Here’s a rich and creamy Homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream recipe — made with toasted pecans and a buttery, custard-style base. It’s a classic, and surprisingly easy to make at home, especially with an ice cream maker.
🍨 Homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream (Classic, Custard-Style)
✅ Ingredients
For the Buttered Pecans:
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- Pinch of salt (optional, enhances flavor)
For the Ice Cream Base:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
🔥 Step 1: Make the Buttered Pecans
- In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp of butter.
- Add chopped pecans and a pinch of salt. Toast for 4–5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely.
🥣 Step 2: Make the Ice Cream Base
- Warm milk and cream: In a saucepan, heat the milk, cream, and brown sugar over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then bring just to a simmer. Do not boil.
- Temper the egg yolks: In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Slowly add about ½ cup of the hot cream mixture to the yolks while whisking constantly to temper them.
- Combine and cook: Pour the yolk mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 170–175°F or 77–80°C).
- Finish the base: Remove from heat. Stir in 1 tbsp butter, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Chill the base: Pour the custard through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Let it cool, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight).
❄️ Step 3: Churn and Freeze
- Churn the ice cream in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually 20–25 minutes).
- Add buttered pecans during the last 2–3 minutes of churning, or fold them in after churning.
- Freeze until firm: Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
📝 Tips
- For extra buttery flavor, you can stir in 1 more tablespoon of melted butter right before churning.
- Want to skip eggs? Let me know and I’ll give you an eggless version (still creamy!).
- Add a swirl of maple syrup or caramel for a gourmet twist.