Fresh Fig and Toasted Walnut Ice Cream

Posted On March 17, 2021

Incredibly rich and creamy fresh fig and toasted walnut ice cream is a very special treat and the perfect way to celebrate fig season!

I love ice cream. Actually, who doesn’t like ice cream (especially when it’s homemade!)? I made fresh fig and toasted walnut ice cream. Can it be any more dreamy? The freshness from the fruit and crunchiness of walnuts makes this summertime treat uber delicious. This ice cream has a luxurious mouth-feel that makes you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation! Basically, this ice cream has everything that you are looking for! Also, it’s a great way to use up those overripe figs. What a delicious way…

While growing up, I never had fresh figs. I always had dried figs, which you could always find in my mom’s kitchen since my dad was and still is very much fond of fig ice cream or fig milkshake. So, when I saw the fresh figs in the grocery stores, I felt a wave of nostalgia and I just had to buy them to make the ice cream. Along with fresh Figs, I used toasted walnuts to accompany. The crunch from the nuts provides a welcome break from the smoothness and richness of the rest of the ice cream. The combination is simply delicious.

I love making ice cream at home. Not only is homemade ice cream creamy, but it’s also super delicious. I am making ice cream at home for years now. It’s incredibly easy to make. Ice cream is a staple in our freezer all year round, especially these Peanut Butter Ice Cream, Baileys Coffee Ice Cream and Chai Masala Gelato. Also, fresh fruit ice creams are always such a hit, they never stay in our freezer too long. And I bet this ice cream won’t stay too long either!!

Ice cream Machine

I use Cuisinart ice cream maker(not sponsored) to make the ice cream. It takes only a few ingredients and about 30 minutes or so in the machine and the most delicious ice cream is ready to be enjoyed. I really like using this machine since it does all of the mixings and churning for me and makes the whole process a lot easier!

Ice cream Base

I have tried several recipes including custard-style ice creams. Traditionally, many ice creams begin with an egg custard. While custard-based ice cream is rich and tastes amazing, it is just not my thing. I prefer to make ice cream without eggs in it because I end up with a lighter ice cream and I can eat more of it in one sitting 😉 ! After several tries, I figured out the ratio of cream, milk, and sugar to make the perfect, most amazing, super delicious ice cream base.

Add Fresh Fruit to the base

Now that my base for the ice cream is all set, I add fresh fruit puree to my base. This way I get the same consistent result every time I make ice cream.

Let’s go over the steps of how to make Fresh Fig and Toasted Walnut ice cream:

I use the Cuisinart ice cream maker to make the ice cream. Put the freezer mixing bowl in the freezer at least 24 hours before. This a very necessary step because it ensures your ice cream solidifies while it’s being churned.

Toast walnuts at 300 degrees Farenheight for few minutes. Take out from the oven and let it cool down. Roughly chop them into small chunks. Keep it aside. See notes section for the alternative of walnuts.

In a blender, puree the insides of the Figs with milk and sugar. If you don’t have fresh figs, use dried figs. Please see the notes section.

Add heavy cream to the pureed fig mixture in a separate bowl. Mix well until smooth.

Turn on the Cuisinart ice cream maker, pour the mixture into the freezer bowl. Let mix until thickened, about 20 minutes. Five minutes before mixing is complete, add chopped toasted walnuts. Let it mix completely. At this time, ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture, similar to soft-serve ice cream. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place it in the freezer for about 3-4 hours or until the desired firmness.

Take out the container from the freezer a few minutes before serving so that it’s easier to scoop out. Add chopped toasted walnut over the scooped ice cream. You can also garnish with chopped Fig. Enjoy!