This bourbon butter pecan ice cream has brown sugar, vanilla, and a splash of whiskey! It’s creamy, cozy, and the perfect dessert to transition from summer to autumn.

A closeup overhead image of three scoops of bourbon butter pecan ice cream with cones on a white plate next to a vintage ice cream scoop, two glasses of whiskey, and burnt orange linen. The plate is on a white speckled table dusted with chopped pecans.
A side image of an ice cream cone in a glass cup on a white speckled table next to a glass of bourbon, cream colored bowl of pecans, vintage ice cream scoop, and burnt orange linen. A woman wearing a beige apron is drizzling caramel over the ice cream with a vintage spoon.

My ice cream tastes are that of an 79 year old man. There, I said it. Like yeah, I can get into a cookie dough or strawberry cheesecake ice cream situation, but my flavors of choice usually contain nuts and butterscotches and whatever pralines technically are. Even from a young age I loved these flavors exclusively although I guess my actual favorite was mint chocolate chip. Jury is still out on whether I actually loved it or it was just green (my favorite color). Either way, my tastes never really changed and I will still take a mint chocolate chip, pistachio, or butter pecan situation over any other flavor any day of the week.

And ok, to be honest, ice cream is probably my favorite food so it’s not like I’m that picky here. I’ll pretty much eat it all. But you should know that this bourbon butter pecan ice cream changed my life, and I really do mean that.

At this point if you’re thinking “bourbon in ice cream, why?”. WELL, let me tell you. Because when it’s combined with brown sugar and vanilla and butter and toasty pecans, it tastes like actual heaven. There’s no other way to explain it. Think the classic buttery, caramel-y butter pecan ice cream with just a hint of smooth, oaky bourbon. Even if you’re not necessarily a whiskey fan, just trust me on this. It works.

Two glass measuring cups with heavy cream and half-and half, a white bowl of brown sugar, a bottle of vanilla, a bottle of bourbon, and bowls of butter, salt, and pecans on a white speckled table. Next to the ingredients is a vintage ice cream scoop and dark orange linen.

Here’s what you’ll need

  • Pecans – usually, I just buy the halves and chop them myself to get different sizes of crunch, but feel free to get the bits and pieces.
  • Light brown sugar – dark brown will overpower flavor-wise. If all you have is dark brown, use half dark brown sugar, half regular.
  • Heavy whipping cream & half-and-half – we’re doing a custard-free ice cream here, so we need high fat dairy to prevent the ice cream from becoming icy.
  • Bourbon – whatever you like! I use Frey Ranch.
  • Kitchen basics – unsalted butter, Kosher salt, and vanilla extract.

Let’s make some ice cream!

We’re going to make bourbon butter pecan ice cream in two very simple steps! First, we’ll butter our pecans. And then, we’ll stir up our ice cream base and give it a quick churn.

Two images; on the left, a wood cutting board topped with chopped pecans and a knife on a grey table next to an orange napkin. On the right, a closeup of toasted pecans on a white plate.
Toast the pecans
  1. Melt the unsalted butter over medium-low heat.
  2. Add the pecans, stirring constantly.
  3. Cook until the pecans are toasty, about 4-5 minutes.
  4. Transfer the buttered pecans to a plate. Let cool completely.
Two overhead images; on the left, a white bowl filled with cream and a whisk on a grey counter next to a white plate of pecans and dark orange linen. On the right, a metal bread pan filled with ice cream.
Make the ice cream
  1. Combine the brown sugar, salt, and half-and-half in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
  2. Pour the mixture into a heatproof bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Let cool in the fridge for about 30 minutes to an hour.
  3. Once cooled, churn the ice cream according to the manufacturer’s directions. Add the pecans and let churn for a couple minutes to combine.
  4. Pour the ice cream into an airtight container and freeze for at least an hour. Serve with caramel sauce, a shot of espresso, or just on its own!

French vs. Philadelphia style ice cream

This recipe is the first time I’ve ever made Philadelphia style ice cream and I’m into it! For those who may not know, ice cream is more commonly made with a custard base (eggs, milk etc.). It leads to a creamier, richer ice cream but requires a bit more work because we have to temper the eggs.

Philadelphia style ice cream, on the other hand, doesn’t use eggs. Just a gentle heat on the stove to dissolve the sugar (or not, but more on that later). This ice cream is a tad bit icier (but not much) and has more of a soft-serve texture. For this recipe, I went Philadelphia style, more for ease than anything, and I really like it! The texture is a bit lighter while still being nice and creamy. The downside is that because we don’t have the stability from the custard, this ice cream does melt a little faster. No biggie, just don’t let it sit on the counter for too long!

(Also, side bonus: if you can’t eat eggs, this ice cream is for you. We are going accidentally egg-free this time around. Yay!)

