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Hi Bold Bakers!
Ice Cream for me is not just for the summer time. It is something I love to make all year round, even when the weather is chilly out. I wanted to put a Holiday spin on my No Machine Ice Cream recipe so I came up with a Butter Pecan Ice Cream Cake. This ice cream cake has a thick Gingersnap base, tons of Homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream and a generous amount of salted caramel on top. You know, just in case there wasn’t enough deliciousness going on.
My 2 Ingredient (No Machine) Homemade Ice Cream recipe works perfectly for this Ice Cream Cake. It is an incredibly easy way to make homemade ice cream with amazing results, and did I mention it just takes 2 ingredients to make? This cake practically makes itself. It’s that easy!
I really love this ice cream, so much so that last year I have made 6 Holiday Ice Cream Flavors. You’ll find Candy Cane, Sugar Cookie, Hot Chocolate Cinnamon Roll, Pumpkin Pie, and of course, the inspiration for this cake: Butter Pecan Ice Cream.
I couldn’t resist drizzling generous amounts of my Salted Caramel Sauce on top of this Ice Cream Cake. One of my secret weapons in the kitchen is a hidden jar of my homemade Salted Caramel Sauce in the back of my fridge. Far enough back there that my husband doesn’t know it exists but close enough to whip out for dessert emergencies.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner with Christmas hot on its heels. The one thing that you can guarantee during the holiday season is that the kitchen will be busy and there will be lots of food cooking. So, when you think of all of that hustle and bustle in the kitchen, you want to make sure you have your dessert squared away and ready to go.
A dessert that doesn’t need space in the oven or warming up, just slice and serve. If want to get really smart and prepared for the holidays make your cake up to 4 days in advance and it will be one less thing on your to do list on the big day. You want to be as prepared so you can sit back and enjoy the day with family and loved ones.
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Butter Pecan Ice Cream Cake (No Machine)
Ingredients
Base3 ½ cups (101/2oz/298g) ginger snaps, crushed- 1/2 cup (4oz/115g) melted butter
Ice cream - 2 cups (16oz/450ml) cold whipping cream, all purpose cream, heavy cream
- 1 1/3 cup (14oz/425g) COLD sweetened condensed milk (fat-free or regular)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla Extract
Butter Pecans - 1 Cup (5oz/142g) toasted pecans, chopped
- 1/3 Cup (21/2oz/71g) white sugar
- 2 Tablespoon (1oz/30g) butter
- generous pinch of salt
- salted caramel sauce*
Instructions
- To prepare the base: Using a food processor or high-powered blender, pulse the gingersnaps until they reach a fine crumb. Add the melted butter and pulse a few more times to combine. (you can also use a rolling pin to break up the cookies)
- Press the gingersnap mixture evenly over the bottom of a 9 inch spring-form pan, and up the sides approximately 2 inches. Place in the fridge to set.
- Prepare Candied Butter Pecans: In a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium/low heat, combine pecans, sugar, butter and salt stirring constantly for about 4 minutes or until sugar has melted and browned (don’t let them smoke) .
- Remove from heat; spread nuts on parchment paper or foil. Once nuts have cooled, chop into smaller pieces and reserve. I like to keep some big chunks and really fine bits too for texture.
- For the ice cream : Place sweetened condensed milk in the fridge to keep cold
- Beat cold heavy cream* on medium/high in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer) until soft peaks form. Around 3-4 minutes
- Turn down the speed a little and pour the condensed milk into the whipped cream. Stir in vanilla extract now if desired.
- Now, turn the speed back up high again and whisk until the mixture is thick and stiff peaks. that is your homemade ice cream base.
- Now you have your ice cream base you can add your chopped Buttered Pecans and mix in (save a little few to decorate the top) .Taste to make sure you have added enough.
- To assemble the cake: Scoop half of your ice cream into your prepared cookie base.
- Sprinkle over a hand full of crushed gingersnap cookies to create a secret layer then continue scooping the ice cream on top of that
- Tap the tin on the counter to flatten out the top. Freeze at least 8 hours but preferably overnight.
- Serve with some salted caramel sauce on top and freshly whipped cream.
- Keep covered in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe Notes
(UK, whipping cream or heavy cream)
(Netherlands, Slagroom)
(Philippines, whipped cream or heavy cream)
Can we use biscoff cookies for base instead of ginger snaps?
Do you use unsalted butter?
Really loved the recipe! However, got comments that the ice cream had a bit of a cheesy aftertaste and kind of a grainy texture. Gemma, could you advise on what happened and how to modify?
When making the candied pecans, my sugar would not melt. It turned into hard lumps. I wondered if I should have melted it in the butter before adding the nuts, but that’s not what you did in your video. Any idea why this happened?
Absolutely Amazing! I made this for Mother’s Day dessert and everyone loved it! The combination of the butter pecan with the gingersnap crust was just perfect! Such an easy recipe produced a showstopper dessert! Thanks for an amazing recipe.
GEMMA,
DO YOU FREEZE THE ICE CREAM BEFORE YOU PUT IT ON THE CAKE?
We made this as my birthday cake this year and it was a total hit even among the very harsh critics in my family. Thanks Gemma! Excellent recipe yet again.
I just used normal sweetened condensed milk and it wasn’t too sweet thankfully. The caramel topping was definitely worth adding too.
We’ll have to make it again to take a pic (and also cause it’s delicious).
Hi Gemma! I am so making this tomorrow. But question, can I skip the ice-cream making part and just buy a vanilla ice cream, melt it a little before mixing the pecan brittle?
Hi Gemma
Which of your cakes would you recommend for Vanilla/coffee icecream cake??
Hi Gemma. For the base can i use lotus biscoff ( caramel)???? Or is better digestive?
Thanks for the answer