Caramel Praline Ice Cream
This Caramel Praline Ice Cream features a creamy vanilla base filled with nutty crumbled pralines. It’s delicious, and it’s perfect for a hot summer day!
This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
Have you ever tasted something so delicious you just had to have another bite? That was me with this Caramel Praline Ice Cream. I swear there was a magnetic force just pulling my spoon towards that container of ice cream! This ice cream is creamy, crunchy and downright delicious – there’s a reason why it’s one such a popular flavor of ice cream!
I’ve always loved vanilla ice cream. I was that weird kid who always chose vanilla over chocolate. Cakes, cupcakes, ice cream…it didn’t matter. Vanilla always won.
I also love mix-in’s in my vanilla ice cream. Much to my Dad’s annoyance, I always crumbled Oreo cookies into my bowl of vanilla ice cream as a kid. Now that I’m a father myself, I get it. Only about 89% of the crumbled Oreos end up in the bowl. The other 11%? All over the table and floor. Oops – sorry about that, Dad!
Caramel Praline Ice Cream
This Caramel Praline Ice Cream starts with a creamy and delicious vanilla ice cream base. I usually make custard-based ice cream with cooked egg yolks, but this time I opted for the non-custard style. Where has this ice cream been my whole life!? The vanilla ice cream by itself has the perfect amount of creaminess and sweetness.
The other part of this ice cream is the crunchy, nutty pralines. Have you ever made pralines at home? They’re silly easy to make! You basically mix up brown sugar, butter, cream and chopped pecans. Add in some baking spices and let that mixture boil for a couple of minutes. That’s it. Literally. I told you they are silly easy to make!
Our ice cream machine has been getting quite a workout lately. Using an electric ice cream mixer is the way to go. I know there is some nostalgic and rustic value in the old hand-cranked machine. You know – the one where you pack ice and rock salt all around the bowl and then turn the crank like a million times. As fun as that is, I prefer the ease of the electric option!
As that vanilla ice cream is finishing up in the machine, just drop in some of the chopped pralines and squeeze in some caramel sauce. At this point, the ice cream will be soft – think soft serve. If you prefer the ice cream to be a bit harder and more scoopable, then just transfer it into a freezer-safe container and freeze overnight.
While that vanilla ice cream truly is delicious, it rises to new heights once the praline pieces get mixed in. The crunchy pralines combined with the creamy ice cream is truly a thing of beauty. And none of it ends up on the floor like those crumbled Oreos! Add in the caramel swirled throughout, and you’ve got a dessert recipe that is unique and irresistible – trust me, you’ll be going back for another scoop.
This Caramel Praline Ice Cream is an ice cream dream come true. I’m pretty sure I’ll be serving this every time we have friends and family over this summer. So kick off the summer with a scoop of this delicious frozen treat – you won’t regret it! Cheers!
Did you make a batch of this Caramel Praline Ice Cream at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Caramel Praline Ice Cream
Ingredients
For the Pralines
- 1 cup chopped pecans lightly toasted
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- pinch ground nutmeg
For the Ice Cream
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup caramel ice cream sauce plus more for serving
Instructions
For the Pralines
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray foil with nonstick spray; set baking sheet aside.
- Using a medium saucepan, add all ingredients; stir until well combined.
- Place over medium-high heat and bring mixture to a boil, stirring often.
- Let mixture boil for 3-4 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove saucepan from heat and drop spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Set aside to cool.
For the Ice Cream
- Note: Make sure to freeze the bowl of the ice cream maker overnight before making this mixture.
- Using a large bowl, add whipping cream, milk, sugar and vanilla extract; stir until well combined and sugar begins to dissolve.
- Pour the mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- Once ice cream is done churning, chop up the cooled pralines and add them to the mixer; turn ice cream maker on again until pralines are mixed in.
- While mixer is running, drizzle in caramel sauce.
- Transfer the ice cream into a freezer safe container.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight, or until ice cream is hard enough to scoop.
- Drizzle additional caramel sauce on top before serving.
Looking for more homemade ice cream recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
I need to try this soon for me BTW cant wait to make your recipes soon for me
You should definitely make some homemade ice cream soon, Ramya – it’s fantastic on these hot summer days!
LOL – I am well acquainted with that “magical force responsible for pulling my spoon towards ANY container of ice cream”! I just love this combo of flavors and it is the perfect level of softness! G got me a Ninja Creami for my bday and I cannot wait to try a dairy-free version of this! YUM!
Ohhh…a Ninja Creami!? I’ve seen those, and they look super fancy. Definitely make a dairy-free version and let me know how that Creami works. I’ve got my eye on it! (Although let’s be real…do I really need 2 different ice cream machines?? Haha.) Thanks, Shashi!
So, I tried the creami! Good Golly! I must say, I haven’t ever had an ice cream maker like this one! I am in love with that creami! Also, I sold my ice cream maker so … 🙂 I made one ice cream similar to this and a coffee chip one (sugar free for Steve) and both were incredible! And I only used almond milk! Can’t wait to try with full fat (creamier) coconut milk! Such an awesome addition (for me) to my kitchen gadegt and gizmo arsenal! 🙂
Sounds delicious, and the sugar content is reasonable for 10 servings!
Thanks, Barb! 🙂
my hubby would agree with you about the vanilla ice cream David! Oh yum to this one! I love pralines. I don’t have a machine so i make the condensed milk versions of ice cream usually. I remember my SIL saying her ice cream machine was just not big enough – hehehehe …
You know, I totally get it about the ice cream machine, Sherry. Laura had one before we moved in together (she made frozen yogurt), but if not for that I might not have bought one either. BUT…I will say that I am REALLY GLAD we do have one. I’ve used that machine more than a bunch of other kitchen appliances we have! Def make a condensed milk version of this one. It’s pretty fantastic. Mr. P would love it!
What a decadent and yummy ice cream! It’s been so hotttt… need to make ASAP!
It really has been hot lately, hasn’t it? This ice cream is a delicious way to cool off! Thanks, Michelle!
This looks absolutely delicious David. Love praline. An icecream machine in our house would be disastrous, we would eat too much of it;) So I make the condensed milk version occasionally. Enjoy your Summer with amazing icecream.
Haha – the only thing that keeps us from eating using that ice cream machine too much is the fact that you have to plan ahead and freeze the bowl overnight! Either way, I bet a condensed milk version of this would be pretty fantastic. Thanks, Pauline!
What a beautiful, decadent, and luscious ice cream. Made with only several simple ingredients – with an outstanding flavour as the result. Pecans, butter, and cinnamon make an irresistible combination; and I think a touch of bourbon would have been nice.
This truly is a fantastic ice cream flavor, Ben! And I think you are absolutely right about the bourbon. It would pair well with the brown sugar and caramel flavors. I’ve made bourbon ice cream in the past, but it might be time to make it again!
I have to say, this Caramel Praline Ice Cream sounds absolutely irresistible! the creamy vanilla base and those crunchy, nutty pralines, that combo is pure magic,
Thanks, Raymund! I can confirm that you are correct. This ice cream is absolutely irresistible!