No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Making your own homemade ice cream is a pinch with this No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream is the newest wave of indulge! Toasted pecans, unsalted butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, and a handful of other ingredients come together to create the easiest and most delicious ice cream that requires no special equipment and is the perfect balance of sweet + savory. Dairy-free + Gluten-free options.

There is nothing like creamy ice cream that is made with heavy cream and a handful of ingredients. The soft, cold sweetness coats your mouth perfectly while the small bites of chopped pecans adds the perfect crunch factor. Are you a lover of ice cream? If so, then this No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream is a classic flavor that you have to try making at home. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can create easy no-churn ice cream recipes at home without the need for any fancy equipments. Ice cream makers can be pretty expensive and take up tons of room on the counter or in the pantry, so you'll love the fact that this no churn recipe uses only a blender for ease.

If you're in the ice cream making mood after this recipe, you'll love this Best Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream, No-Churn Maple Brown Butter Walnut Ice Cream, and No-Churn Peanut Butter Oreo Ice Cream. Everything works for both adults and kids and makes for the best way to batch frozen sweet treats for the week.

But when it comes to this No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream in particular, the type that requires minimal effort + simple ingredients & no fancy ice cream maker----it's a huge hit with the family and is perfect for a sweet cool-down treat over summer or ideal for a cozy winter movie night. Basically, it's perfect ALL YEAR round and can be adapted to be Gluten-free & Vegan!

Jump to:

• What Flavor is Butter Pecan?
• Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker
• Ingredients for No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream
• How To Make The Best Butter Pecan Ice Cream 
• Why Sweetened Condensed Milk is so important!
• What's the Difference Between Butterscotch and Butter Pecans?
• Serving Suggestions for this No Churn Ice Cream 
• How to Toast the Chopped Pecans
• Common Q + A's for this No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream
• Recipes You'll Love that Highlight Pecans
• MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
• No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream

What Flavor is Butter Pecan?

Basically, butter pecan is a flavor that merges the nutty notes of pecan with a bold, richness of butter and a hint of sweet vanilla. The distinctive flavor of the pecan is hard to pinpoint – even for experts – but it's best described as having sweet and roasted undertones.

Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker

You may have thought that the only way to enjoy homemade ice cream is to purchase an ice cream maker. That is totally false! You can create excellent texture without an ice cream maker if you follow some of my basic principles for no-churn ice cream---especially this butter pecan version. It does take a little technique to perfect the consistency, but it is so easy that anyone could do it!

If you take sweetened cream, flavor it, and freeze it, you will be very disappointed. Unfortunately, ice cream needs air whipped into it, which is what most ice cream machines do as they freeze the base. Freezing cream will cause it to solidify and you will never be able to scoop it out.

Instead, I use heavy whipping cream and whip it to stiff peaks. Then, I fold it into sweetened condensed milk along with my other mix-ins to keep the mixture airy. This way, I get perfectly scoop-able ice cream once it has hardened in the freezer.

Ingredients for No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Here is a simple list of ingredients to make No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream:

• Heavy cream. Choose organic for the best flavor! (See FAQ section for DF option)
• Sweetened condensed milk. I use low-fat, sweetened condensed milk for my homemade ice cream recipe. It really enriches the texture and sweetens things up with just one simple ingredient. (Dairy-free option sub for a DF condensed milk)
• Vanilla. Choose pure vanilla extract to highlight this classic ice cream flavor.
• Maple syrup. Add a touch of maple flavor to compliment the vanilla and strawberry flavors in the ice cream. You can also substitute with honey or agave if you prefer.
• Almond Milk. Adds a nutty element and creates a smoother batter. You can use store-bought or make your own Almond Milk without soaking!
• Unsalted butter. No need to have the butter at room temperature. You can take it right out the fridge if needed because you'll be melting it in a skillet until fragrant.
• Brown sugar. Choose organic sugar to ensure it’s vegan and healthier. This helps to create a caramelized flavor to the pecans when added to the skillet.
• Cinnamon. Helps to enhance the butter and pecan flavors in this ice cream. Just a pinch is needed.
• Pecans. Use pre-chopped to skip a step or chop halved pecans. They are more pronounced in flavor once toasted, so it's recommended.

