Description
Creamy homemade butter pecan ice cream whispers sweet Southern comfort with each indulgent spoonful. Rich, nutty pecans dance through velvety vanilla custard, inviting you to savor summer’s most delightful frozen dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Dairy & Cream:
- 2 cups (473 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (237 ml) whole milk
- 5 large egg yolks
- 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter
Sweeteners & Seasonings:
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Nuts:
- 1 cup (120 g) pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
Instructions
- Gently warm the cream, milk, partial sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan until it reaches a delicate simmer, then remove from heat.
- Whisk egg yolks with remaining sugar until they transform into a pale, silky mixture.
- Gradually introduce the warm cream into the egg yolks, whisking constantly to prevent curdling and create a smooth integration.
- Return the combined liquid to the saucepan, cooking over low heat while stirring continuously until the custard reaches a thick, coating consistency around 170-175°F, maintaining a careful watch to avoid boiling.
- Remove from heat and incorporate butter and vanilla extract, ensuring complete and even distribution throughout the custard.
- Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or ideally overnight to develop rich flavors.
- Transfer the thoroughly chilled custard into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s guidelines.
- During the final moments of churning, fold in the toasted pecans, distributing them evenly throughout the creamy base.
- Transition the freshly churned ice cream into an airtight container and freeze for 2-3 hours to achieve optimal firmness before serving.
Notes
- Toast pecans carefully to enhance their nutty flavor without burning, ensuring a rich, deep taste in every bite.
- Chill the custard thoroughly before churning to guarantee a smoother, creamier ice cream texture.
- Use high-quality vanilla extract or a fresh vanilla bean for an intensely aromatic and authentic flavor profile.
- If lactose-intolerant, substitute heavy cream and milk with coconut cream or almond milk for a dairy-free alternative.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 445 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg