Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (2024)

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Browned butter creates a standout version of classic butter pecan ice cream.

By

Elise Bauer

Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated April 23, 2024

11 Ratings

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10 Delightfully Delicious Ice Cream Recipes to Enjoy on Your StoopFEATURED IN:

An ice cream loving friend was in town this weekend, giving me the perfect excuse to make this batch of butter pecan ice cream!

Butter pecan is one of my all time favorite flavors. In this recipe, the butter flavor comes in the custard base, achieved by browning the butter first before adding the other ingredients.

Have you ever made brown butter before? It's easy to do and makes the butter taste amazingly deep, rich, and nutty.

Why Toast the Nuts?

Toasting the nuts for this butter pecan ice cream is doubly important: it adds an almost caramelized flavor to them, which complements the brown butter ice cream. Toasting also crisps the pecans, keeping them from getting soggy in the finished ice cream.

How to Toast PecansREAD MORE:

What To Serve with Butter Pecan Ice Cream

This butter pecan ice cream is so good that it doesn't need company, but if you want to pair it with something, we suggest these recipes.

  • Caramel sauce
  • Homemade Whipped Cream
  • Classic Blondies
  • Peach Cobbler
  • Peach Blueberry Crumb Pie

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Prep Time4 hrs

Cook Time26 hrs 30 mins

Churning Time20 mins

Total Time30 hrs 50 mins

Servings12 servings

Yield1 1/2 quarts

Cool the ice cream base in an ice bath to cut down on the chilling time, if you like.

This fresh ice cream without any stabilizers is best in the first few days after making it. It may form ice crystals within a few days.

Ingredients

Ice Cream Base:

  • 6 large egg yolks

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 cups heavy cream

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pecans:

  • 1 cup pecans

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • Pinch salt

Method

  1. Whisk the egg yolks:

    In a medium sized heat-safe bowl (metal, ceramic, or glass), whisk together the egg yolks until well blended. Set aside.

  2. Set the cream in bowl over ice, with a sieve on top:

    Pour the cream into a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and set a medium-mesh sieve on top. Set aside.

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  3. Brown the butter, add brown sugar and salt:

    In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter cook it, stirring constantly, until it just begins to brown.

    Add the brown sugar and salt. Stir until the sugar completely melts.

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    Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (7)

    Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (8)

  4. Add the milk slowly, dissolve sugar:

    Slowly add the milk, stirring to incorporate. It will foam up initially, so make sure you are using a pan with high enough sides. Heat until all of the sugar is completely dissolved. Do not let boil or the mixture may curdle.

    Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (9)

    Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (10)

  5. Temper the eggs:

    Whisk in hand, slowly pour half of the milk and sugar mixture into the eggs, whisking constantly to incorporate.

    Then add the warmed egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk sugar mixture.

  6. Stir until the custard base thickens:

    Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a wooden or heatproof rubber spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula, about 5 to 7 minutes.

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  7. Pour the custard through the sieve and stir it into the cream:

    Add vanilla and stir until cool over the ice bath.

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  8. Chill:

    Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator.

  9. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  10. Toast the pecans:

    While the oven is preheating, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Toss with pecans and a pinch of salt.

    Spread pecans out on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, until the pecans are lightly toasted. Set aside to cool.

    Once cool, roughly chop the pecans and set aside.

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  11. Churn in your ice cream maker:

    Once the ice cream mixture is thoroughly chilled, churn in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

    Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (14)

  12. Fold in chopped toasted pecans:

    Once the ice cream has been formed in the ice cream maker, it will be fairly soft. Fold in the chopped pecans.

    Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (15)

  13. Freeze:

    Put in an airtight plastic container and place in the freezer for at least an hour, preferably several hours.

    If it has been frozen for more than a day, you may need to let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften it before serving.

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    Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (17)

  • Ice Creams
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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
378Calories
31g Fat
19g Carbs
7g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories378
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g40%
Saturated Fat 16g78%
Cholesterol 175mg58%
Sodium 125mg5%
Total Carbohydrate 19g7%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 109mg8%
Iron 1mg5%
Potassium 186mg4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Cool Off On a Hot by Making This Extra Special Butter Pecan Ice Cream (2024)
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