Peppermint Ice Cream

Makes 1 quart

3 cups almond milk (I used Almond Breeze unsweetened original)
1 cup soy milk powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup sugar
small pinch of salt
6 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 teaspoons peppermint extract
a few drops red food coloring (optional, I use these natural ones)
1 cup crushed peppermint candy (about 8 regular sized candy canes. To crush place them in a sealable bag and hit with a rolling pin)

Place the egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. In another medium bowl combine one cup of almond milk, the vanilla extract, and the peppermint extract. Set a fine mesh strainer on top. In a medium saucepan whisk together remaining two cups of almond milk, soy milk powder, oil, sugar and salt. Heat the mixture until quite warm but not quite boiling.

Slowly stream the warm mixture into the egg yolks while whisking constantly. Scrape the warmed yolk mixture back into the pan and cook over medium heat stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan with the spatula while stirring. Cook until the mixture thickens and coats the back of the spatula (160 degrees). Pour the custard through the strainer into the almond milk mixture. Add food coloring, if desired, and stir to combine. Place the bowl over an ice bath and stir until cool.

Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator and then freeze in a ice cream maker according to the manufacturers instructions. Transfer the ice cream to a freezer container and fold in the peppermint candy. Place ice cream in freezer until firm.

Note: The ice cream will get harder as it sits in the freezer so if not serving it freshly churned let it sit out for 10-15 minutes to soften it before serving for the best texture.