Homemade Thai Tea Oreo Ice Cream

Thai Tea Oreo Ice Cream is a tea-infused twist on the beloved classic cookies and cream ice cream. It features a Thai tea ice cream base mixed with crumbled Oreo cookies, offering a rich and satisfying flavor that you can easily learn to make at home.

This is a beginner-friendly ice cream recipe, requiring only a short list of ingredients and detailed steps.

Because ice cream making requires significant chilling time, we recommend starting this recipe at least two days before you plan to serve it.

For more easy and crowd-pleasing desserts, check out our dessert recipes like Pandan Coconut Rice Krispies and Mango Float Bingsu!

Now let’s get into the recipe!

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Table of Contents

Introduction

If you love either Thai iced tea or cookies and cream, this recipe is perfect for you!

Thai tea ice cream is currently making waves, with top brands like Mavens, Magnolia, and Van Leeuwen featuring it.

However, Thai tea cookies and cream isn’t a typical flavor you’ll find in stores. By making this at home, you’re preparing a unique ice cream treat that’s guaranteed to be loved by your family and friends!

A little backstory on this recipe: Elijah and I were in a heated debate over what ice cream to make next with our ice cream machine. He loves cookies and cream, while I really crave tea-flavored ice creams.

Finally, we landed on the perfect compromise! We’ve been developing this recipe all summer and are finally excited to share it!

This ice cream recipe is based on French style ice cream, which uses eggs for richness and as a stabilizer. Our milk-to-cream ratio is slightly higher than usual to compensate for any liquid loss during the tea steeping process.

Brief History of Thai Tea

The Thai tea we recognize today originated in the 1940s, but its roots stretch back over four centuries.

It began with hot tea drinking, influenced by neighboring China. Later, milk was added, influenced by India. The final evolution included the inventions of ice and condensed milk. Thai people became accustomed to drinking iced milk tea.

In 1945, the Chatramue tea brand was established by Chinese immigrants, who created the Thai tea we know today by blending red Assam and Ceylon teas that they imported from China.

Today, Thailand has a thriving tea industry, with Thai tea enjoyed globally and evolving into new forms like hard candies, mochi, cakes, and, of course, ice cream.

Combining Flavors: Thai Tea and Oreo

If you haven’t tried this flavor combination before, Thai tea and Oreo are a match made in heaven.

The sweet, earthy tea leaves play beautifully with the chocolatey and creamy cookies.

As an ice cream flavor, the base of milk, cream, and eggs provides a smooth richness that enhances this combination. It’s truly an amazing taste!

Thai tea Oreo isn’t an entirely new flavor, as it’s widely used in modern boba shops and dessert cafes.

We’ve eaten it in various ways like Thai tea Oreo shaved ice, ice-blended Thai tea with Oreo brûlée, and Thai tea Oreo crepe cake.

Regardless of its shape or form, Thai tea always tastes great with Oreo!

Tips and Tricks

• To ensure each scoop has a generous amount of topping, alternate layers of ice cream and crumbled Oreos when transferring the mixture to a container.
• Plan at least two days ahead of serving. Chilling and freezing are essential, non-negotiable aspects of making ice cream. Allowing at least two days ensures adequate cooling time. Here is an example schedule:
  • Day 1 – Cook the ice cream base, let it cool completely, then chill in the fridge overnight
  • Day 2 – Churn, then freeze overnight
  • Day 3 – Ready to serve!
• Use a stopwatch and keep an eye on the churning process. Our ice cream churner typically churns this recipe in 20 minutes, though this can differ by appliance. The ice cream is done churning when it reaches a soft-serve consistency.

Equipment

• Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
• saucepan
• fine mesh strainer
• cheesecloth
• thermometer
• dough/ice cream scooper
• Tovolo 1.5 qt Glide-A-Scoop Ice Cream Tub
• mixing bowl(s)
• Cambro Container(s) with Lids

Ingredients

• 2¾ cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• ½ cup Thai tea leaves
• 5 egg yolks
• ⅔ cup white sugar
• 1½ cups oreo cookies – crumbled, plus more for topping

Recipe

Infuse the Thai Tea Leaves

1. In a pot, mix whole milk, heavy cream, then bring to boil. Add Thai tea leaves. Turn off the heat and let it steep for 30 min.

2. Cover a fine mesh strainer with a cheese cloth to create a double strainer. Strain the mixture into a bowl or container.

Cook the Ice Cream Base

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar.

2. Gradually temper the eggs by whisking a small amount of the warm milk mixture into them. Then, slowly pour about one-third of the milk mixture into the eggs while whisking continuously, and return the mixture to the main ice cream base.

3. In a clean pot, gently cook over med-low heat until temperature reaches 170℉/ 71℃.

4. Turn off the heat and allow it cool completely on the counter.
5. Once completely cool, strain the mixture and transfer to an airtight container. Chill in the fridge overnight.

6. Remember to freeze the churning bowl for your ice cream machine.

Churning and Freezing

1. Churn for 20-22 min until the texture reaches a soft-serve consistency. In the final minute, add in the crumbled oreos.

2. Transfer the churned ice cream to an ice cream container, layering in additional crumbled oreos.

3. Freeze overnight for the ice cream to firm up.

Storage Instructions

For optimal storage, use a double-walled ice cream container.

This insulation prevents significant temperature fluctuations, minimizes ice crystal formation on the surface, and protects the ice cream from absorbing odors or flavors from other items in the freezer.

Freezer-safe plastic containers with lids or a standard loaf pan can also be used. For extra protection, place a sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap directly on the surface before covering with a lid.

Homemade ice cream typically has a shelf life of 1-2 weeks in the freezer. Unlike store-bought ice cream, it does not contain additional stabilizers, so it does not last as long.

However, its shelf life can be extended with proper storage. Check for spoilage signs such as unusual odors or freezer burn.

Final Thoughts

A unique take on classic cookies and cream ice cream, this recipe infuses it with bold Thai tea flavor. This simple homemade recipe is your ticket to a refreshingly delicious summer treat!

Is your sweet tooth craving more? Explore more easy dessert recipes like Mango Float Bingsu and Mung Bean Milk Tea!

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this recipe, please give a star rating and review on the recipe card below + share your creations on Instagram and tag us @itsforkandspoon!

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References & Further Reading

https://www.saveur.com/article/Techniques/Talking-Ice-Cream/

https://www.seriouseats.com/ice-cream-style-guide#toc-philadelphia-ice-cream

https://www.cha-thai.com/en/history

https://www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/food/40025165

https://www.alveus.eu/blog/thailand-teas