Author Notes
You won't miss the dairy in this creamy ice cream with crunchy pecan brittle pieces. I am a lover of frozen treats and making a non dairy ice cream that has the creamy consistency of ice cream was a bit challenging. The home made almond cream made into a custard with a little corn starch to thicken solved that problem. The pecan brittle chopped finely and added to the creamy ice cream is heavenly. —sdebrango
Ingredients
- Almond Cream and quick and easy brittle
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3 1/2 cups
raw almonds
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3 cups
filtered or spring water
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pinch of salt
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Quick Pecan Brittle
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2 tablespoons
dairy free butter
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1/2 cup
loose brown sugar (dark or light)
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2-3 tablespoons
dark corn syrup or golden syrup (for a harder candy use 2 and softer use 3)
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1/2-3/4 cups
pecans broken into pieces (depending on how many nuts you like)
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generous pinch of sea salt
- Custard base and Making the ice cream
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3 cups
almond cream
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1/2 cup
sugar
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pinch salt
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1 teaspoon
corn starch
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1 tablespoon
vanilla extract
Directions
- Almond Cream and quick and easy brittle
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Soak almonds overnight in spring or filtered water. Drain almonds after soaking, place in food processor with 3 cups water, salt and process. Strain through nut bag, cheese cloth or sieve. Refrigerate until ready to use.
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I did not use a candy thermometer for the brittle, Melt the butter in a small saucepan add the brown sugar and cook until the sugar is completely melted and its smooth, add the syrup and salt and pecans and cook on medium an additional five minutes stirring continuously. Line a small sheet pan with parchment or silpat and scrape the brittle onto it, spread as best you can, I pressed it flat with a doubled piece of parchment paper. Allow to cool, it will get pretty hard, break into pieces and chop it into small fine pieces. Place in lidded container and store until ready to use. Cooking the brown sugar mixture the full 5 minutes yields a fairly hard candy, it's kind of a cross between toffee and a brittle. It works beautifully in the ice cream.
- Custard base and Making the ice cream
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Add all the ingredients except for the vanilla into a heavy saucepan. Heat on medium high whisking constantly until custard becomes thickened and coats the back of the spoon. Remove from heat, add the vanilla. Pour into a heat proof container, cover with plastic wrap directly on the custard. Bring to room temperature and refrigerate over night.
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Make the ice cream according to manufacturers directions on your ice cream maker. When it’s sufficiently thick add the crushed/finely chopped brittle. Spoon into freezer container and freeze until it’s scoopable consistency.
I have loved to cook for as long as I can remember, am self taught learning as I go. I come from a large Italian family and food was at the center of almost every gathering. My grandfather made his own wine and I remember the barrels of wine in the cellar of my grandfathers home, I watched my mother and aunts making homemade pasta and remember how wonderful it was to sit down to a truly amazing dinner. Cooking for me is a way to express myself its my creative outlet. I enjoy making all types of food but especially enjoy baking,
I live in Brooklyn, NY, and I share my home with my two dogs Izzy and Nando.
I like to collect cookbooks and scour magazines and newspapers for recipes. I hope one day to organize them.
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