• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Green Smoothie Gourmet
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Free Courses
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Free Courses
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Frozen Desserts » Ice Cream » Leafy Green Mint Ice Cream

    Leafy Green Mint Ice Cream

    Mar 12, 2019 · Updated: Jan 22, 2023 by Dee Dine · Affliate links disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe

    A leafy green mint ice cream made nutritious with hidden veggies and fruits, light and airy, and easy to make with only 5 ingredients and no ice cream maker needed! Did you know mint ice cream reduces stress, and calms tight muscles and reduces cramps? Dairy-free and gluten-free!
    Leafy Green Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (dairy-free,no-churn)

    Leafy Green Mint Ice Cream

    This mint ice cream recipe is full of natural ingredients, boosts nutrition, tastes light and airy and relies on SCIENCE..

    Table of Contents
    • Leafy Green Mint Ice Cream
    • Why is Mint Ice Cream Green?
    • Understanding Sherbert vs. Sorbet vs. Granita
    • What's The Difference Between Ice Cream And Nicecream
    • Tips On How To Use Fresh Leafy Greens in Mint Ice Cream
    • How to Make Mint Ice Cream From Scratch?
    • FAQS about Mint Ice Cream
    • No Churn vs. Ice Cream Maker
    • Leafy Green Mint Ice Cream

    I detail this below, but in a nutshell, I will say, these are frozen ingredients blended and frozen into ice cube trays and blended again.

    No churning necessary. Instead, this is a tricky recipe that depends on ice cube trays. And this one works perfectly.

    It is also a bit of an unusual recipe because it is a frozen dessert which includes leafy greens and yet it does not taste like a salad.

    Why is Mint Ice Cream Green?

    My mint ice cream recipe is green from leafy greens, matcha, specifically. Matcha is a quality tea made from a crushed matcha tea leaf and I love using it in ice cream for color, but also the massive nutritional powers it brings to the ice cream. Pretty cool, huh?

    Hey, leafy greens are a mainstay addition to healthy smoothies, so why not to healthy ice cream recipes, right? Or to sherberts, sorbets, granitas too! Do you know the difference?

    Well pull up a chair, or your screen, haha.

    Understanding Sherbert vs. Sorbet vs. Granita

    Sherbert: Sherbert is also spelled “Sherbet”, both variations are correct according to Merriam Webster. And it is like sorbet with a creamy ingredient added. In the vegan world, the creamy ingredient we add is coconut or cashew yogurt. Or cashew cream or coconut cream or even avocado.

    Sorbet: The definition of sorbet is a frozen treat made of only fruit and sugar. And in my world, the “fruit” can sometimes be a veggie😍. Here I made a cilantro sorbet. And let's kick the sugar to the curb, shall we? It's best to depend on the added fruit for sweetness.

    Granita: And then there is granita, which is basically sorbet only in icy flake form.

    What's The Difference Between Ice Cream And Nicecream

    Ice Cream: And of course plain old ice cream, which is supposed to have at least 10 percent fat to earn the name.

    Vegan recipes typically use either cashews,  coconut cream or avocados for that fat. Although recently I have been experimenting with adding sweet potato. And buttermilk squash.

    And of course, cauliflower, which we now know we can put in anything - except maybe morning coffee. Not yet anyway.😍

    Nicecream: Well, this term generally means a frozen treat that is made with wholesome vegan plant-based ingredients. Often bananas but also coconut cream or other plant-based ingredients.

    The “N” stands for both bananas, but also “nice” in that no animal was harmed and the recipe is “nice” and healthy. So I suppose this recipe could also be a nicecream, and so could this my Blueberry Citrus Sherbet and my Cauliflower Ice Cream.

    Okay, class, now put away your dictionaries, and let’s move on to science.😂

    To blend in those greens and give this recipe the creamy texture needed to call it an ice cream, there are a few tricks.

    Tips On How To Use Fresh Leafy Greens in Mint Ice Cream

    Be sure your leafy greens and mint leaves are frozen. I mean crispy frozen. I always keep baby kale and baby spinach and chopped chard leaves frozen in the freezer for many recipes, including smoothies. Then crush them into confetti with clean hands as I add them to a blender.

