You know those recipes that just kind of happen? I was making lunch for the kids, and scanning the fridge the way you do, when my eyes landed on a leftover jar of pineapple mint puree. I love that pineapple puree so much. (I try to stash a portion of it in the freezer whenever I make it.) I use the puree to make these Pineapple Mojitos – and alcohol-free versions for the whole family too.
When I saw that jar waiting in the fridge, I started wondering how that puree might work as an ice cream flavor. Next, I remembered I had some coconut milk stashed in the pantry. One thought led to the other and in just about 60 seconds, I had the mixture whisked together and churning in the ice cream machine. Remember the Ultimate Ice Cream Maker Review and giveaways I did last year? I compared so many ice cream makers and in the end, I’m still absolutely in love with my Breville Ice Cream Compressor. One of the coolest features is the pre-cool function. The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here! You can pour in an almost room temperature mixture and the machine chilled it to -5 degrees in just minutes. I pressed start and the machine took less than half an hour to whip this gelato into a creamy light texture that was scoopable straight out of the machine. In researching different ice creams and frozen desserts, the main difference I’ve found between ice cream and gelato is the intensity of the flavor. The flavor of this dessert is quite intense. That said, whether you call it gelato or ice cream, you’re going to love this frozen dessert. A small serving of this gelato satisfies me and I love how refreshing the mint is in this gelato. It is like no ice cream I have made before. Another rabbit hole I have discovered is Shaved Ice. Talk about a quick, sweet, refreshing treat! Try it. These are a few of my favorite ice cream storage containers: Extreme Freeze Reditainers (pictured above – technically disposable containers, so I can gift them without second-guessing it, but I also reuse them over and over), Tovolo Ice Cream Tubs, and these Rubbermaid Containers (these are ideal for layering add-ins and stirring in sauce swirls at the end).
Pineapple Mint Gelato Recipe
{originally published 6/19/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 4/25/20}
