Our decadent Turtle Ice Cream combines sweet and salty Turtle candies in creamy vanilla ice cream. Chopped chunks of turtle candy, toasted pecans, and swirls of rich caramel and fudge sauce, all swirled together for an extravagant frozen treat.
Why You'll Love This Turtle Ice Cream Recipe
This homemade Turtle Ice Cream recipe is a wonderful way to enjoy a decadent dessert. Made in a Cuisinart ice cream maker, it produces a rich, creamy ice cream. The combination of chocolate, caramel, and pecans makes this a delightful treat.
- Classic Flavor: Brings together the perfect trio of chocolate, caramel, and pecans for a rich and satisfying dessert.
- Rich and Creamy: Made in your Cuisinart ice cream maker, it consistently delivers a wonderfully smooth and luxurious consistency.
- Customizable: You get to control the quality of ingredients and load it up with as many delicious mix-ins as you desire.
Ingredients Overview
You'll need heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, salt, chopped pecans, chopped Turtle candies, caramel sauce, and hot fudge sauce.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Turtle Ice Cream
Keep your caramel and hot fudge sauce inside a plastic bag set inside a pan or bowl of hot water. This prevents the hot water from removing the label from the jar, as well as makes the ice cream topping sauces easier to pour when layering the ice cream later.
Step 1: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix the heavy cream. sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt until just combined. Chill the base for 1 to 2 hours for best results.
Step 2: Pour the ice cream mixture into the frozen freezer bowl and set the ice cream maker to 'ice cream' or 'gelato' for 30 to 35 minutes.
Step 3: When the timer beeps, add half the chopped Turtle candies and let the ice cream maker churn an additional 1 - 2 minutes to mix together.
Step 4: Remove the dasher from the ice cream maker freezer bowl, scraping it clean. Transfer half the freezer bowl ice cream to the previously lined loaf pan.
Step 5: Sprinkle half the remaining chopped Turtle candies, half the chopped pecans over the half filled loaf pan.
Step 6: Transfer the remaining ice cream from the freezer bowl to the loaf pan, covering the mix-ins.
Step 7: Top the filled loaf pan with the remaining chopped pecans, Turtle candies, caramel sauce, and fudge sauce.
Step 8: Cover the container of ice cream with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place in the freezer to harden for 2 to 4 hours.
Serving Suggestions
Serve in bowls with a drizzle of additional caramel and fudge sauce, whipped cream, and a cherry on top for a classic sundae presentation. Enjoy sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies for a decadent ice cream cookie sandwich, or into waffle cones.
For more fun filled homemade ice cream, see our peanut butter cup ice cream, funfetti ice cream, and Oreo cookie ice cream. All are sized for the Cuisinart Ice Cream maker, but you can use any ice cream maker brand as well.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations or substitutions when making this recipe.
- Nut Alternatives: While pecans are traditional for turtle ice cream, feel free to substitute them with toasted walnuts or even chopped almonds for a different nutty crunch.
- Chocolate Base: Instead of just cocoa powder, you can melt unsweetened or semi-sweet chocolate and add it to the ice cream base for an even richer, deeper chocolate flavor.
- Candy Mix-ins: Add a different texture and flavor by crushing and mixing in other chocolate-caramel candies like Rolos or milk chocolate caramels during the last few minutes of churning.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making this recipe:
- Freeze the Bowl Solid: If using a Cuisinart ice cream maker with a freezer bowl, make sure it's frozen solid for at least 12-24 hours. A well-frozen bowl is essential for achieving the right consistency.
- Chill Your Base Thoroughly: For the creamiest texture, ensure your ice cream base is completely chilled in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours, or preferably overnight, before churning. A very cold base churns more effectively.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Since this is a homemade treat, opt for high-quality cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and fresh pecans and caramel. Better ingredients will result in superior flavor.
- Add Mix-ins at the Right Time: Incorporate your Turtle chunks, caramel swirls, and pecans during the last 5 minutes of churning. This helps ensure they're evenly distributed and don't settle at the bottom.
- "Cure" for Firmness: After churning, the ice cream will be soft-serve consistency. Transfer it to an airtight container and "cure" it in the freezer for at least 2-4 hours to firm up to a perfect scoopable texture.