Two images; on the left, a side image of three ice cream cones with bourbon butter pecan ice cream on a white plate with two glasses of bourbon and a cream bowl of pecans in the background. The plate is partially placed on a burnt orange linen in the bottom left corner with a white background. On the right, an overhead of an ice cream cone topped with caramel and pecans on a white plate on a white counter. Next to the plate is an orange linen, glass of bourbon, jar of caramel, and vintage ice cream scoop.

The lazy method

If you really can’t be bothered to temper eggs, or even dissolve some sugar for that matter, have I got the solution for you. The benefit of Philadelphia-style (a.k.a. egg-free) bourbon butter pecan ice cream is that you can just stir it up and pour it in your ice cream maker. Yep, that easy. You’ll just have to whisk it for a few minutes to make sure everything is completely incorporated!

The catch? Yes, of course there’s a catch! Your ice cream won’t be quite as smooth. I honestly prefer to just dissolve the sugar on the stove, because it takes, I don’t know 3 minutes? But if you’re short on time and don’t want to go through the 30 minute chilling process, the whisk method is the way to go!

Do I need to freeze it before I eat it?

Nope! If you want to serve this ice cream straight away, that is an option. The ice cream will have more of a soft-serve texture if that’s your thing. But also be warned that it’ll melt a little quicker.

But, if you want something scoop-able for say, pie, affogatos, or sundaes, you’ll want to let the ice cream freeze for at least an hour! I usually like to let it set for an hour or two, but I won’t say no to a bite or two right out of the churner.

Storing the ice cream

To store bourbon butter pecan ice cream, scoop it into an airtight container, and cover the top with a layer of plastic wrap. Then, pop on the lid and place it in the freezer. This ice cream is best eaten within a day or two (it will become grainier over time). But, when stored properly, it’ll still taste good for up to a week or so!

Topping ideas

  • Caramel! My all time favorite way to serve this ice cream. Drizzle it over the top with some toasted, chopped pecans, or you can even churn it into the ice cream itself.
  • With a shot of espresso, affogato style. Bourbon + coffee? Ok!
  • In between some cookies. Maybe oatmeal, snickerdoodles, or chewy ginger snaps?
  • On top of apple pie or a pear galette. Trust meeee.
  • By itself. It can hold its own!
Three scoops of ice cream topped with cones on a white plate with a white and black speckled background. The plate is next to an old ice cream scoop, glass of bourbon, bowl of pecans, and orange linen.

If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!


A closeup overhead image of a white plate topped with a butter pecan ice cream cone on a bed of ice cream cone shards with a white background.
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Bourbon Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Yield: 1 quart (about 8 scoops)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Freeze Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
This bourbon butter pecan ice cream is so cozy yet perfect for summer! Flavored with brown sugar and vanilla, this ice cream is smooth, creamy, and just a tad boozy.

Ingredients

Buttered Pecans

  • 2 Tbs unsalted butter
  • 2/3 c pecan halves, roughly chopped

Bourbon Butter Pecan Ice Cream

  • 2/3 c light brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 c half-and-half
  • 1 1/2 c heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbs bourbon, less or more to taste*
  • Caramel or butterscotch, for serving

Equipment

  • Ice cream maker

Instructions 

To make the buttered pecans

  • Melt the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring frequently, until toasty, about 4-5 minutes. Scrape the pecans onto a plate and let them cool completely.

To make the ice cream

  • Pour the brown sugar, salt, and half-and-half into a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, just until the mixture is warm and the sugar has dissolved completely, 2-3 minutes. Don't let it come to a simmer.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and pour the mixture into a heatproof bowl. Stir in the heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and bourbon. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, 30-60 minutes.
  • When you’re ready to churn the ice cream, give it a good stir. Add to the ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s directions. Stir in the buttered pecans and churn for just a couple of minutes to mix everything together.
  • Pour the finished ice cream into an airtight container and freeze until you’re ready to eat the ice cream. I like to let the ice cream freeze for at least an hour, but it’s not necessary. Drizzle with caramel sauce or butterscotch, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

If you want a more subtle bourbon flavor, start with 1 Tbs. of whiskey. Taste the ice cream base and add more as needed.
If you are short on time, you can just mix the ice cream base ingredients together and pour it into your ice cream maker. Just make sure to whisk it well for a few minutes to make sure everything is incorporated. The ice cream will be a bit more grainy with this method.
You can eat the ice cream straight-away for more of a soft serve style. Or, let it freeze for an hour or two for scoop-able ice cream.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Serving: 1scoop, Calories: 237kcal, Carbohydrates: 14.9g, Protein: 2.1g, Fat: 18.3g, Saturated Fat: 10.4g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Sodium: 125mg, Potassium: 105mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 12g, Calcium: 75mg
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xo Sara Lynn

*Song of the day: Breathe Deeper by Tame Impala