Bourbon pecan ice cream recipe, made with Kentucky bourbon, Texas Pecans and Vermont maple syrup. A showcase of some of America’s finest products.
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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Creating the Best Bourbon Pecan Ice Cream Recipe
We love European ice cream – dense and creamy, with elegant flavors. But with this recipe, we wanted to use some of the best of America’s products. This Bourbon pecan ice cream recipe is made with some of the best Kentucky bourbon, Texan Pecans and Vermont maple syrup. A showcase of some of America’s finest products. We researched the science and technique for making European ice cream until we got it right. But the real key is to use the best ingredients.
Ingredients
The secret to keeping the ice cream smooth and creamy is detailed in our master ice cream recipe. In this recipe we used maple syrup and alcohol and then added pecans.
To make the best ice cream, you need to start with the best ingredients. Different brands of the same product can vary immensely, so we have listed the brands we use. For this recipe, we wanted to use some totally American flavors. We made our bourbon pecan ice cream recipe using and maple syrup, bourbon and pecans – all traditionally American ingredients and chose what we considered the best brands to make this ice cream truly exceptional.
Maple Syrup
Runamok Maple Syrup – An invert sugar is required, which is usually corn syrup for a neutral flavor. However, for this recipe we used Runamok maple syrup for the added flavor. They make an excellent maple syrup that is also sustainable. We use a dark grade to make sure the flavor of the maple syrup comes through.
Bourbon
Blanton’s Bourbon – Alcohol is used in the recipe to lower the freezing point and keep the ice crystals small as the ice cream hardens. The alcohol is often vodka, so that the taste of the alcohol doesn’t interfere with the ice cream flavor. But in this recipes the taste of the bourbon is part of the flavor. The bourbon was selected because it’s a Kentucky classic, and is, well, just really good.
Pecans
Growing pecans, especially in Texas where the trees are native, is a great alternative to cattle ranching, making this a sustainable product. The orchards use little water and are drought tolerant as well. The pecans are toasted, to give them more crunch and flavor, and then added at the last minute so they stay crunchy.
Cream
Horizon Organics Cream is a high quality product – Organic and produced sustainably from pasture raised cows. It has a rich, sweet, and fresh dairy flavor.
Sugar
Wholesome Regenerative Organic Certified Cane Sugar – produced from organic sugar cane fields that are green cut and are not burned or treated with herbicides or synthetic fertilizers.
Vanilla
Heilala Vanilla – Ethically sourced and harvested, produced using environmentally sustainably methods.
Crème Fraîche
Crème Fraîche – We use crème fraîche in the recipe to keep the ice cream from freezing solid. And to make sure it’s the best, we made it ourselves from Horizon cream and a real crème fraîche starter. It’s actually very easy. See the link to our recipe below.
No Affiliates Statement
We call this our “no affiliates” statement because we accept no advertising, have no affiliates and accept no payment. We are not paid to mention brands – we just love buying the best, sharing that information and saving the planet at the same time. The effort put into writing and photographing the blog is solely based on our dedication to the cause.
Sustainability
The ingredients in this recipe were chosen not only for how they taste, but for how they are grown and produced. My background in agriculture—working with soils, water systems, and sustainable farming practices—shaped the way I think about food long before I began writing recipes.
Over time, I’ve come to see that the best cooking starts long before the kitchen, in the decisions made in the field. The ingredients section highlights those choices, offering a closer look at the ingredients and the role they play in supporting a more thoughtful and sustainable food system.
Method for making the Homemade Ice Cream
This recipe uses an easy, foolproof method that requires only a few minutes of active time. Check out our Master Ice Cream Method for a more detailed explanation on how this works.
- Measure the ingredients by weight
- Simmer the syrup mixture while whipping the sugar and egg mixture
- Slowly add the syrup mixture to the egg mixture, then add the rest of the ingredients
- Chill the mixture
- Freeze in an Ice Cream Maker
- Chill in the Freezer
This recipe uses our Master Ice Cream Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making ice cream.
Why this Works
The cream and syrup are heated while the eggs and sugar are whipped. Then the cream mixture is added to the egg mixture, which brings the eggs to a high enough temperature that they are safe to use in ice cream without having to temper the mixture, which can be more difficult to do. The flavors are added afterward so they are not cooked, which might reduce the flavor.
The highest quality ingredients are used, and flavor is added at every opportunity – Horizon cream, Wholesome Organic sugar, maple syrup and bourbon.
This recipe is made with ingredients that help keep the ice crystals small while the ice cream is churning and afterwards while it is hardening. This keeps it smooth and creamy. The ingredients that are key to keeping the ice crystals small are:
- Cultured cream – the beneficial bacterial culture in Crème fraîche
- eggs – the fat and protein in the eggs, and cooking the eggs denatures the protein
- invert sugar – maple syrup, the concentration of sugar in relation to water lowers the freezing point
- alcohol – the alcohol lowers the freezing point.
RECIPE
Equipment
CHOOSING BRANDS:
For certain products, the choice of brand will make a big difference in the outcome of the recipe and in your carbon footprint. So, for those products, we have listed the brand. We are not paid to mention a brand and have no affiliates.
Ingredients
- 450 grams Horizon cream
- 85 grams maple syrup dark or very dark
- 2 eggs one egg and one yolk
- 70 grams Wholesome regenerative organic sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 50 grams Crème fraîche homemade from Horizon cream
- 1 Tablespoon bourbon
- 50 grams Terrasoul pecans lightly toasted and rough chopped, with a few left whole.
Instructions
PREPARE THE STORAGE CONTAINER
- Put an empty glass container in the freezer. The container needs to be large enough to hold the mixture.
MEASURE THE INGREDIENTS
- Use a scale to measure the ingredients – zeroing the scale between measurements. Into a small saucepan, measure the cream and maple syrup. Into the mixing bowl of the stand mixer, measure the egg and egg yolk, sugar and salt. Into a small bowl, measure the crème fraîche and bourbon.
MIX THE INGREDIENTS
- Bring the cream and maple syrup to a simmer for 2 minutes, stirring to combine.
- Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk together the egg, egg yolk, sugar and salt for 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Reduce the mixer to low speed and slowly add the cream and maple syrup mixture.
- Continue whisking and add the crème fraîche and bourbon.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
FREEZE THE MIXTURE
- 5 minutes before making the ice cream, turn on the ice cream maker to get it cold.
- Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and make ice cream according to the directions.
- After the ice cream is made, quickly transfer it to the glass container that has been in the freezer. With only a couple of turns, fold in the toasted, chopped pecans, cover, and put the container back in the freezer overnight.
- Store in the freezer for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
WHY THIS RECIPE IS A GAME CHANGER:
This recipe is a total game-changer — crafted with the finest [brand name] ingredients, simplified using a master recipe with pro-tested techniques from top chefs and bakers, and designed for deliciously sustainable cooking made easy.”
More Flavors using our Master Ice Cream Method
These recipes use our Master Ice Cream Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making ice cream.
True to The Master Pantry philosophy, this recipe combines the best seasonal ingredients and quality brands with homemade methods to maximize both flavor and sustainability. It was inspired by our travels and works well as a holiday recipe.
Photos by Tony Fitzgerald Photography
Recipes created by Lisa LeCoump — Food Photographer, Agricultural Expert, and Home Baker. Sharing master recipes, chef secrets, and sustainable baking for every kitchen. Featured on various publications.