Make Ahead

Maple-Sage Ice Cream with Maple-Sage Sugared Walnuts

by:
January  4, 2012
4.5
2 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Makes about 3 cups of ice cream
Author Notes

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! I used Merrill's The Best Lime Ice Cream as a jumping-off point. The Maple-Sage Sugared Walnuts are adapted from the recipe for Maple Sugared Pecans in the cookbook In the Sweet Kitchen by Regan Daley, one of my favorite cookbooks. —mrslarkin

Test Kitchen Notes

Mrslarkin's easy ice cream recipe elegantly highlights the beauty of sage-walnut-maple combo.The sage is no shrinking violet in this silky ice cream that contrasts beautifully with the crunchy, caramelized walnuts. Indeed, we do all scream for ice cream. —Food52

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • For the Maple-Sage Sugared Walnuts
  • 1 cup raw walnuts, halves and pieces
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
  • 1 tablespoon egg white
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • For the Maple Sage Ice Cream
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 dozen fresh sage leaves
  • 2/3 cup maple syrup
Directions
  1. For the Maple-Sage Sugared Walnuts
  2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Prepare a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Place walnuts and chopped sage in a small mixing bowl. Mix egg white and maple syrup in a small cup. Add to walnuts and stir well. Sprinkle the brown sugar over and toss to coat nuts completely. Spill walnuts onto cookie sheet, and spread out in one layer.
  3. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring a few times, until nuts are nicely toasted. Slide parchment off of hot cookie sheet onto a cooling rack and cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
  1. For the Maple Sage Ice Cream
  2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, place cream and sage leaves. Using a muddler or a wooden spoon, muddle the leaves now and then as the cream heats. Do not boil. When mixture starts to steam, stir in maple syrup. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Chill in fridge for several hours or overnight.
  3. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sage leaves from the cream.
  4. Pour cream into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Remove to a freezable container to harden some more.
  5. To serve, scoop ice cream into bowls, layering the sugared walnuts throughout, or just scattering the nuts on top of the ice cream. If desired, a drizzle of maple syrup tastes pretty yummy, too!

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • wssmom
    wssmom
  • Midge
    Midge
  • Ms. T
    Ms. T
  • LeBec Fin
    LeBec Fin
  • fiveandspice
    fiveandspice

27 Reviews

wssmom March 23, 2012
Sooooooo yummy ...
 
Midge March 22, 2012
What a combo. Sounds amazing mrslarkin.
 
mrslarkin March 22, 2012
thanks so much, Midge!
 
Midge March 22, 2012
What a combo. Sounds amazing mrslarkin.
 
Ms. T. January 22, 2012
Congrats on the CP, this sounds lovely! I got the book "Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream" for Christmas (which I highly recommend--lots of interesting flavor combos and secret ingredients that contribute to the perfect texture), so I've been on an ice cream making bender lately. I will have to give your recipe a try before I force myself to hide the ice cream maker for my own good :)
 
mrslarkin March 22, 2012
thanks, Ms. T! Haha, every time i look at my ice cream maker, i think "i have GOT to put that thing away!" It's dangerous. hazards of the job, i guess.
 
LeBec F. January 19, 2012
mrs l, since you are so clever w/ savory dessert elements, here's 2 more ideas i've always wanted to try w/ icecream flavors. i bet you could create great versions of them:
lemon thyme
and
lemon black pepper.
 
mrslarkin March 22, 2012
yum! that sounds like a scrumptious idea! Thanks LBF.
 
fiveandspice January 19, 2012
WOW!!!!!
 
mrslarkin January 19, 2012
:) I'm eating some right now.....yumm.
 
gingerroot January 6, 2012
Yes, please! I'll be there in 11 hours, give or take a few. : ) Simply delicious.
 
mrslarkin January 6, 2012
Thanks, g!! It's right here waiting for you....;)
 
drbabs January 5, 2012
yum. so creative!
 
mrslarkin January 5, 2012
thank you drbabs!
 
Bevi January 5, 2012
This is too much! My Vermont mom loves her maple walnut ice cream - I will have to make this for her!
 
mrslarkin January 5, 2012
Thanks Bevi! Now that will be the true test!! Hope mom likes it. :)
 
aargersi January 5, 2012
Way to blow our NY resolutions Mrs. L :-) Sounds absolutely delicious
 
mrslarkin January 5, 2012
woopsies. and thank you!! ;)
 
LeBec F. January 5, 2012
now THIS is thinking outside the box. congrats! you should be wicked proud of yourself.
 
mrslarkin January 5, 2012
Wow, thank you! That's really nice of you to say.
 
arielleclementine January 4, 2012
sounds incredible, and those walnuts look ridiculously delicious!
 
mrslarkin January 5, 2012
thank you kindly, ac!
 
mrslarkin January 5, 2012
thank you kindly, ac!
 
boulangere January 4, 2012
I was hoping someone would do something sweet. Lovely.
 
mrslarkin January 4, 2012
Thanks, b! You know me, I couldn't *not* do something sweet! But for a change, I didn't bake!
 
hardlikearmour January 4, 2012
Wow! This sounds fantastic. I love how you made the ice cream with only 3 ingredients & your sugared walnuts must take it over the top.
 
mrslarkin January 4, 2012
Thank you hla! The crunch of the nuts and the creaminess of the ice cream is a great combo.