Strawberry Mint Tea Ice Cream

 

Since in theory it's spring, though we in NC are still waiting for Mother Nature to put that into practice, I thought I'd do something seasonal and nothing says spring like the sweet taste of strawberries. 

Wanted to try out something new so dusted off the old ice cream maker and whipped up this frozen treat for you to try.  It's light and fruity and refreshing too.

Strawberry Mint Tea Ice Cream

3 cups heavy cream
1 cup half & half
3-4 mint tea bags
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups chopped strawberries

Mix heavy cream and half & half together in a pitcher.  Add 3-4 mint tea bags, cover and steep in refrigerator for 4-5 hours, depending on how minty you want your cream to be.

Once it's ready, remove and strain tea bags.  Add vanilla and sugar and mix until sugar is dissolved.

Using an ice cream maker, start the machine as instructed and pour in mixture.  Allow to spin for 10-15 minutes.

In a small bowl, crush the strawberry pieces into a chunky paste.  If necessary, add sugar to sweet the berries (but only if they aren't already). 

 

 

Pour the strawberries into the machine and spin until ice cream forms.

If your ice cream doesn't set all the way, remove to freezer.  I would recommend pouring it into a metal cake pan for maximum efficient freezing.

Once it hardens up, it is ready to serve with your favorite toppings or pop into a cone and enjoy!