    Preparation for making leafy green chocolate chip mint ice cream
    How to Make Mint Ice Cream From Scratch?

    If you want to turn this into a sherbert, double the amount of crispy frozen leaves to provide the quintessential crystal texture you want in a sherbert or even a sorbet.

    Also, your bananas must be very ripe (to be sweet) and must be chopped and frozen overnight.

    Finally, you must freeze the yogurt into cubes in ice cube trays – don’t just dollop creamy yogurt into the blender. I often keep plain yogurt or even plain cashew cream or even thick hemp or oat milk frozen in ice cube trays to use for smoothies and these frozen treats.

    And for color, the leaves will green it up somewhat, but I also added a teaspoon or less of ceremonial grade matcha powder. This controls the shade and increases the nutrition.

    It's expensive though - quality matcha powder runs in the $25-$35 dollar range, but it lasts a long time if you don't mind the investment. Otherwise, leave it off! The green will depend on your leaves and that's just fine.

    My favorite ice cube tray for this recipe is my favorite for both ice cream and even make ahead smoothies in my Make-Ahead Smoothie Ice Cube Concentrates Recipes here..

    FAQS about Mint Ice Cream

    What Kind of Mint Is in Mint Ice Cream?
    I use fresh mint leaves here. The predominant leaves are baby kale or baby spinach. The color really comes from matcha powder. But some people supplement the mint flavor with mint extract, so you choose!
    Do Vanilla and Mint Go Together?
    I don't add vanilla to this ice cream, but I have heard that fresh vanilla bean in mint ice cream goes well. Apparently the smooth vanilla flavor tempers the sharpness of the mint. Let me know if you add vanilla!
    Is Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Typically Peppermint or Spearmint?
    The commercial version combine both peppermint and spearmint mixed, or vanilla and peppermint mixed. The fresh recipes usually depend on fresh mint and possibly mint extract.
    What Can I do With Lots of Fresh Mint?
    Lots of options. You can just sniff it; I often do that. Add it to tea to calm your tummy. Add it to our smoothie. Blend into a salad dressing with balsamic vinegar. Chop into a watermelon salad, or make this mint ice cream recipe.
    What Flavors Go Well with Mint?
    Want to mix ins for your  mint ice cream? Chocolate chips are perfect of course? You can also add shards of broken chocolate bar. Also try seeds, nuts, even fold in whipped cream, add chunks of peppermint or cinnamon chips.
    Can You Add More Fresh Herbs to Homemade Ice Cream?
    Yes! Choose from basil, cilantro, oregano, parsley and thyme. All those flavors go well with mint ice cream.

    No Churn vs. Ice Cream Maker

    And one last note. I have recently acquired and ice cream maker - you can see it in my nifty Amazon store! -- and find that it actually makes the process easier and works well with all my no-churn recipes. So if you happen to have a churn, by all means use it! If you don't, this method is just fine.

    I hope you enjoy this recipe – it is one that depends more on chemistry than ingredients, wouldn’t you say?

    And the result is both fun and nutritious. Are you on Pinterest, perhaps share this image..

    Overhead of homemade mint ice cream with sprinkles.

    or this one..
    Overhead of homemade mint ice cream in ice cube.

    Leafy Green Mint Ice Cream (dairy-free,no-churn)
    Leafy Green Mint Ice Cream (dairy-free,no-churn)

    I invite you to keep up with me on: Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Food Gawker | Twitter

    Don’t miss a thing, subscribe here to get recipes delivered to your inbox!

