Pistachio Ice Cream? Oh, yeah. Picture a creamy scoop of freshly churned ice cream with a nutty pistachio kick and then picture me trying to resist going back for “just one more taste” all day long. That pretty much sums up this batch of ice cream.
Pistachio Ice Cream
This ice cream combines the cold and creamy sweetness of ice cream with the subtle, earthy flavor of pistachio nuts. There’s a hint of vanilla in the background and it compliments that distinct nutty flavor.
Pistachio ice cream has a unique nuttiness (is that even a word??) to it with the pistachio flavor in the creamy ice cream base and the plentiful nuts sprinkled throughout each scoop. Those nuts bring a fun crunch to every bite.
My family enjoys old-fashioned ice creams very much. Rum Raisin, Tin Roof Sundae, Pralines and Cream, and my grandmother’s Six Three’s Ice Cream are popular favorites. And now, pistachio ice cream has earned a seat at the dessert table too.
And in a surprising-to-me twist, my middle son told me a few days ago that pistachio is his new favorite ice cream flavor. While it’s a bit of an acquired taste for some, we all enjoy it.
Homemade Pistachio Ice Cream Recipe
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:
- sugar
- unsalted shelled pistachios
- heavy cream
- whole milk
- vanilla extract
- kosher salt
The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!
Pistachio Ice Cream Recipe
Start by combining the sugar and half the pistachios in a food processor. Pulse and blend until fine crumbs form.
Combine the cream, milk, vanilla, and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Add the pistachio and sugar mixture and whisk again to combine.
Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
When the ice cream finishes churning, transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container, sprinkling each scoop with the remaining pistachios.
Oh! And if you are lucky enough to wind up with some leftover pistachios, put them to good use in this Baklava recipe. My friend Lynne has made this for me in the past and it’s incredible.
With over 70 ice cream recipes here to choose from, there’s sure to be an ice cream for everyone! If you’re new to making ice cream, the best and easiest vanilla ice cream is a great place to start.
These are my favorite inexpensive containers for storing ice cream. They’re perfect for gifting (who doesn’t love homemade ice cream?) storage, re-using, etc. I write the flavors on the lids with a sharpie and it washes off with dish soap.
I have more ice cream scoops than I can keep track of at this point and I definitely play favorites. This ice cream scoop does the best job ever of cutting through firm ice cream and still delivers a pretty scoop. It gets bonus points for being one of the least expensive scoops I own as well.
Don’t miss our Ice Cream Maker Review for all the information you need to find the BEST Ice Cream Maker for your needs! Spoiler alert – our top-rated machine under $50 just might surprise you. It sure surprised me!
Ice Cream with Nuts
Nut-filled ice creams are a lot of delicious fun with chewy pecans, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, peanuts, or cashews sprinkled throughout each creamy scoop.
Rich and creamy homemade Maple Ice Cream is a real treat with candied walnuts swirled into the mix. And speaking of walnuts, this Black Walnut Ice Cream is a sweet and fragrant old-fashioned delight.
Chopped fudge pieces and salty, chocolate-covered peanuts dance through swirls of rich fudge sauce in this Tin Roof Sundae Ice Cream. Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream is rich chocolate and almond-flavored ice cream loaded with chewy marshmallows, crunchy almonds, and flecks of chocolate.
Peanut Brittle Ice Cream turned out even better than I imagined it would when I first had the idea for it. It’s a creamy vanilla ice cream with a hint of cinnamon and plenty of finely crushed crunchy peanut brittle.
Rich banana ice cream, decadent chocolate chunks, and crunchy walnuts create a tantalizing dessert you won’t soon forget. Chunky Monkey Ice Cream is a fun indulgence for kids and adults alike.
Creamy chocolate ice cream filled with chocolate-covered cashews and swirled throughout with caramel sauce adds up to bowls of Bear Claw Ice Cream that no one can resist.
And last but never the least is my beloved Pralines and Cream Ice Cream. Creamy, vanilla ice cream swirled with buttery sweet salted caramel and generously sprinkled with chunks of chewy praline pecans is an old-fashioned ice cream lover’s dream come true.
Pistachio Ice Cream
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup unsalted shelled pistachios halves and pieces, divided
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 1½ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and ½ cup of pistachios in a food processor. Pulse and blend until fine crumbs form.
- Combine the cream, milk, vanilla, and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Add the pistachio and sugar mixture and whisk again to combine.
- Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker. Process according to the manufacturer's instructions. When the ice cream finishes churning, transfer to an airtight freezer safe container, sprinkling each scoop with the remaining pistachios.
Nutrition
Pat Cole says
You list the cream as divided, but only show it being added fully in step 2. Pistachio ice cream is my favorite and I’d like to try this.
Mary Younkin says
whoops, sorry about that, Pat. The cream doesn’t need to be divided for this recipe.
Laurie Templeton says
Wondering what brand of ice cream maker do you recommend,?
Mary Younkin says
I have a whole review of different ice cream makers here: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/ice-cream-makers/ (I share my favorites there too!)