Recipe: Maple Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Maple Butter-Pecan Ice Cream

3/4 cup pecans
1 TBS unsalted butter
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/8 tsp salt
3 large egg yolks
1/2 tsp maple extract

Coarsely chop pecans. In a skillet melt butter over moderate heat until foam subsides. Toast pecans in butter, stirring occasionally, until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes, and sprinkle with salt to taste. Cool pecans and chill in a sealable plastic bag. Buttered pecans may be made 3 days ahead and chilled.

In a heavy saucepan bring cream, milk, maple syrup, and salt just to a boil, stirring occasionally. In a bowl beat yolks until smooth. Add hot cream mixture to yolks in a slow stream, whisking, and pour into pan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until a thermometer registers 170 F. Pour custard through a sieve into a clean bowl and cool. Stir in extract. Chill custard, its surface covered with plastic wrap, at least 3
hours, or until cold, and up to 1 day.

Freeze custard in an ice-cream maker. Transfer ice cream to a bowl and fold in chilled pecans. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden. Ice cream may be made 1 week ahead.

Makes 1 quart.

NOTES : Gourmet ~ August 1997

Pam