from The Vegan Scoop, which, if you are following that recipe, uses way too much peppermint extract. I know from experience. My biggest goal with this ice cream was not the flavor, but the color - it's gotta be that perfect shade of Baskin Robbin's mint green, ya know? Though if you aren't picky about the color, that's fine too, the ice cream will be white. It was also necessary to make chocolate flakes...the stuff from our childhood has flakes, not chips!

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

3 cups soy creamer
1 cup soy milk, divided
1 cup sugar
2 Tbls. arrowroot powder
2 tsp. peppermint extract
1 cup chocolate chips
Green food coloring (optional)

In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup of the soy milk and the arrowroot powder. Set aside.

In a large pot combine the soy creamer, the remaining 1/2 cup of soy milk, and the sugar. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved, then heat until boiling, whisking occasionally. Lower the heat a bit and add the arrowroot cream, whisking quickly until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and add food coloring, if using. Let cool for about 20 minutes, then stir in the peppermint extract. Refrigerate until cool.

A note about the chocolate chips: I used 2 very large pieces of parchment paper and a gallon size plastic bag to make the flakes. This made a big ol' mess so even though it is not at all eco-friendly, I would recommend using a few smaller pieces of parchment paper and some quart size plastic bags instead.

While the batter is cooling, melt the chocolate chips. Spread in a thin layer on parchment paper, cover with more parchment paper, and seal in a plastic bag. Freeze.

Before covering with the second piece of parchment paper

Make the ice cream according to your ice cream maker's directions. While it is churning, smash the chocolate inside the plastic bag so you get chocolate flakes. It will easily fall away from the parchment paper, so just remove the paper and you're left with a bag o' flakes. Add the chocolate to the ice cream during the last few minutes of churning.

Thoughts on the color? Not exact, but not bad?