York Peppermint Patty Ice Cream
Sometime what I’m guessing was back in the 90s, Friendly’s had an amazing and totally simple but completely irresistible ice cream. It was filled with delicious bits of York peppermint patties. They discontinued making it so long ago that it’s all but a blur in my mind. I can’t even remember if it was mint ice cream or vanilla. Did it have fudge swirls? What I do remember is it was ridiculously delicious and always topped off with a mini whole peppermint patty.
Last year around this time I bought a bag of York peppermint patties with every intention of using them to recreate this ice cream, to the best of my ability and poor memory. I got them for a steal. Something like 70% off or whatever. Seriously hard to resist that price especially when I love them so much. Skipping ahead weeks, no… maybe months later, they were still sitting in my baking/candy drawer. Their screams had finally gotten to me. I could resist them no longer and thus no recipe was made. My punishment, a stomach ache from too many delicious peppermint patties. It was totally worth it. The recipe was still on my mind though.
So this year, I was determined to make it. I stuck with a creamy vanilla base, foregoing the possibility of it being too minty. I wanted the peppermint pieces to stand out and not be just a chunk of candy in an already overwhelming minty ice cream. And instead of fudge swirls within the ice cream, I topped it off with hot fudge sauce. Because hot fudge sauce is just plain good. And of course sprinkles because the world needs more sprinkles. Sprinkles are absolutely 200% not optional.
York Peppermint Patty Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 C whole milk
- 3/4 C granulated sugar
- 2 C heavy cream, divided
- 1 Pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 5 large egg yolks
- 12 York Peppermint Patties, chopped
Instructions
- Heat milk, sugar, salt, vanilla and 1 cup of cream in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Cover and remove from heat, allowing to sit for 30 minutes.
- Pour remaining cup of cream into a large bowl with mesh strainer on top.
- In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks. Slowly drizzle warm milk mixture into egg yolks, while whisking constantly. Pour egg mixture into saucepan. Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture coats the back of a spatula. Pour through mesh strainer into cream. Stir gently, while chilling over an ice bath.
- Cover and chill overnight.
- When ready to churn, prepare chopped candy pieces. Mix and freeze according to manufacturer directions, adding candy pieces in within the last 5 minutes. Transfer to a freezer safe container, cover and freeze until solid.
looks amazing! i heart anything mint flavored!
Rachel this looks so good! I love homemade ice cream.
I never had the Friendly’s version of this ice cream but I can totally get behind the idea – I love peppermint patties! I haven’t made ice cream at all this winter, I really need to remedy that!
Your’re right, the world needs more sprinkles and this ice cream! This looks fabulous!
This sounds incredible! And, of course, the sprinkles make it even better!
Mmm, love this idea! It looks amazing!
I love the fact that you didn’t add mint to the base flavor as well. Too many mint ice creams are overpowering. The chopped peppermint patties folded in are the perfect touch.
I LOVE making home-made ice cream, this looks absolutely delicious!
Soo worth having in the winter! Love the combo :)
I would never dare skip the sprinkles!! The horror!
Love that you have been dreaming of this for so long… it sounds wonderful!!
Your speaking my family’s language with this one! My husband and daughter would LOVE this to the last drop. I’d leave off the hot fudge, but would definitely dive into the vanilla ice cream dotted with Peppermint Patties. It looks amazing. And, yea for sprinkles!
oooo I’ve always loved Friendly’s ice creams. Great inspiration, sounds awesome. I’ll take a bowl
Countdown to Wattamelon roll season!
And this is one more reason why I have to purchase an ice cream maker.
You definitely do! They’re so fun.
Wow this looks delicious. I can’t wait to try it.
I love peppermint patties!! What a great ice cream flavor – love that you kept it simple with vanilla base & candy pieces. Yum.
Can’t help but picture those commercials when the lady jumps on the table & starts skiing when she bites into a patty ;)
This is such a great recipe for the end of winter, Rachel! It’s starting to warm up here in Austin and I could definitely go for this delish ice cream…
OH MY GAWD YES.
Oooo, it’s time to pull the ice cream maker out, I see. I have one of those same “I bought this after the holidays when it was reduced” bag of Yorks. Now I can use them up in delicious style
They’re even harder to resist when they’re reduced like that! Definitely break out the ice cream maker soon! :)
ah, so this was the ice cream you were making! so there was a friendly’s in my town and we would go there after basketball practice in high school..and then it closed down a couple years later and now a santini’s is there (some ny style pziza shop)..yeah, thought i’d tell you that…in any case, no matter how cold it is, i could go for this ice cream asap!
A NY style pizza shop is no replacement for Friendly’s… so sad they closed so many locations.
Wow, this sounds so fantastic!
I’m really loving your new site design and this ice cream is calling my name!
Thanks so much! :)
I would happily get a tummy ache from too many peppermint patties – because this looks insane!! I haven’t got over my peppermint kick from the holidays, rock on peppermint patties!
oh,,,that is genius idea to add york peppermint patty to the ice cream. I can imagine how good it is. :) Can’t wait to make my own batch. hm…that fudge sauce on top looks great too.
hhhmmm I worked at Friendly’s in the 90’s and I don’t remember this ice cream. Clearly I missed out on something wonderful!!! I love that you made your own…and yes, sprinkles are needed on everything!!!
It’s possible it was a limited time thing or select locations. Who knows! But I miss it. This is a nice substitution though. :)
oh wow, what a perfect looking ice cream!! my ice cream maker is getting dusty–definitely need to fix that!
Man I still dream about this ice cream! It was vanilla based with a chocolate mint sauce with york peppermints through out it. I can’t believe the stopped making it. I can’t even find a picture of it.
You should definitely give this homemade version a try for a nice flashback! :)
No way! I didn’t know anyone else had ever even heard of this! I got it a couple times when I was around 12 years old, and that must have been around the time it was discontinued because I was never able to find it again. I still remember the taste twenty years later…best ice cream ever.
Glad I’m not the only one that fell in love with this tasty flavor. Thanks for the recipe…I’m going to have to try it!
Such a great flavor. Definitely give this homemade version a try :)