27 May 2011

Butter Pecan Ice Cream


Yes, another ice cream recipe! As I said, I missed the boat last year but finally bought myself the Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream-Sorbet Maker. Now I'm making up for lost time! I normally wouldn't post two in a row, but my husband was clamoring for more homemade ice cream! For information about using the machine, see last week's Strawberry Ice Cream post.

This recipe was inspired by one in the instruction booklet that came with the machine. It's an easy, no-egg, uncooked ice cream. I made a simple flavor improvement. And it is fabulous! In the coming months I'll be developing my own recipes for more uncooked ice creams like these as well as custard-style ice creams, frozen yogurts and sorbets. I'm so excited!

It's wonderful on its own, but if you want a summer dessert that'll make people stand up and holler, put a scoop of this on the plate next to a wedge of Peach Pie with Lattice Crust! Can't wait for peach season!


Simple Butter Pecan Ice Cream

(Makes about 5 cups)

1/3 cup sugar
1/3 packed cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch salt
1 cup milk (I used 2%)
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup (4 ounces) pecans, finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt

1 In medium bowl (I use a 2-quart glass measure to make pouring into the machine easier), whisk together sugars, vanilla, salt and milk until the sugars are dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. I always do overnight because I'm a do-as-much-as-possible-ahead-of-time type! (I use Organic Valley dairy products.)

2 At least an hour before making ice cream, melt the butter in a small skillet (I use the All-Clad Stainless 8-Inch Fry Pan) over medium-low heat. Add pecans and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until pecans are toasted, about 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.

3 Assemble the Cuisinart ICE-21 ice cream maker; turn it on. While it is running, pour the chilled mixture through the spout. Let mix until thickened, about 10 to 15 minutes. With it still running, pour the toasted pecans through the spout and let mix in completely, up to 5 minutes.

4 Transfer the soft ice cream to a freezer-safe airtight container and place in freezer for at least 2 hours. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving.

32 comments:

Cranberry Morning said...

How far are you away from Wisconsin?? The thought of warm peach pie with lattice crust and a scoop of homemade ice cream makes me hungry - and I just had breakfast!

Your food photos are wonderful, Jean!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Judy! I'd love to feed you pie and ice cream, 'fraid the ice cream would melt by the time I got it there though!

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

Hey, you are on a roll! Ice cream is an entree (yeah, I know "entree" as main course is actually a misnomer on menus, but you know what I mean). Yesterday I bought some coffee-vanilla syrup – one of the many ancillary tweaks I use with ice creams to round out their potential. Srsly, start with Trader Joe's Coffee Blast or Ultra Choclate, de-brick it in the microwave a little, and you have a suspension medium for most other totally essential goodies that civilization has to offer. DO share your research with ice cream, please...

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sully, I thought these ice cream posts would meet with your approval! I've heard about your microwave de-bricking, but I don't recommend it for people like myself who aren't heavy microwave users and so tend to pop something in there and then get distracted. I would come back to a thin liquid bubbling vigorously!

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

"Thin liquid bubbling vigorously..." Mmmm. Hot soup!

Unknown said...

Oh, you can keep those ice cream recipes coming! Is there really such a thing as too much ice cream??? :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Yeah, well, we'll see what the scale says at the end of summer, Jenn! But I wish I had a bowl of this right now.

James Hickey Photography said...

I follow in my dad's footsteps on this one. His 3 favorite ice creams were; Peppermint Stick, Butter Pecan and Strawberry (only fresh will do). I too like all these as well, but Butter Pecan leads the way. I feel ice cream truly could be one of my last meals...if I had to choose right now.
Did I mention your photos look great? Your critique in the mail. My fees go down with each bite!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Jean, this ice cream and the one featured in the post below it are both wonderful. I'm relatively new to your blog and I don't often comment, but I wanted you to know I'm here and that I appreciate the work you do on your blog. I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy the holiday weekend. Blessings...Mary

LANA said...

OMG - my mouth is watering! Home-made ice cream is one of the few things I have not attempted to make. I'm so afraid I would put on ten pounds in a week. But I will think about low-fat frozen yogurt. Love your blog - it took me about 5 seconds to bookmark you. Have a great week-end - I will be reading your posts. xoxo Lana www.lifeatwildberrycottage.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

James, thank you! Appreciate all the encouragement, especially about the photos!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Mary, you are so kind! I always appreciate it when such a great cook as you leaves a comment!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Lana! I'm so glad we found each other's blogs today! And I'll probably be posting a low-fat frozen yogurt soon. Have a side dish lined up for next Friday.

Charlie Bakes said...

Hi Jean
This ice cream sounds so so so good! I love the pic!
Thanks for sharing
Charlie, 13 year old food blogger
www.charliebakes.blogspot.com

Prathima Rao said...

Wow...This is a gorgeous, fantastic & delightful icecream!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Charlie! I started cooking when I was three, I think, so I love to see a young baker!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Prathima, thank you. It's hard to believe something so easy can be so good!

Laurie Viera Rigler said...

Thanks for a yummy post. I have a Cuisinart ice cream maker that I have never used, and you've inspired me to give it a try.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

That's wonderful, Laurie. Do come back and let me know how you liked it. (Must caution you about the recipes in the instruction booklet. Many of them make waaayy more than the capacity of the machine. The mixture expands a LOT as it churns.)

Goddess of Baking said...

Yum!! That ice cream looks delicious!! Thanks for the recipe!

Unknown said...

Oh Yum! Love ice-cream, especially home-made ones. I never had butter pecan ice cream, but I love butter pecan cookies, so no doubt this is delicious. Enjoy your Sunday Jean.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Merlot, thanks! I hope you'll try the recipe soon and let me know how you like it!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Michael! If you like butter pecan cookies (so do I!), you'll love this ice cream.

Grant said...

Oh man! That looks so damn good Jean. My mouth is watering. Now I'll have to go have some ice cream for supper. Yup words and images sure are powerful :-)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Grant! I think it would make a great supper! Would make some myself today, but I'm out of organic cream and my local health food store is closed for the holiday.

Laurie Viera Rigler said...

Thanks for the warning about the machine's capacity, Jean. I will keep that in mind!

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

I want an ice-cream maker soooo bad! I'm bookmarking this for when I get one ;)

New to your blog; happy I found you!

Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Mary! Let me know when you get one - and whether, like me, you're kicking yourself for waiting so long!

Ruthann said...

Hi Jean, I just got a ice cream attachment for my KitchenAid mixer. Last week I made strawberry. I have been looking for Butter Pecan. I think this is the recipe I have been looking for. We are having a big family b-b-q at the end of the month. I have asked the family what ice creams are their favs. Most have been, so far, chocolate and butter pecan. Can't wait to try it! Thanks so much for the recipe.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Ruthann! I hope your family likes it as much as mine does. If you're like me, you're going to go crazy with your new ice cream maker--I can't stop! Come back next Friday for my easy chocolate frozen yogurt.

Cindy in Tega Cay, SC said...

My husband made this recipe and I had it for breakfast. Yes, ice cream for breakfast! Delicious! Thanks for sharing and I thank my husband who enjoys making ice cream even on a Saturday morning. 😊

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Cindy, thank you! I haven't had a comment on this post in 5 years and haven't made the recipe in probably 2 years, then I just pulled it up this morning. Then 10 minutes later your comment came in! Tell your husband I just posted my peach ice cream and will be posting another ice cream recipe next week.