    Leafy Green Mint Chocolate Chip Sherbert (dairy-free, 5-ingredients, no-churn, vegan)

    Leafy Green Mint Ice Cream

    Created by Dee Dine
    A mint ice cream made nutritious with hidden veggies and fruits, light and airy, and easy to make with only 5 ingredients and no ice cream maker needed! Did you know mint ice cream reduces stress, and calms tight muscles and reduces cramps? Dairy-free and gluten-free!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 3
    Calories 151 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup baby leafy greens (frozen, and crushed - I used baby kale and baby spinach)
    • 4 large mint leaves (frozen, and crushed)
    • 3 bananas (very ripe, chopped and frozen)
    • ½ cup plant yogurt (frozen into ice cubes or use another banana)
    • ½ teaspoon matcha powder (optional - makes the green color more even and adds nutrition)

    Optional Fold-in

    • ½ cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

    Useful Equipment

    • Half Moon Ice Cube Tray
    • Vegan Sprinkles (I use this brand)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Prep

    • Freeze everything the night before preferably. Clean your leafy greens and mint, pat dry with paper towels, and freeze in an air tight container.
      Peel your bananas, chop into one-inch chunks, and store in an air tight container. Try to keep all elements a bit separated so they don't freeze into a block.

    Make Ice Cream

    • Blend up ice cream ingredients until creamy, but don't blend until warm - some high speed blenders actually warm the low layer near the blades. So blend, get everything combined, and stop blending.
      If your blender insists, add a bit of plant milk to get things creamy. (My vitamix needed this; my blendtec did not - blenders have their own personality, don't they?)
    • Remove any larger specks that don't breakdown so your dessert doesn't look like a salad, haha.

    Without Churn

    • Fold in chocolate chips or chunks or anything you want to fold in, really.
      Pour the mixture into ice cube trays.
    • Freeze about 2 hours; 1 if you want a very soft serve.
    • Then re-blend only the amount of cubes you want to serve. Let them thaw a few minutes to make blending go faster. If you need to add a few drops of plant milk, try not to add more than a teaspoon or two.
    • Scoop the re-blended mixture into ice cream dishes. Sprinkle and enjoy!

    WITH Churn

    • Freeze your ice cream maker container overnight.
    • Blend up all ingredients except for mix-ins. Refrigerate for one hour.
    • Pour mixture into your chilled ice cream maker container and churn according to your maker's instructions. Fold in the mix-ins when the churning is completed.
    • Store the ice cream in an ice-cream safe container in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 151kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 41mgPotassium: 442mgFiber: 4gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 1110IUVitamin C: 10.5mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword green smoothie ice cream, mint ice cream
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Healthy Ice Cream Recipes

    • Magic Shell in Three Flavors
    • Cherry Ice Cream
    • Sweet Potato Ice Cream
    • Raspberry Ice Cream

    Feel Great in 2023

    1. Ginger Shots
    2. Ginger Juice
    3. Celery Juice
    4. Turmeric Shots
    5. How to Make Ginger Tea

    Buy My Two Cookbooks

    4-Ingredient Dessert Cookbook 4-Ingredient Smoothie CookBook

    About Dee

    Chocolate and ginger enthusiast. Dog and bird lover. I'm probably chopping chocolate in my Washington DC kitchen right now. More about Dee and Green Smoothie Gourmet »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nicole Jenkins

      January 16, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      Hi there! This looks great! At what point would I want to churn the ingredients if I have a churn? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Dee Dine

        January 16, 2020 at 6:17 pm

        I updated the recipe to include steps to take if you have an ice cream maker, but also read your ice cream maker instructions as they are all a bit different. Good luck! Dee

        Reply
    2. Ela

      March 17, 2019 at 8:38 pm

      5 stars
      This Mint Chocolate Chip Sherbert looks amazing, Dee! I love that the recipe contains only 5 ingredients! Awesome. 🙂

      Reply
      • Dee Dine | Green Smoothie Gourmet

        March 19, 2019 at 10:42 am

        Thank you so much Ela! Dee xx

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    Dee Dine of Green Smoothie Gourmet

    I'm Dee, sharing delicious, science-centric recipes using nourishing plant-based foods laser-focused on nutritional impact. No matter your tastes, I hope you'll find a recipe to love. About Dee →

    Valentine's Day

    • Homemade Chocolates in a Box
    • Marzipan Chocolates

    Popular

    • Homemade Fudge Bars
    • Easy Vegan Brownies
    logos of publications that shared green smoothie gourmet content

    Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved. Green Smoothie Gourmet · Log in
    Design by BDW | Privacy Policy | Disclosure & Copyright