Description
This homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream is ultra-creamy, rich, and loaded with buttery toasted pecans. Made with a smooth custard base and infused with caramel-like brown sugar, it’s the perfect scoopable dessert for pecan lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine heavy cream, whole milk, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Heat gently, stirring until sugar dissolves. Do not boil.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks until slightly pale. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the hot cream mixture to temper the yolks.
- Pour the yolk mixture back into the saucepan. Cook on medium-low, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and reaches about 170°F (coats the back of a spoon).
- Strain custard through a fine mesh sieve into a container. Cool completely in an ice bath or refrigerate for 3–4 hours or overnight.
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat until golden and nutty. Stir in chopped pecans and toast until fragrant. Let cool.
- Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker according to your machine’s instructions. During the last few minutes, add the cooled buttered pecans.
- Transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 4 hours or until firm.
- Scoop, serve, and enjoy your creamy, nutty Butter Pecan Ice Cream!
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut cream and almond milk.
- To reduce sugar, try using coconut sugar or a low-carb sweetener like stevia.
- Want more flavor? Add a pinch of cinnamon or a drizzle of maple syrup to the custard base.
- Straining the custard ensures a silky-smooth texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Custard + Churned
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: butter pecan ice cream, homemade ice cream, custard ice cream, pecan dessert, creamy ice cream