Candy cane ice creams
Candy cane ice creams are a festive frozen dessert made with full cream milk, pouring cream, egg yolks and crushed candy canes. The Thermomix heats the custard base with precise temperature control, ensuring a silky texture without curdling. Crushed peppermint swirls through the creamy mixture, creating a nostalgic Christmas treat that is refreshing, sweet and beautifully speckled with red and white.
About this recipe
Candy cane ice creams made in the Thermomix TM7 are the ultimate festive dessert for anyone searching for homemade ice cream recipes with an all-in-one kitchen machine. This seasonal treat starts with a classic vanilla custard base of full cream milk, pouring cream, egg yolks, sugar and a real vanilla bean, cooked gently thanks to the TM7's precise temperature control so the yolks never scramble. The real magic comes from candy canes, crushed finely in the mixing bowl and folded through the chilled custard, delivering bright peppermint crunch and cheerful red speckles in every spoonful. A pinch of optional sea salt balances the sweetness beautifully. Whether you are planning a Christmas dessert table, a children's holiday party or simply craving a cooling December indulgence, this Thermomix version removes the guesswork: the machine weighs, heats, crushes and chills, so you get a silky, professional-style frozen custard without an ice cream maker or constant stirring.
Preparation tips
- For the best texture, chill the custard base thoroughly in the refrigerator before churning; a properly cold mixture with the milk, cream and vanilla bean infuses better and freezes into smaller ice crystals, giving a creamier candy cane ice cream.
- Reserve a few larger candy cane pieces and fold them in by hand at the very end so every scoop delivers visible red peppermint ribbons rather than a fully blended pink mixture.
- If you prefer a subtler mint flavour, reduce the candy canes and add extra scraped vanilla bean seeds; a tiny pinch of sea salt also enhances both the vanilla and the peppermint notes.
Recipe variations
- Lactose-free version: replace the full cream milk and pouring cream with lactose-free whole milk and lactose-free whipping cream; the egg yolk custard base works identically and the candy cane crunch stays exactly the same.
- Festive chocolate variation: drizzle melted dark chocolate into the churned ice cream to create peppermint bark-style shards, or swap half the candy canes for crushed chocolate-covered mint creams for a richer Christmas dessert.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing accuracy - The integrated scale of the Thermomix weighs milk, cream and sugar directly into the bowl, saving washing up. [Built-in Scale]
- Gentle custard heating - Precise temperature control of the TM7 cooks the egg yolk base evenly without any curdling. [Temperature Control]
- Fine crushing - The Thermomix grinds the candy canes into uniform peppermint crumbs that fold evenly through the ice cream. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
- Seeds scraped clean - The TM7 grates the vanilla bean seeds loose in seconds, releasing intense aroma into the cream. [Grating]. [Easy Cleanup]
- Airy whipping - The Thermomix whips the pouring cream to soft peaks, giving the frozen dessert a light, scoopable texture. [Whipping]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- vanilla bean
- full cream milk
- pouring (whipping) cream
- white sugar
- egg yolks
- sea salt (optional)
- candy canes