How To Make The Best Butter Pecan Ice Cream 

TO MAKE THE 'BUTTERED' PECAN:

• In a saucepan, add the butter over medium-high heat and let it melt. Add in the brown sugar, stirring until combined and the sugar has dissolved. Finally, add the chopped pecans and stir until coated and the nuts are toasted, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

TO MAKE THE ICE CREAM:

• In a high-powered blender, add the heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, maple syrup, and milk, blending everything together until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.

ASSEMBLE + FREEZE:

• Immediately pour the ice cream "batter" into a 9x5 loaf pan (or small metal bowl or round cake pan), followed by the COOLED buttered pecans, slightly stirring everything around (best with a spatula or spoon) to incorporate them in the middle. Then top the batter with the cooled toasted pecans.
• Tightly wrap the top of pan with foil paper or heavy duty plastic wrap and freeze for 6 hours or overnight.
• To serve, remove from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes to help it soften slightly before scooping.
• Bon Appetit!

Why Sweetened Condensed Milk is so important!

First, I must let you know that Sweetened Condensed Milk is a canned milk that has 60 percent of it's water content removed, making it thicker in consistency.

Also, it has 40-45% sugar, making it a great sugar substitute in recipes that use sugar. More importantly, condensed milk creates a caramelized flavor along with it's sweetness, which give the dishes that require it, a beautiful kick of flavor.

That being said---I generally love using the original Sweetened Condensed Milk like the Eagle Brand's version, however, in this recipe, I love using Edward's & Son's Let's Do Organic's dairy-free coconut version for vegan-friendly options.

What's the Difference Between Butterscotch and Butter Pecans?

Believe it or not, there's a difference between the two. Butter pecan is a flavor that offers rich, buttery notes, with the nuttiness of the pecans. Whereas, butterscotch is a sweeter flavor that offers a more creamier feel and the sauce is made from butter and brown sugar----very similar to caramel.

Serving Suggestions for this No Churn Ice Cream 

Although homemade No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream is amazing simply served in a cone, here are some ideas to elevate it to the next level:

Scoop into bowls: Serve the Butter Pecan Ice Cream in bowls with caramel and other toppings for pure ice cream joy.

Make ice cream sandwiches: Take two cookies of your choice (chocolate chip, oatmeal, or even Biscoff cookies for double the caramel goodness!), and sandwich a generous scoop of maple ice cream between them. Roll the edges in crushed waffle cones or mini chocolate chips for an extra crunch.

Build epic sundaes: Create towering sundaes with multiple scoops of Butter Pecan ice cream + toppings!

Blend milkshake magic: Whip up a creamy milkshake like this by blending the homemade ice cream with your favorite milk like this Homemade Oat Milk or Creamy Cashew Milk 

Ice Cream Pie: Press a cookie crust into a pie dish, fill it with Butter Pecan Ice Cream mix, and freeze until firm. YUM!

Pair with a warm brownie: Serve with warm brownies like this Chocolate Oreo Skillet Brownie or Best Fudgy Vegan Brownies for a heavenly combination!

Affogato: Pour a shot of hot espresso or strong coffee over a scoop of your butter pecan ice cream. Watch as the creamy ice cream melts into the rich, velvety coffee for a heavenly dessert-drink combination.

How to Toast the Chopped Pecans

To toast pecans is super easy and it works for any type of nuts! Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped pecans unto the baking sheet, ensuring that they are evenly spread out and toast them for 10 minutes, tossing them halfway to prevent browning on just one side.

Common Q + A's for this No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Recipes You'll Love that Highlight Pecans

If you love this ice cream recipe, try these delicious pecan-filled ones next:

• Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites
• Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake + Pecan Crust
• Pumpkin French Toast
• Sweet Potato Caramel Cheesecake
• Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Sticky Buns
• Jumbo Chocolate Stuffed Butter Pecan Cookies
• Jamaican-inspired Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
• Vegan Peanut Butter Pecan Milkshake

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.

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