Storage Options
Some recommended storage options for this recipe are:
- Freezer: Store freshly churned ice cream in an airtight container in the coldest part of your freezer for up to 2 weeks for the best quality and texture.
- Prevent Freezer Burn: To maintain freshness and prevent ice crystals, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the ice cream before placing the lid on the container.
Related Recipes
- Oreo Cookies Ice Cream
- Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream
- Ice Cream Maker Vanilla Ice Cream
- Espresso Coffee Ice Cream
- Matcha Ice Cream
Frequently Asked Questions
This often happens if the base isn't chilled thoroughly before churning, or if there's too much water in the mixture.
The most common reason is that the freezer bowl wasn't completely frozen solid for at least 12-24 hours. Ensure your freezer is set cold enough.
Yes, chilling the base thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 4-6 hours (or overnight) is crucial. A very cold base churns much more effectively and results in a creamier final product.
When layering, add small amounts of ice cream, then a sprinkle of mix-ins, then more ice cream, and so on. This helps distribute them evenly throughout the tub. The slightly warmed sauces may melt the ice cream a little, but they will re-harden when in the freezer. Layering quickly is essential.
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Get The Recipe!
Turtle Ice Cream (Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker)
Equipment
- Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker ICE70
Ingredients
- 2 cup Heavy cream
- 14 ounce Sweetened condensed milk 1 can
- 1½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt just a pinch
- 6 oz Turtle candies 6 oz - chopped into large pieces, divided
- ½ cup Pecans - toasted and chopped divided
- ¼ cup Fudge sauce - slightly warmed so that it pours easily divided, warmed so it flows
- ¼ cup Caramel sauce divided
Instructions
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix the heavy cream. sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt until just combined. Chill the base for 1 to 2 hours for best results.2 cup Heavy cream, 14 ounce Sweetened condensed milk, 1½ teaspoon Vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- Pour the ice cream mixture into the frozen freezer bowl and set the ice cream maker to 'ice cream' or 'gelato' for 30 to 35 minutes.
- When the timer beeps, add half the chopped Turtle candies and let the ice cream maker churn an additional 1 - 2 minutes to mix together.6 oz Turtle candies
- Remove the dasher from the ice cream maker freezer bowl, scraping it clean.
- Transfer half the freezer bowl ice cream to the previously lined loaf pan.
- Sprinkle half the remaining chopped Turtle candies, half the chopped pecans over the half filled loaf pan. Drizzle with half the fudge sauce and caramel sauce.½ cup Pecans - toasted and chopped, ¼ cup Fudge sauce - slightly warmed so that it pours easily, ¼ cup Caramel sauce, 6 oz Turtle candies
- Transfer the remaining ice cream from the freezer bowl to the loaf pan, covering the mix-ins.
- Top the filled loaf pan with the remaining chopped pecans, Turtle candies, caramel sauce, and fudge sauce.6 oz Turtle candies, ½ cup Pecans - toasted and chopped, ¼ cup Fudge sauce - slightly warmed so that it pours easily, ¼ cup Caramel sauce
- Cover with foil and place in the freezer to harden for 2 to 4 hours, then scoop and serve topped with additional caramel or chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
Notes
- Freeze the Bowl Solid: If using a Cuisinart ice cream maker with a freezer bowl, make sure it's frozen solid for at least 12-24 hours. A well-frozen bowl is essential for achieving the right consistency.
- Chill Your Base Thoroughly: For the creamiest texture, ensure your ice cream base is completely chilled in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours, or preferably overnight, before churning. A very cold base churns more effectively.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Since this is a homemade treat, opt for high-quality cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and fresh pecans and caramel. Better ingredients will result in superior flavor.
- Add Mix-ins at the Right Time: Incorporate your Turtle chunks, caramel swirls, and pecans during the last 5 minutes of churning. This helps ensure they're evenly distributed and don't settle at the bottom.
- "Cure" for Firmness: After churning, the ice cream will be soft-serve consistency. Transfer it to an airtight container and "cure" it in the freezer for at least 2-4 hours to firm up to a perfect scoopable texture.
Kelly Bloom says
Delicious and simple to make in a Cuisinart Ice cream maker.