Emerald Acres Town Homes Blog: No-Churn Pecan Pie Ice Cream for Thanksgiving Dessert

Are you ready for the ultimate Thanksgiving-themed ice cream recipe? I’ve always wanted to make my own ice cream but never wanted to store a big ice cream maker and remember to freeze the bowl, etc. Why can’t there be a no-churn ice cream that tastes just as good, if not better, than store-bought ice cream? Now there is! I chose to make this recipe pecan pie-flavored because it’s oh-so-perfect for Thanksgiving. Add a scoop on top of actual pecan pie or just enjoy in a bowl by itself. Your whole family is sure to love it!

This recipe is super easy and foolproof. You truly cannot mess it up! It only takes a few ingredients, which is very helpful when you’re hosting all the family for Thanksgiving and there’s barely any room left in the refrigerator. Read on to learn how to make this yummy pecan pie ice cream!

Ingredients
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
1 5-ounce can of evaporated milk
1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract
2 cups of pecans (chopped or whole)
4 tablespoons of butter
¾ cup of brown sugar

Direction
1. In a chilled electric mixer bowl, whip your heavy whipping cream until thickened. You don’t want stiff peaks to form, however.
2. Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and the evaporated milk, and beat on low until combined.
3. Add vanilla extract and stir until combined and smooth. Pour into a metal loaf pan and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the freezer.
4. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, pecans and brown sugar.
5. Stir until the brown sugar has melted into the butter (about 3 to 4 minutes).
6. Remove from the stovetop and allow to cool slightly. Pour into your ice cream pan and stir to combine. If you find that the pecan topping “falls” to the bottom of your ice cream, then allow the ice cream to set for a few hours before adding pecan topping.
7. Be sure ice cream is in the freezer at least 10 to 12 hours and then enjoy!

Now, I chose to flavor my ice cream as “pecan pie” because it’s one of the quintessential Thanksgiving flavors, but you can certainly get creative and choose your own mix-ins! Why not bits of actual pecan pie or pumpkin pie? Or try cranberries for a fruity flavor. The possibilities are endless for this easy, no-churn ice cream recipe that tastes just as good as store-bought ice cream!