Ninja Creami Butter Pecan Ice Cream Recipe

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Ninja Creami Butter Pecan Ice Cream is a classic ice cream flavor. It’s nutty, creamy, caramel-y and so delicious. For this recipe, smooth vanilla ice cream is mixed with brown butter toasted and salted pecans. Using this Ninja Creami ice cream machine, this homemade frozen dessert is surprisingly easy to make; it’s the perfect sweet treat packed with flavor!

Close up image of ninja creami butter pecan ice cream in a container with a spoon.

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Why This Recipe is So Good

The vanilla ice cream base is simple to mix together in one bowl. After stirring together the cream cheese and sugar, everything can be whisked until combined in a large mixing bowl then it gets frozen for 24 hours. Make a few extra containers to prep ahead for summer parties or to enjoy during Thanksgiving or the holidays!
Toasted butter pecans are mixed into the ice cream providing the perfect nut to ice cream ratio. I find that ⅓ cup or a heaping ⅓ cup of chopped nuts provides the perfect crunch while still allowing you to taste the ice cream.
This ninja creami butter pecan ice cream recipe is made with no eggs or imitation butter. Eggs are used to make custard-based ice creams but since we are using the ninja creami machine we can skip this step! And we are toasting the nuts with real butter and a generous pinch of salt to give the ice cream a luxuriously buttery flavor.

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredient Infographic for Ninja Creami Butter Pecan Ice Cream.

Milk and cream – Whole dairy milk and heavy cream together provide this ninja creami ice cream with the perfect rich and creamy texture.
Sugar – Brown sugar adds caramel notes to the ice cream. You can add half white granulated sugar and half brown sugar.
Vanilla – A must-add ingredient to any dessert recipe. Pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste can be used.
Pecans – Raw pecans are toasted with butter, then sprinkled with salt, and are then mixed into the ice cream.
Cream cheese – helps the ice cream have a thick texture similar to traditional ice cream.

How to Make Ninja Creami Butter Pecan Ice Cream

All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Close-up image of vanilla ice cream in a pint container.

Overhead view of frozen ice cream in a container sitting on a cutting board with nuts and ice cream cones all around.

Make ice cream base – In a large mixing bowl stir together cream cheese and brown sugar until there aren’t any more chunks of cream cheese. Whisk in vanilla bean paste, heavy cream, and milk until everything is well incorporated.
Pour your ice cream base into a Ninja Creami pint container. Top with a lid, then freeze on a level surface for at least 22- 24 hours.
Make butter pecans – In a medium skillet, add chopped pecans and butter. Toast on medium-low heat for 3 – 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stay near the stove because the pecans can burn really quickly. Remove from the heat then stir in salt. Allow the nuts to cool completely before adding to ice cream.
Blend ice cream – The next day, remove the lid place the pint container in the ninja creami outer bowl then insert it into the Ninja Creami ice cream machine. Press the “ICE CREAM” button then allow it to run through the cycle.
Make a hole in the middle of the ice cream at least 1 inch wide making sure it reaches the bottom of the container, put your butter pecans in the middle then press the “MIX-IN” button and allow it to run through the cycle.
Scoop and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions —

Is butter pecan ice cream just vanilla ice cream with pecans?

Yep! Vanilla ice cream is mixed with toasted brown butter pecans.

What is the butter flavor in butter pecan ice cream?

It can be real butter like in this recipe, or you can use butter extract if you don’t want to add any additional fat to your dessert.

Can I remix the ice cream after blending?

I wouldn’t recommend it. Remixing the ice cream again after adding the nuts will pulverize the nuts into the ice cream base.

Overhead view of ice cream in a container topped with nuts.

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