No Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream

No Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream is a super quick and easy homemade ice cream that requires no ice cream machine, and tastes just like your favorite pie!

Most people are set in their ways when it comes to holiday dessert preferences…you’re either on team pumpkin or team pecan, with or without ice cream, and it’s all pretty cut and dried.  But every once in a while something new comes along to mix things up.  Like this No Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream — you know when you get a plate of pumpkin pie à la mode and the ice cream starts to melt after a few bites and all the flavors mingle together into one luscious, messy, delicious mouthful?  Now you’ve got the idea.  This recipe uses an entire can of pumpkin puree and a hefty dose of spice for a spot-on pumpkin pie flavor.

TIP: Freezing can dull flavor and sweetness, so when I make ice cream I take that into consideration and bump up the flavoring to compensate.

My original Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream is made the traditional way, with an ice cream machine.  It has been incredibly popular, I think because it really does taste exactly like the best pumpkin pie you’ve ever had, and because you just can’t buy anything like it in stores.  This no churn pumpkin pie ice cream is for all of you who haven’t invested in an ice cream machine yet.

TIP: One of the techniques for making no-churn ice cream is to whip the heavy cream first, so the air is already incorporated into the ice cream mixture before you freeze it.  By whipping the cream you’re basically mimicking what the machine does.

I like to use individual spices rather than a generic pumpkin pie spice.  And I always buy my spices in the smallest jars I can find so they won’t go stale sitting in the cupboard for too long.  I ALWAYS grate my nutmeg fresh and I can’t recommend it enough, the flavor is incredible and I think it really does make a big difference.

My brother in law gave me a nutmeg grinder many years ago and it’s one of my most treasured kitchen tools.

One of my favorite ways to flavor ice cream is with spice, and that happens to be perfect for the fall and holiday season.  I’ve made Cardamom Ice Cream  and Nutmeg Ice Cream, so if you’re intrigued by the idea, check them out.

This whipped cream method for making ice cream can easily be adapted to lots of different flavors, and if you like it you might want to try my no churn dulce de leche ice cream, which is super decadent, or my no churn vanilla bean ice cream, which is so versatile and can go with all your holiday desserts.   I especially like it on black bottom bourbon pecan pie :)

notes:

• A metal loaf pan is ideal for chilling homemade ice cream because it allows the mixture to chill faster and gives you a long surface area to scoop from.