A rich and flavorful homemade ice cream
Ingredients:
For the Dates:
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12
dates(4 ounces, pitted)
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¼
cupdark rum
For the Ice Cream:
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1
cupwhole milk
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2/3
cupgranulated sugar
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Large pinch of salt
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1¼
cupsheavy cream
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6
egg yolks
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½
teaspoonvanilla extract
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2
tablespoonsdark rum
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1
cupmaple-glazed pecans(below)
For the Maple-Glazed Pecans:
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1/3
cupmaple syrup
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1
cuppecans(toasted and coarsely chopped)
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Big pinch of salt
Directions:
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1. To prepare the dates, chop them into ½-inch pieces. Combine the date pieces with the rum in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir. Cover and let macerate at room temperature for at least 4 hours (this can be done up to 1 day ahead).
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2. To make the ice cream, warm the milk, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Pour the cream into a large bowl and set a mesh strainer on top.
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3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
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4. Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Mix int he vanilla and rum, then stir until cool over an ice bath. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator.
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5. Heat the maple syrup in a small skillet or saucepan until it just begins to come to a full boil. Stir in the pecans, then cook until the liquid comes to a full boil once again. Stir the nuts for 10 seconds, then remove them from the heat and let cool completely. The nuts will still be wet and sticky when cooled. Chop maple-glazed pecans coarsely.
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6. Freeze the custard mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. During the last few minutes of churning, add the wet pecans and date pieces.
HELP!!!
I tried to make this but failed! Don’t know what happened as I have made 2 of your fabulous ice cream creations to the letter before (Mint & Vanilla Bean) and they have both worked out so well. I noticed that the Vanilla Bean ice cream recipe has 6 egg yolks but you say in this recipe that there is an extra egg yolk. Does that mean there are 7 egg yolks instead of the 6 that are in this one? I want this ice cream so bad!!! I don’t know what I’m doing wrong… it never churned properly. It stayed liquid. Help!! :) (PS: love your recipes!!! They are a hit at Matilda on Broadway!!)
Thanks!
I made this with raisins instead of dates, and it was delicious! The proportions are perfect – just the right amount of rum. The ice cream base is my new favorite. It’s not too rich or too sweet. Be sure to toast the pecans as instructed. They are a perfect addition to the rum and raisins. This recipe will definitely go in my keeper pile. Thank you!
I just got the kitchen aid attachment and luckily found your site soon after! I made the mint chocolate chip but I substituted the chips for Oreos and made my version of mint cookies and cream which came out amazing!! This is next on my list but I have one question I’m trying to get away from dairy is it possible to use a substitute?
Hi Dani, Yikes, I’m not sure how you could replace the dairy in homemade ice cream. If you find a successful substitute, please stop back and share!
What could I substitute for the rum? Would it still taste good without the rum flavor?
Hi Mak, If you prefer not to use rum, then I would just omit it. I obviously think it tastes the best with rum, but you can make the ice cream without it. There really isn’t anything else that has the same flavor. For soaking the dates, just use water.
Can I make it without the dates?
You can if you’d like.
I just got an ice cream maker so I was excited to try out some recipes and this was the first one I made. It was delicious! Mind you, I didn’t have dates so I omitted that part and used walnuts instead of pecans because that’s what I had, but I was very happy with how it turned out. delicious!
I love this recipe with the dates. I’m originally from South Africa and we are crazy about Rum & Raisin ice cream. But I love the combination of the dates and the rum instead of the raisins. Nice.
Michelle, you are the queen of ice cream flavors. This is another keeper!
I’ve had rum and raisin ice cream but this just takes it to a whole new playing field. I love the extra yellow color the extra egg yolk gives it.
This is a beautiful ice cream. I will be making this for guests soon. Thanks very much for posting.
This looks so good! I have been thinking about buying an ice cream maker, but I am not sure how often I would use it. Do you find that it is worth it?
Yes, yes, yes! I absolutely feel that ice cream makers are worth it. Homemade ice cream is so delicious and it’s awesome to play around with different flavors.
Anything with rum and pecans can’t be bad; this looks delicious!
Wow… this is a keeper! If mom loves it, it’s gotta be! =)
Goodness gracious, this looks good!
Very different and it sounds delish.
I’m used to rum raisin… I like this twist of using dates instead… and I can only imagine how good the rum must have been with those crunchy pecans!
Another beautiful ice cream! I made your pistachio nut ice cream this weekend – it was amazing! Just blogged about it today!
oh my word! we’ve been using date syrup lately to make a rich ice cream without processed sugar and now I’m thinking of trying to glaze those pecans with it as well. Thanks for the delicious looking recipe!
I love the rum-soaked dates in this! I can’t wait to try this. I’ll have to leave out the pecans, but I’ll definitely add in a little maple syrup!
This sounds AMAZING! I would probably substitute the dates with raisins since I’m not a huge date fan. And yes, your mom’s vote definitely counts for something…she sounds like she has good taste!
Ice cream sounds great! Love it!
Love this ice cream flavor!
I love sprinkling pecans on top of ice creams and the thought of maple pecans swirled in is making me drool. Yum!
You always make the best ice creams!! This one looks amazing!
I just got an ice cream maker for my birthday! This recipe is so going to the top of my list! YUM!! Thanks!!
I’m with you on this one – dessert is where I like my alcohol the best! I can pass up drinks left and right, but mention hard liquor mixed into chocolate, sugar, or pastry (or, better yet, all three!), and I’m game. This looks fantastic – thanks for the post!
This looks fabulous! It reminds me of rum raisin ice cream – one of my faves – but better.
Wow this ice cream looks awesome and I love the flavors too!
Holy Cow! That looks absolutely sinful! Some of the prettiest ice-cream I’ve seen! Another amazing recipe & post!
Mmmm..rum AND ice cream. Perfect match :).
i need this right now. this is considered a breakfast item, right? RIGHT! :)
I think Hagen Daas make the same one, it’s a delight! Thanks for sharing!!
Your description at the end is so cute, especially the Mom part! (yes, her opinion totally counts!) I want to make this recipe but I’m going to have to tweak it because I don’t do dairy- no problem though because I have a great base that works perfect. It’s going to be very fun (thanks!).
I bet my dad would love this. Rum & raisin is his favourite ice cream so the addition of pecans and dates make it sound even better. I’ll have to make him some for Fathers Day
This ice cream sounds perfect!! Love all those flavors :)
What a lovely ice cream! Yum!
OH! This sounds divine. I’m a major fun of nuts in my ice cream, and what’s not to like about adding rum? I guess that means I just *have* to buy a bottle, right?
I can’t wait to try this one out!